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Today in Chicago History: John Wayne Gacy ‘killed people like he was swatting flies,’ prosecutor says at trial’s opening

The jury walks to court at 26th Street and Chicago Avenue on Feb. 8, 1980, for the John Wayne Gacy trial in Chicago. (Karen Engstrom/Chicago Tribune)
The jury walks to court at 26th Street and Chicago Avenue on Feb. 8, 1980, for the John Wayne Gacy trial in Chicago. (Karen Engstrom/Chicago Tribune)
By | krumore@chicagotribune.com | Chicago Tribune
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Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Feb. 6, according to the Tribune’s archives.

Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.

Front page flashback: Feb. 7, 2025

Virginia Halas McCaskey was the only heir to the Chicago Bears franchise after her only brother George "Mugs" Halas Jr., died of a heart attack in 1979. McCaskey died at age 102 on Feb. 6, 2025. (Chicago Tribune)
Virginia Halas McCaskey was the only heir to the Chicago Bears franchise after her only brother, George "Mugs" Halas Jr., died of a heart attack in 1979. McCaskey died at age 102 on Feb. 6, 2025. (Chicago Tribune)

2025: Chicago Bears principal owner Virginia Halas McCaskey died at age 102.

McCaskey was reluctantly forced by circumstance to take over her father’s enterprise. She guarded it with passion, patience and more than a touch of Papa Bear’s legendary toughness and stubbornness.

Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)

  • High temperature: 57 degrees (1882)
  • Low temperature: Minus 14 degrees (1982)
  • Precipitation: 1.98 inches (1942)
  • Snowfall: 9.3 inches (1978)

1942: The high and low temperature were both 35 degrees — it’s the only day in Chicago history that has logged a steady temperature. The mercury remained stuck there for a span of 30 hours, from 9 p.m. Feb. 5 through 3 a.m. Feb. 7, 1942.

Suspected serial killer John Wayne Gacy was painted both as a psychopath "motivated by overwhelming and uncontrollable primitive drives" and as a "rational, evil" premeditated murderer as his trial began in Chicago on Feb. 6, 1980. (Chicago Tribune)
Suspected serial killer John Wayne Gacy was painted both as a psychopath "motivated by overwhelming and uncontrollable primitive drives" and as a "rational, evil" premeditated murderer as his trial began in Chicago on Feb. 6, 1980. (Chicago Tribune)

1980: “He killed people like he was swatting flies,” Assistant State’s Attorney Robert Egan told a packed Chicago courtroom as the trial of John Wayne Gacy began. Due to the graphic nature of the testimony and evidence presented, Judge Louis B. Garippo banned anyone younger than 16 from the courtroom. Defense attorneys hoped to convince the jury that Gacy was not guilty by reason of insanity. Prosecutors wanted Gacy sentenced to the electric chair.

John Wayne Gacy: Timeline of the suburban Chicago serial killer’s case and the efforts to recover, name his 33 victims

After five weeks of testimony from psychiatrists, police, neighbors, acquaintances and family members of the victims, the jury of seven men and five women took less than two hours on March 12, 1980, to convict Gacy of killing 33 young men.

Michael Jordan fans in the Chicago Stadium get into the act as unofficial judges in the Slam-Dunk Contest during the 1988 All-Star weekend in Chicago. (Charles Cherney/Chicago Tribune)
Michael Jordan fans at the Chicago Stadium get into the act as unofficial judges in the Slam-Dunk Contest during the 1988 All-Star weekend in Chicago. (Charles Cherney/Chicago Tribune)

1988: With hometown fans cheering in Chicago Stadium, Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins went toe-to-toe in the slam dunk contest during All-Star Weekend. Jordan — the defending champ — prevailed, recording a perfect score with a slam that lifted off at the free-throw line.

The next day, Jordan earned his first MVP award in his fourth All-Star Game, scoring 40 points in the East victory.

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