Robert Piest: The Missing Teen Who Exposed John Wayne Gacy’s Crimes

The Disappearance That Changed Everything

Robert Piest, a 15-year-old sophomore at Maine West High School, was working his final shift at Nisson Pharmacy on Touhy Avenue in Des Plaines on what should have been a night of family celebration. His mother Elizabeth Piest had arrived around 9 p.m. to pick him up for her 46th birthday dinner when Robert made a decision that would cost him his life.

A Job Offer That Led to Murder

The teenager told his mother to wait while he spoke with a man about a construction job paying $5 an hour – nearly double his current pharmacy wages. Robert Piest was never seen alive again after that conversation.

As of 2024, the Nisson Pharmacy building is still standing.

Last Seen / Disappearance Site Private Property Drive up

Image Taken From: 1920 E Touhy Ave, Des Plaines, IL 60018, USA

Latitude: 42.01024659999999 Longitude: -87.87703049999999

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The Investigation Begins

After searching the area with family members, Elizabeth Piest filed a missing person report at the Des Plaines police station at 11:29 p.m. This report would trigger one of the most significant serial killer investigations in American history.

The Connection to John Wayne Gacy

Police quickly identified John Wayne Gacy as the man who had been at the pharmacy that evening discussing construction work. Investigators immediately began surveillance and obtained search warrants for Gacy’s Norwood Park home.

Uncovering a House of Horrors

The search of Gacy’s property led to the horrific discovery of multiple bodies buried on his land, exposing one of America’s most notorious serial killers. Robert Piest’s disappearance became the crucial key that unlocked the case against Gacy.

John Wayne Gacy’s House

John Gacys house was razed and replaced with a new house.

Residence Private – View From Public Area Drive up

This house now sits on the site where John Gacy's house once stood.

Image Taken From: 8215 W Summerdale Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, USA

Latitude: 41.9762113 Longitude: -87.83242299999999

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Location Gacy Confessed

Historic / Notable Site Public Drive up

John Wayne Gacy made his full “rambling confession” to his defense attorney Sam?Amirante in the lawyer’s Park?Ridge office on the evening of December?20, 1978. During a scheduled meeting at Amirante’s Park?Ridge law office, Gacy—after downing two cupfuls of whiskey—told Amirante, “This boy is dead. He’s dead. He’s in a river,” and then proceeded to admit he had “been the judge?… jury and executioner of many, many people,” confessing to murdering over thirty young men. His statement stretched into the early hours of the next morning and directly led police to obtain a second search warrant for his home

Image Taken From: S Prospect Ave, Park Ridge, IL 60068, USA

Latitude: 42.0077304 Longitude: -87.8331267

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The Crypt Of Robert Piest

Grave / Memorial Public Easy walk

After his body was recovered from the Des Plaines River in April 1979, Robert was laid to rest, providing his devastated family a place to honor his memory.

Image Taken From: All Saints Mausoleum, East Shrine Building, Crypt 3229, Tier 1

Latitude: 42.0648798 Longitude: -87.8930288

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