A notorious American serial killer, whose gruesome acts inspired iconic films like Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, is now the subject of Netflix’s latest show ‘Monster: The Ed Gein Story’.
Ed Gein, also known as the ‘Butcher of Plainfield’ and the ‘Plainfield Ghoul’, was convicted of murdering two women in rural Wisconsin during the 1950s. Apart from the tragic deaths of bar owner Mary Hogan and hardware store owner Bernice Worden, Gein gained global attention for his macabre hobby of crafting household items and a skinsuit from stolen corpses, exposing a dark reality that shattered the romanticized image of rural America.
Born on August 27, 1906, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Gein grew up in a dysfunctional family environment. His mother, Augusta, instilled strict beliefs, while his alcoholic father, George, died when Gein was a teenager. Isolated by his mother, Gein and his brother Henry were kept away from society, leading to Gein’s descent into violent obsessions after his mother’s death in 1945.
Living as a recluse on the family farm after his mother’s passing, Gein’s horrifying crimes came to light in 1957 when Bernice Worden vanished, and police found evidence of her connection to Gein. The subsequent search of Gein’s home revealed a gruesome scene, with human body parts fashioned into household objects and a skin suit, along with disturbing trophies like masks made from human faces.
Gein’s atrocities shocked the world, with media coverage highlighting his chilling acts and the disturbing artifacts found in his home. Dubbed the “Plainfield Ghoul” and the “Mad Butcher”, Gein’s legacy left a dark mark on Plainfield, leading to a decline in the town’s population post-revelation.
Diagnosed with schizophrenia and psychosis, Gein was deemed insane in 1958 and spent the rest of his life in mental health institutions. He passed away in 1984 at Mendota Mental Health Institute, where he was buried in Plainfield Cemetery, the same location he once desecrated.
Gein’s twisted fixation on his mother, gruesome murders, and grave-robbing spree served as inspiration for infamous Hollywood characters like Norman Bates, Leatherface, and Buffalo Bill. In the Netflix show ‘Monster’, British actor Charlie Hunnam portrays the role of Ed Gein, bringing to life the horrifying tale of this disturbed individual.