The ‘Monster’ season 3 subject Ed Gein died at age 77 on July 26, 1984
Netflix is revisiting the case of Ed Gein in season 3 of Monster, Ryan Murphy’s true crime anthology.
Known for crimes that shocked 1950s Wisconsin — and later inspired horror classics like Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre — Gein remains one of the most infamous figures in American criminal history.
After his grisly crimes were uncovered, Gein spent his final years in psychiatric confinement far from the farmhouse that once horrified the nation.
So, how did Ed Gein die? Here’s everything to know about the last chapter of his life and where he was buried.
Ed Gein was arrested in 1957 and institutionalized
Gein was put in the spotlight in the 1950s when authorities discovered he had not only committed murder but also exhumed graves from nearby cemeteries, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
He used human remains to craft household items and clothing, including masks and bowls. It was also reported that Gein’s complicated relationship with his mother led him to create a body suit from female skin.
His crimes escalated to murder, and in 1957, he was arrested after killing Bernice Worden, a local hardware store owner, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Investigators later found the severed head of tavern owner Mary Hogan in his home, linking him to her disappearance years earlier.
A police raid uncovered gruesome evidence. The Wisconsin native filled his home with body parts, including preserved organs and genitalia. The findings fueled speculation about necrophilia, but he denied the allegation.
The media then dubbed him “The Butcher of Plainfield” and “The Plainfield Ghoul.” While Gein confessed to killing Worden and Hogan, he was only convicted of the former’s murder.
Ed Gein died in 1984 from cancer
Following his arrest, Gein was diagnosed with schizophrenia, per A&E, and declared mentally unfit for trial, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
He was committed to Central State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, then transferred to Mendota Mental Health Institute in Madison, Wis., where he remained for the rest of his life.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Gein pleaded not guilty, claiming insanity, and avoided a trial. Eventually, though, he was ruled competent and convicted of Worden’s murder during a second trial in 1968. After Gein was found guilty, a follow-up proceeding ruled he was not guilty by reason of insanity.
All the while, Gein continued to live under psychiatric care. He died at age 77 on July 26, 1984, from respiratory failure caused by cancer.
Ed Gein was buried next to his mom and brother
Gein was buried in Plainfield Cemetery, in a family plot next to his mother and brother, according to the United Press International (UPI).
But even in death, the public didn’t forget about him. Visitors began chipping away pieces of his headstone, taking them as souvenirs. The damage became so severe that caretakers struggled to maintain the site.
Ed Gein’s grave was vandalized
In June 2000, Gein’s 150-pound gravestone vanished from Plainfield Cemetery. Authorities suspected it might surface online, as other Gein-related items — including dirt from his property — had previously been sold on eBay.
Waushara County authorities initially suspected that the gravestone theft might have been linked to occult activity, per the New York Post.
Gein’s headstone was never returned to the cemetery. Today, Gein’s grave remains unmarked. The grassy patch between his mother and brother is all that remains of his final resting place.
Ed Gein’s crimes inspired Psycho, among other movies
Gein’s story has inspired countless books, documentaries and films.
Robert Bloch’s 1959 novel Psycho, based loosely on Gein’s crimes, was adapted into Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic 1960 film. Later, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Silence of the Lambs drew from Gein’s grotesque legacy.
Most recently, Netflix’s season 3 of the Monster anthology focuses on Gein, reigniting interest in his life and the cultural impact of his crimes. The show stars Charlie Hunnam as Gein and Laurie Metcalf as his brother Augusta.
