Ep. 12: Humanity in Horror: Defending John Wayne Gacy with Karen Conti

3 Nov

Join Corrine Araujo and her very special guest, Karen Conti; John Wayne Gacy's Death Row Attorney. At just 29 years old, Karen allowed her curiosity to guide her into what would propel her career in ways she couldn't imagine. In this episode, we dive into the complexities of Gacy's background, his abusive childhood, head injuries, and how these factors may have influenced his criminal behavior. Karen describes her personal experiences and interactions with Gacy during the seven months she worked on his death row appeal, providing insights into his dual nature of being both superficially normal and monstrously violent. The conversation also touches on broader themes such as empathy, the death penalty, and the societal influences on criminal behavior.

In This Episode We Talk About:

Unveiling the Complexities of John Wayne Gacy: Insights from Defender Karen Conti In this episode of 'True Crime Human Design,' host Corinna Rugo invites Karen Conti, a Chicago-based lawyer with 37 years of experience, to discuss her book 'Killing Time with John Wayne Gacy.' Conti shares her journey of defending one of America's most notorious serial killers, John Wayne Gacy, who was executed in 1994 for the murder of 33 young men and boys. The discussion delves into Gacy's abusive childhood, head injuries, and traumatic experiences that may have shaped his actions. Karen also reflects on her role as Gacy's counsel, the ethical dilemmas of the death penalty, and the profound impact of getting to know Gacy as a human being. The episode emphasizes the importance of empathy, curiosity, and understanding in comprehending criminal behavior and advocating for psychological and systemic interventions.