Horror movies are often “inspired” by real horror stories, or in some instances it can be the complete opposite. One man, known locally in the Plainfield, Wisconsin community as “weird old Eddie” would go on to inspire a few tales of horror following a discovery made by police in a dilapidated farmhouse on November 17, 1957.

Edward Theodore “Ed” Gein was born on August 27, 1906 in La Crosse County, Wisconsin to George and Augusta Gein who were born and raised in Wisconsin. Gein also has an older brother, Henry George Gein. Augusta was not fond of her husband, but the marriage continued due to the pair’s religion and its views on divorce. The family relocated to Plainfield, Wisconsin so Augusta would be able to protect her two sons from the influential world around them. The two boys were often told about the sin of drinking as well as informing them that all women, except herself, were classed as prostitutes. As well as the two boys carrying out chores on the farm and attending school, Augusta would often set time aside to read from the Bible each afternoon.

Ed Gein had a poor social development. He was the target of bullies because of his mannerisms and his effeminate demeanour. He would also be scolded by his mother should he try to make friends. Despite this, Ed Gein performed well in school. Despite both boy’s efforts to impress their mother, their efforts were often fruitless. Their mother believed they would grow to be failures, the same, as she perceived their father.

George Gain suffered from a heart attack in 1940, so it was then up to the Gein brother to take up employment so they could help with the household expenses. Both worked as handymen, and Ed Gein would also babysit, a position that saw him develop a closer relationship with children than he did with adults. Henry Gein soon saw the world from a different perspective, a perspective that saw his mother presented in a different light. He also became very concerned at Ed’s overly close relationship with his mother. Henry Gein would often speak ill of their mother around Ed.

A brush fire occurred on the Gein’s farm on May 16, 1944. Both of the brothers went to extinguish the fire, and were reportedly separated, with Ed losing sight of his brother. The aftermath of the fire saw Ed Gein report the disappearance of his brother to the police. A search party was soon led to Henry Gein by Ed himself. Police expressed concerns about how the body of Henry Gein was found, the body had not even been touched by fire and bruising was found on his head. Despite this, the country coroner listed the cause of death as asphyxiation. There were investigators who thought Ed Gein was responsible for the death of his brother, but no charges were ever filed.

Following the death of Henry Gein, Ed Gein lived alone with his mother, who passed away on December 29, 1945 following a number of strokes. Ed Gein boarded up rooms and resided in a small room located next to the kitchen. He would go on to take an interest in cult magazines, medical encyclopaedias, pulp horror novels and pornographic magazines. He had also developed an unhealthy obsession with female anatomy, an obsession that led Ed Gein to partake in grave digging in Wisconsin cemeteries. He would then dissect the bodies, keeping parts such as organs, livers and hearts. He would also keep parts that were of great interest to him, such as female genitalia, which he would fondle. HE would strip the skin from his victims and would either drape it over a tailor’s dummy, or wear it himself and dance around. He became a recluse within the community, which would in turn, keep people away from the now neglected farm.