Ed Gein

Ed Gein: The Butcher of Plainfield

Early Life and Influences

Ed Gein was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, on August 27, 1906. His father, George, was an alcoholic who left the family when Ed was a young boy.

Ed's mother, Augusta, was a religious fanatic who raised Ed and his older brother, Henry, in a strict and isolated environment.

Augusta taught her sons that women were evil and that sex was sinful. She also forbade them from having any contact with the outside world.

Crimes

In 1944, Ed's brother, Henry, died under mysterious circumstances. Ed was the only other person present at the time of Henry's death, but he claimed that Henry had accidentally shot himself.

In 1954, Ed was arrested for the murder of Bernice Worden, a local hardware store owner.

During his confession, Ed admitted to killing Worden and two other women, Mary Hogan and Victor Henesey. He also confessed to digging up the bodies of several other women from local cemeteries.

Motives

Ed's motives for his crimes remain unclear. However, several factors may have contributed to his behavior, including his childhood experiences, his mother's influence, and his own mental illness.

Mental Illness

Ed was diagnosed with schizophrenia after his arrest. However, it is unclear whether he was schizophrenic before he committed his crimes or whether his mental illness developed as a result of his experiences.

Some experts believe that Ed's schizophrenia may have led him to believe that he was a woman and that he needed to collect body parts to complete his transformation.

Legacy

Ed Gein's crimes shocked and horrified the nation. He became known as the "Butcher of Plainfield" and his story has been the subject of numerous books, articles, and films.

Gein's case has also had a significant impact on the field of criminology. His crimes have been used to illustrate the dangers of mental illness and the importance of early intervention.