Actor Jack Merrill recently shared his haunting encounter with notorious serial killer John Wayne Gacy during performances of his one-man show "The Save," offering insights into why he believes he survived while many others did not.
In 1978, when Merrill was just 19 years old, he became one of Gacy's victims in Chicago - but unlike at least 33 other young men who were murdered between 1972-1978, Merrill made it out alive.
During his performance, Merrill, now 65, revealed that his traumatic childhood paradoxically prepared him for surviving his encounter with Gacy. Growing up with abusive parents taught him how to carefully navigate volatile situations.
"My mom and having to lay low during the rages, it was the same thing," Merrill explained, noting that these experiences gave him "serious tools" that helped him survive.
According to Merrill, Gacy appeared to view him differently from other victims, even removing his handcuffs and allowing him to sit at the bar in Gacy's house. "He wanted to differentiate me. I knew if I listened to him, he wouldn't hurt me," Merrill recounted.
Though Merrill was sexually assaulted during his captivity, Gacy released him the next morning, saying "You're a good kid. I like you." Merrill later saw Gacy's arrest in the news but chose not to come forward to police at the time.
The actor, whose credits include appearances in "Law & Order" and "Grey's Anatomy," kept his story private for years, only sharing it after his parents' passing. "I wanted to tell people at a certain point. It happened and it is a part of me," he said.
Today, Merrill emphasizes that he has moved forward by choosing forgiveness - both for Gacy and his family. "I have lived a great life. I did not let them take my possibilities away from me," he stated, reflecting on the 46 years since his encounter.
Through "The Save," Merrill aims to connect with audiences in unexpected ways, demonstrating resilience in the face of trauma. "I am not a victim," he declared. "It was one night. Something that happened. This is my life."