The third instalment of the Netflix true-crime anthology series, Monster: The Ed Gein Story, has been grabbing a whole lot of attention lately. The story revolves around the real-life story of Ed Gein. For the unversed, Ed Gein was a notorious murderer of Plainfield, Wisconsin, who was also known as the ‘Butcher of Plainfield’. The series had already sparked gossip around, with its disturbed lead. People have been continuously digging into information about Ed, his history, life and more. One of the most asked questions had been ‘Did Ed kill his brother, Henry?’
While some reports claim that Ed actually killed his brother, Henry, others suggested that it was just due to a health issue that Henry passed away. So, while people continue to find information about this scenario, let’s take a look at who Henry Gein was. Well, for those who are yet to indulge themselves in the shocking tale of Ed Gein through the series, this article is a spoiler alert!
Who was Ed Gein’s brother, Henry Gein?
Ed Gein and Henry Gein were born to Augusta Gein and George Philip Gein. From childhood, Ed and his brother were reportedly raised in a pressurised atmosphere around their religious mother and abusive father. Reportedly, while their mom, Augusta, used to read the Bible to them and never let them socialise, while ruling the household with preachings about the sins of lust and desire, their dad used to beat the duo on a daily basis. While Ed had a complicated relationship with his mom, his brother used not to fall for it, as reported.
If a report by A&E Crime + Investigation is to be believed, Ed Gein and Henry’s mom used to stop them from social interactions, leading them to live in isolation. Augusta used to tell her kids that all of the sins in the world had been caused by women and alcohol, which the two brothers used to disagree.
Was it Ed who killed his brother, Henry Gein?
However, Ed had a strong connection to his mother, which Henry never had, and he used to oppose his mom’s beliefs, and even asked his brother not to talk like their mom. Ed couldn’t take it the way Henry criticised his mom. As shown in the series, Henry told Ed that he would escape to be with his lady love, and also advised his little brother to get away from the grip of their mother. While they were conversing, Ed distracted him and hit him with a wooden log on the back of his head, leading Henry to die. Later, he dragged Henry’s body into the woods and set fire to his mortal remains, and then informed his mom and the investigators. It’s worth mentioning that there was no proof whether Ed actually killed Henry; however, the series implied as such.
On the other hand, several other reports also claimed that Ed and Henry were battling a fire in the woods when the latter suffered a heart attack and passed away. Other reports have claimed that there had been multiple bruises on Henry’s body, and it was Ed who filed a missing persons report on his brother, and later led the investigators exactly where his body was, which made it pretty obvious what might have happened. The official reason for Henry’s death was ruled out as asphyxiation, and no autopsy was performed on Henry, but reportedly several investigators were in wonder if it was Ed who was behind all of it.
Who played the role of Henry Gein in the series Monster: The Ed Gein Story?
Nothing much is known about Henry Gein’s life, except that he was not interested in the chains his mother tried to spread, claiming that women were the cause of all the sins in the world. The idea can be found in the fact that Henry wanted to escape and get married to his lady love, while Ed was not even allowed to talk to or go out with other girls, and he even agreed to this condition imposed by his mother. All of these have been shown on the series, and the actor who played the role of ‘Henry’ was none other than Hudson Oz. Hudson is known for his roles in Joker: Folie à Deux, American Horror Stories and Grotesqueri. Hudson did an amazing job while playing the role of Ed’s brother, Henry. Given the seriousness of this project, one thing is assured: each of the actors had to give their best, and Hudson was no exception.
More about Ed Gein
Ed Gein’s gruesome crimes in his hometown gathered widespread notoriety over the years, leading it to be the subject and inspiration for filmmakers to make a cinematic version. Some of the movies which deal with this topic are Psycho (1960), Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), and Silence of the Lambs (1991). Ed Gein was disturbed by the death of his mother, Augusta, and it led him to do some questionable acts, including murders. He used to dig graves and take out the corpses, and then carried them to his home to use them to make objects.
After he was caught in 1957, he admitted to murdering two women, and later, 10 bodies were found at his home, as reported. After his arrest, he reportedly said that he was in a daze when he killed these women and collected the dead bodies. Investigators shared that Ed thought that by doing this, he could bring his mother back from the dead. As Ed Gein was mentally ill, he was not found guilty of two murders, citing insanity. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was confined to psychiatric hospitals. He was there until he passed away in 1984 at the age of 77.
Do you think it was Ed Gein, who might have killed his brother, Henry? Let us know your thoughts on Ed Gein and the series!
Also Read: Who Was Ed Gein? Triggered By Mom’s Death, Killed 2, Robbed Graves, Did Disturbing Things To Corpses