A recently released true crime series penned by the writer of Netflix’s Jeffrey Dahmer tale has stirred strong reactions among viewers, leaving them both disturbed and intrigued.
The latest production from renowned filmmaker Ryan Murphy delves into the chilling narrative of Ed Gein, a notorious figure who emerged as one of the most heinous killers in American history through a spree of murders and grave robbing in 1950s Wisconsin.
Part of Murphy’s ‘Monster’ anthology, which also explores The Lyle and Erik Menendez saga, the series offers a glimpse into the psyche of the infamous criminal for the first time, yet numerous enigmas remain unresolved.
Dubbed The Butcher of Plainfield, Gein’s gruesome acts earned him a place as the inspiration for fictional monsters like Hitchcock’s Psycho and The Silence of The Lambs’ Buffalo Bill. He led a reclusive life in a desolate Plainfield residence, once shared with his family, evading detection for years until a local woman’s disappearance in 1957 prompted law enforcement to uncover his macabre secrets.
Upon searching the property, authorities stumbled upon eerie artifacts, including skull-shaped bowls, masks crafted from human facial skin, and a skull with a “face mask” identified as belonging to one of Gein’s victims, the 54-year-old tavern owner Mary Hogan.
Gein faced charges for the murders of Mary and another woman, Bernice Worden, aged 58. Confessing to both homicides, the twisted killer had decapitated and disemboweled Bernice, whose head was found on his premises. The victims bore a striking resemblance to Gein’s mother.
While Gein’s atrocities against women are widely known, the circumstances surrounding his brother’s demise have left Netflix enthusiasts yearning for more answers.
In the series’ debut episode, viewers witness Gein viciously assaulting his older brother Henry (portrayed by Hudson Oz), striking him with a wooden object and attributing the injuries to a fire when authorities intervened.
Although no fire is shown, officials note bruises on Henry’s body. He appears as the killer’s initial victim in the series, but Gein was never formally charged in connection to Henry’s death, sparking questions about the true events.
Born on August 27, 1906, Edward Theodore Gein was the second son of George and Augusta Gein. George, described as an alcoholic who abused his sons, passed away from heart failure in 1940. Following their father’s demise, Ed and Henry managed the family farm while engaging in various community jobs.
Concerned about Ed’s intense attachment to their devoutly religious mother Augusta, Henry, the more stable sibling, sought a life with a divorced mother of two. During a routine burning of marsh vegetation in May 1944, a fire necessitating assistance from the local fire department ensued. Subsequently, Ed reported Henry missing, and his lifeless body was discovered on the property with signs of prior death and no burns.
The cause of death was determined as asphyxiation leading to heart failure due to smoke inhalation. Reports indicated bruises on Henry’s head, leading to speculation of foul play. Augusta suffered a stroke and passed away a year later, fueling suspicions that Ed may have been involved in Henry’s demise, a claim he consistently refuted.
Gein pleaded insanity and was deemed unfit for trial. He was institutionalized at Central State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, later transferred to the Mendota Mental Health Institute, until his death from lung cancer in 1984 at the age of 77.