What happens when a graduate student on his way toward becoming a forensic psychologist sits face-to-face with one of America's most notorious serial killers? In this chapter from my book, That Beast Was Not Me, I'll take you inside the concrete walls of death row for my first encounter with John Wayne Gacy. This isn't just another sensationalized true crime story—it's an intimate glimpse into the complex reality of studying the criminal mind, where claims of normalcy clash with the weight of unspeakable acts.

This free chapter provides a window on the experience of being alone in a room with someone society has labeled a monster, where every word carries weight and often things aren't quite what they seem. It's meant as an invitation to join me on a journey few have taken, exploring that thin line between the familiar and the unfathomable.

"I was so hungry for color." - Sylvia Plath