The Forgotten Wife: 7 Shocking Facts About Marlynn Myers, John Wayne Gacy's First Spouse

The name Marlynn Myers has resurfaced in public discourse, not for her own accomplishments, but for the devastating, life-altering connection she had to one of America’s most infamous serial killers, John Wayne Gacy. With new true crime documentaries and series continually revisiting the Gacy case, public curiosity has turned to the woman who was married to him before his horrific crimes came to light, painting a picture of a seemingly normal life that masked a monstrous secret.

As of December 2025, Marlynn Myers's story remains a tragic footnote in true crime history, yet it is a crucial piece of the puzzle, revealing the depth of Gacy's deception and the collateral damage left in his wake. Her life, marked by a shocking marriage, a quiet divorce, and a subsequent retreat from the public eye, offers a poignant look at the unsuspecting victims who were closest to him.

Marlynn Myers: A Life Profile Before the Storm

Marlynn Myers, often overshadowed by the notoriety of her ex-husband, lived a life that began far from the darkness of a serial killer’s world. Her biography is a testament to the quiet, midwestern life she was born into.

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• Full Name: Marlynn Lee Myers
• Born: Circa 1944, in Missouri, USA (Some records suggest 1939 in Devon, PA, but the Gacy connection points to the former)
• Died: October 30, 2013, in Frazer, Pennsylvania
• Parents: Fred W. Myers (a businessman) and possibly Mary T. (Yeakel) Myers
• Family Background: She came from a close-knit, seemingly affluent family. Her father was a hardworking businessman.
• First Marriage: Married John Wayne Gacy on April 9, 1964 (some sources say September 1964 or 1965)
• Children: She had two children with John Wayne Gacy.
• Divorce: Divorced John Wayne Gacy in 1968.
• Career/Employment: She was a co-worker of Gacy's when they met.

Marlynn's family was instrumental in her early life and her marriage to Gacy. Her father, Fred W. Myers, was a successful local businessman who owned multiple Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) fast-food restaurant franchises in Waterloo, Iowa. This business connection would briefly become Gacy's career path, illustrating how deeply he integrated himself into Marlynn’s family life.

The Deceptive Courtship and Marriage to John Wayne Gacy

The relationship between Marlynn Myers and John Wayne Gacy began in a seemingly ordinary fashion. They were co-workers, and Gacy, known for his charm and ability to present a respectable facade, quickly won her over. This period of their lives, before Gacy's true nature was revealed, is a chilling example of a serial killer's ability to live a double life.

A Swift, Business-Backed Union

Marlynn and Gacy married in 1964. The union was not just a personal one; it was quickly tied to her family's wealth and business. Gacy was soon put in charge of managing the Myers family's KFC franchises in Waterloo, Iowa. This gave Gacy a veneer of success and stability, allowing him to climb the social ladder and be seen as a promising young businessman and family man.

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During their four-year marriage, Marlynn and Gacy welcomed two children. This period is often cited by true crime experts as the time when Gacy's darker impulses began to manifest more openly. The pressure of maintaining a family, a business, and his secret life started to show cracks in his carefully constructed persona.

The Beginning of the End: Arrest and Divorce

The marriage began to unravel in 1968 when Gacy was arrested for the first time. The charge was for sodomy, related to the sexual assault of a teenage boy in Iowa. This shocking revelation shattered Marlynn's reality. The man she had married, the father of her children, was not the person she thought he was.

Marlynn acted decisively. She filed for divorce shortly after his arrest and subsequent conviction. The divorce was finalized in 1968, marking the end of her direct involvement with Gacy, long before his most notorious killing spree began in Chicago. This early separation is a critical detail, as it spared her and her children from being directly present during the height of his horrific crimes.

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Life After Gacy: Seeking Anonymity and Peace

The true story of Marlynn Myers is not about her short marriage to a killer, but about her decades-long effort to rebuild a life of normalcy and protect her children from the shadow of their father's crimes. After the divorce, Marlynn and her children effectively disappeared from the public eye, a common and necessary move for family members of high-profile criminals.

The Quest for a Private Life

Following the divorce, Marlynn made a clear choice to seek anonymity. She moved away from the scene of the scandal to ensure her children could grow up without the constant stigma of their father's identity. This desire for a private life meant she rarely, if ever, spoke publicly about her experience. Her silence was a form of self-preservation and protection for her family.

The true crime phenomenon, which has exploded in popularity in recent years, often re-examines the lives of serial killers, inevitably bringing their family members back into the spotlight. Despite this renewed interest, Marlynn successfully maintained her privacy for the remainder of her life. Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the hidden victims of true crime—those who must carry the burden of association.

The Fate of Marlynn and Her Children

Marlynn Lee Myers passed away on October 30, 2013, at the age of 74, in Frazer, Pennsylvania. While her death was noted in an obituary, details of her life after Gacy remained largely private, respecting her wishes for a quiet existence. The cause of death and specifics of her later years are not widely publicized, reinforcing the success of her efforts to maintain a low profile.

Her two children with Gacy, a son and a daughter, are also known to live their lives outside of the public eye. Experts suggest they have changed their names and have no contact with the public sphere related to their father. Their decision to remain anonymous is completely understandable, given the horrific nature of John Wayne Gacy's crimes and the media scrutiny that follows them.

Topical Authority: Marlynn Myers and The True Crime Resurgence

The story of Marlynn Myers is a recurring theme in true crime media, particularly in the wake of recent series like Peacock's Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy. Her narrative is vital for understanding the full scope of Gacy's psychological manipulation and the early indicators of his deviance.

Deception as a Tool: Marlynn's experience highlights how Gacy used the facade of a respectable family life—a wife, children, and a stable job—to mask his predatory behavior. He meticulously crafted this image to avoid suspicion, a common trait among organized serial killers.

The Early Warning Signs: Her divorce, triggered by his 1968 arrest, is a critical historical marker. It shows that even before the Chicago murders, Gacy was engaging in criminal sexual behavior. Marlynn's swift action to leave him, despite the scandal, was a brave and necessary step that protected her family from the catastrophe that followed.

The 'Forgotten' Victim: In the broader true crime landscape, Marlynn Myers represents the "forgotten" victims—not those murdered, but those whose lives were irrevocably damaged by their intimate connection to a monster. Her enduring silence speaks volumes about the trauma and the lengths people will go to in order to escape a toxic, deadly legacy.

Today, Marlynn Myers is remembered as a woman who survived a marriage to pure evil and then dedicated the rest of her life to moving beyond that horror, successfully carving out a quiet existence away from the relentless glare of the true crime media machine.