Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan have established a thrilling anthology series, Monster, by depicting stories based on high-profile true crimes. After covering the gruesome case of Jeffrey Dahmer in the first season and the confusing case of the Menendez brothers in the second season, the director and writer duo are back to tell the story of the serial killer, Ed Gein. Charlie Hunnam, from the Sons of Anarchy fame, is all set to showcase his acting skills with this complex and intense role. Here’s everything you need to know about the real story that has inspired the series.
Ed Gein, a.k.a ‘The Butcher of Plainfield, ‘ cases inspired the modern horror film genre
Psycho, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Silence of the Lambs, all these three iconic horror and gory movies from different decades have one thing in common. They are all inspired by the story of Edward ‘Ed’ Gein. A farmer, carpenter, tanner, and a local of 1950s rural Wisconsin, Ed did all sorts of odd jobs around town. Spending his childhood in isolation, Ed was said to be obsessed with his mother, whose death led him towards a path of monstrosity.
After the disappearance of 58-year-old Bernice Worden, the police’s search led them to the dilapidated and secluded farm of Ed Gein. The details of what the authorities found in the residence still send shivers down the spines of people. Apart from Berince Worden’s dead body, the police found the house full of furniture, made up of human leather. However, the horrors do not stop here.
As per reports, Ed Gein had started to rob graves after the death of his mother. In a state of daze, he targeted the graves of women who were near his mother’s age. After exhuming the deceased bodies, he used his expertise as a tanner to create his horrifying furniture. Apart from grave robbing and desecrating the departed souls, Ed had acknowledged killing two women, Bernice Worden and Mary Hogan. Ed Gein’s brother had also passed away much earlier than his mother. Though it was ruled out as heart failure then, experts later stated that Ed’s first murder could have been that of his brother.
Ed Gein was linked to more disappearances around the time
Between the death of his mother and the murder of Bernice Worden, Ed Gein was linked with the disappearance of several other women. However, a lie detector test proved him not guilty of those crimes. Moreover, most of the victims had been young girls, meanwhile, Ed was known to target women who resembled his mother. A male neighbour of Ed Gein and two hunters who were near his property had also mysteriously vanished. The serial killer was linked to these crimes as well, but it was ruled out, given that the three victims were men.
Charlie Hunnam to play Ed Gein, who was ruled not guilty
Ed Gein was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was found to be incompetent for a trial. However, after doctors stated that he was able enough to participate in the defence, Ed was found guilty. But in a second trial, ‘the Butcher of Plainfield’ was found ‘not guilty by reason of insanity’. Confined in a mental asylum, Ed Gein spent the rest of his life in the hospital until he passed away at the age of 77.
Talking about his infamous property and the horrifying paraphernalia inside, the property and everything inside it were set to be auctioned and would have been turned into a tourist attraction. However, ten days before the auction could take place, the property was burnt to the ground due to an ‘accidental fire’. Though people suspected it to be a case of purposeful arson, the cause was never determined. Interestingly, Frank Worden was the Fire Chief around that time. He was also the son of Ed Gein’s last victim, Bernice Worden.
What are your thoughts on the gruesome crimes of Ed Gein, which got him the menacing nickname of ‘the Butcher of Plainfield’?
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