America’s infamous serial killer, Ed Gein, whose heinous acts inspired iconic movies like Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, is now the focus of the latest Netflix series, ‘Monster: The Ed Gein Story.’
Known as the ‘Butcher of Plainfield’ and the ‘Plainfield Ghoul,’ Gein was convicted of murdering two women, Mary Hogan and Bernice Worden, in rural Wisconsin during the 1950s. While the murders themselves were tragic, it was Gein’s macabre habit of exhuming corpses from local cemeteries and using their remains to create household items and a skinsuit that shocked the world, revealing a dark side of rural America that shattered romanticized perceptions.
Born on August 27, 1906, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Gein grew up in a dysfunctional family environment with a strict Christian mother, Augusta, who instilled in him a warped view of women and the world, while his father, George, was a violent alcoholic. Isolated from society by his mother, Gein and his brother Henry were kept away from forming relationships outside the family. After his mother’s death in 1945, Gein’s behavior took a dark turn, leading to his descent into violent and gruesome actions, culminating in the murders and desecration of corpses.
Living as a recluse on the family farm for years, Gein’s disturbing activities came to light in 1957 when Bernice Worden went missing. Police found evidence linking Gein to the disappearance, and a search of his property uncovered unimaginable horrors, including human skin items, body parts used for macabre decorations, and masks made from human faces.
Gein’s crimes captured international attention, with headlines detailing the grotesque findings at his residence. Nicknamed the “Plainfield Ghoul” and the “Mad Butcher” by the media, Gein’s actions tarnished the reputation of Plainfield, causing a decline in its population.
Diagnosed with schizophrenia and psychosis, Gein was declared legally insane in 1958 and spent the rest of his life in mental institutions until his death in 1984. His disturbing legacy lives on in Hollywood, inspiring infamous characters like Norman Bates, Leatherface, and Buffalo Bill. In the Netflix series ‘Monster,’ British actor Charlie Hunnam portrays the chilling role of Ed Gein.
