Editing Ed Gein

|Image = Edgein.jpg

|type of villain = Mentally Ill Serial Killer

|crimes = [[Murder]]<br>Mutilation<br>[[Arson]]<br>[[Cannibalism]]<br>[[Kidnapping]]<br>[[Necrophilia]]<br>[[Misogyny]]

 

'''Edward Theodore Gein''' (August 27th, 1906 - July 26th, 1984) was an American serial killer and [[Body snatching|body snatcher]] also known as '''The Mad Butcher''' and '''The Butcher of Plainfield'''. Gein is widely regarded among the most infamous serial killers in American history, his only two confirmed victims were Bernice Worden and Mary Hogan. Aside from the murders, Gein was known for human trophy collecting and robbed bones and flesh from many local graveyards in his hometown of Plainfield, Wisconsin where most of his crimes were committed.

Edward Gein had a hellish childhood; his mother, [[Augusta Gein]], was a pious woman who would read Gein and his brother Henry handpicked Bible verses from the Old Testament, often of a [[Misogyny|misogynistic]] or grotesque context. Ed's father, George, was an alcoholic which caused a significant amount of tension in his family. Augusta detested her husband due to his alcoholism and inability to hold down a job, which many speculate may have been a contributing factor in Gein's descent into insanity.

Edward was extremely close to his mother, who tried to control every aspect of his life, when at school she would punish him for establishing friendships with any of his classmates. Many of the staff at his school saw Eddie as abnormal, he was shy and possessed a rather eccentric personality, which included him randomly laughing for no apparent reason and strange mannerisms.

Gein's father died in 1940 at the age of 66 from heart failure attributable to his lifelong alcoholism, Gein and his brother Henry had to work various odd jobs in order to sustain a suitable income for themselves and their mother. Gein, unlike his brother Henry, was particularly close to his mother, who even when Gein was an adult, tried to control every aspect of his life due to his naivety. In 1944, Gein and Henry were burning away vegetarian marsh which went out of control, and drew the attention of the local fire brigade; Henry's body was found later that day and his death was attributed to choking to death in the fire. Gein now devoted his entire time to looking after his mother, whose health was significantly ailing after suffering a stroke following Henry's death. Gein was diagnosed schizophrenic and it has been speculated his mother suffered from a similar condition.

Augusta died from a second stroke later in 1945 at the age of 67, leaving Gein distraught. The author Harold Schechter, who wrote a book documenting Ed Gein's life, said regarding her death, Gein had "lost his only friend and one true love. And he was absolutely alone in the world." Following her death, Gein worked a series of odd jobs.

Gein's trial began in 1957, but he pleaded not guilty due to reason of insanity, a plea which was accepted by the court. He was confined to a mental institution in Wisconsin where he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, a trait that many speculate his mother also possessed.