Charles A. Hattula, a 25-year-old male, passed away on May 13, 1978, in Freeport, Illinois. His death has been linked to possible foul play, with some speculation that he may have been a victim of the notorious serial killer John Wayne Gacy. Hattula was an employee of PDM Contractors, a company associated with Gacy, and was reportedly involved in conflicts with him. His body was recovered from the Pecatonica River, and while some investigators initially considered his death suspicious, it was ultimately ruled accidental.
Authorities in Des Plaines, Illinois, had contacted their counterparts in Freeport during their investigation into Gacy, but were informed that Hattula had fallen to his death from a bridge. At the time of his death, Gacy was engaged to be married, which has led to speculation that he may have disposed of Hattula's body in the river rather than burying it in his crawl space, as he did with many of his other victims. However, no definitive evidence has been found to confirm that Hattula was murdered by Gacy, and his death remains officially classified as accidental.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Hattula's death, his name continues to be mentioned in discussions about potential additional victims of Gacy. Investigators have long suspected that Gacy may have killed more than the 33 confirmed victims, and Hattula's case remains one of several that have been scrutinized in connection with the serial killer. However, no arrests, litigations, or formal murder charges have been filed in relation to Hattula's death.
