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The murder of David Talsma marks the beginning of a major shift in Gacy’s disposal method. With the crawl space no longer viable, he began disposing of victims outside his home. This change introduced new risks and signaled the beginning of the final phase of his crimes.
Talsma was lured to Gacy’s home, restrained, and murdered. Unlike earlier victims, he was not buried beneath the house. Evidence suggests Gacy disposed of his body in the Des Plaines River.
The absence of a body limited investigative progress at the time.