Kriti Mehrotra
Peacock’s ‘Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy’ is a limited drama series that chronicles the chilling tale of a heinous serial killer. It delves into not only how he was ultimately apprehended but also the grief of the loved ones of his 33 victims as well as the trauma of his few survivors. Among those described as alleged survivors is Robert Donnelly, who has stated that he was abducted at the age of 19, brutally assaulted, and then released a day later with no explanation.
Robert Donnelly Was Allegedly Kidnapped at Gunpoint Before Being Attacked
Although not many details regarding Robert Donnelly’s background or early years are publicly available as of writing, we do know he was attending college in Chicago, Illinois, in 1977. According to Robert’s later testimony and police reports, the then-19-year-old stated that he was standing at a bus stop on the evening of December 30 when he was approached by a man in a black car. The stranger allegedly asked the teenager for his identification, so he thought the older man was a local police officer and decided to step closer to show his documents properly.
As per Robert, the man suddenly pulled out a hand-held weapon, ordered him to get in, handcuffed him, told him to lie on the floor, and then swiftly started driving away. He testified that the stranger drove him to a home, where he claimed he was dragged into a room with a bar. According to Robert, the man lectured him on how “he didn’t get the respect he deserved” before getting angry. Robert also stated that the man threw a drink at his face when he refused to accept it, force-fed him another, ordered him to hand over his wallet, and then became increasingly angry.
Robert alleged that he was struck, pushed face-first into a couch, and sexually assaulted until he lost consciousness. As per his accounts, when he came to, he was taken to the bathroom, shoved against a wall, strangled, and repeatedly drowned in the bathtub till he passed out. The then-teenager further claimed he was later raped all over again, forced to see pornographic magazines as well as films, and struck several times across his upper body. Robert further claimed that his attacker played a game of Russian Roulette with him, pulling the trigger multiple times before a blank round discharged.
Robert Donnelly Wasn’t Taken Seriously By Authorities When He Reported His Attack
According to Robert’s own accounts, after the alleged game of Russian Roulette, his attacker reportedly sexually assaulted him several more times before telling him he was in for his “last ride.” The stranger allegedly ordered the teen to get dressed before forcing him back into his car and asking how it feels “knowing that you’re going to die?” but then, he released Robert near his job. As per the reported survivor, his attacker told him he was going to die eventually, prior to warning him about not telling anyone what had happened because he wouldn’t be believed.
The man Donnelly later identified to police as John Wayne Gacy was subsequently questioned by investigators. They took the alleged assailant into custody on suspicion of kidnapping and deviant sexual assault. However, John told officials that everything between him and Robert was consensual and with the expectation of exchanging money, describing their encounter as “slavery sex.” According to reports, he even stated that the teenager likely filed the case because he did not pay while dropping him off, after which prosecutors declined to pursue the case further. Robert said he tried reiterating his experiences, but to no avail.
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Since Testifying Against John Wayne Gacy, Robert Donnelly Has Preferred to Lead a Quiet Life
From what we can tell, Robert was shattered upon not being believed, driving him to gradually become rather withdrawn from society in the hopes of dealing with his trauma in a safe space. Yet, when John Wayne Gacy was ultimately apprehended for his offenses, with it coming to light that he had killed at least 33 young men between 1972 and 1978, Robert agreed to testify about his experiences during Gacy’s 1980 trial. His testimony was part of the evidence presented by prosecutors that contributed to Gacy’s conviction and eventual death sentence.
That same year, Robert also filed a $10 million federal lawsuit against local authorities for failing to arrest John after his report of kidnapping and assault. Since then, it appears as if he has chosen to lead a quiet life well away from the limelight, all the while doing his best to move on from the past. All we know is that, at the age of 67, he appears to still reside in Illinois, where he is likely surrounded by his family and loved ones every step of the way.
