John Piest

John Piest was a 15-year-old victim of the notorious serial killer John Wayne Gacy. Born on March 16, 1963, in Des Plaines, Illinois, Piest was a student at Maine West High School and worked as a stock boy at a local pharmacy. He disappeared on December 11, 1978, after telling his mother he was going to meet someone about a job that promised better pay.145

Piest's case became pivotal in the investigation of Gacy, who was later linked to the murders of at least 33 young men and boys. His disappearance prompted a search that led police to Gacy, who was the last person known to have seen him. Gacy's home was subsequently searched, where investigators found evidence linking him to multiple victims, including Piest. Although Gacy confessed to killing Piest and disposing of his body in the Des Plaines River, Piest's remains were not positively identified until April 9, 1979.236

Piest's tragic fate highlighted the dangers posed by Gacy and contributed significantly to the investigation that ultimately led to Gacy's arrest and conviction for multiple murders.