Ed Gein's House: Photos of America's Most Disturbing Crime Scene - Full Details Inside
The name Ed Gein has become synonymous with unspeakable horror. His crimes, discovered in the small town of Plainfield, Wisconsin, in 1957, not only shocked the nation but also profoundly influenced the horror genre, inspiring iconic characters like Norman Bates in "Psycho," Leatherface in "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," and Buffalo Bill in "The Silence of the Lambs." While much has been written about Gein's motivations and the psychological complexities that led to his gruesome acts, the physical reality of his farmhouse – the scene of his depravity – remains a chilling testament to the darkness that can reside within the human psyche. This article delves into the details of the Ed Gein case, focusing on the disturbing discoveries within his home and the enduring impact of his crimes on American culture.
Table of Contents:
- The Initial Discovery: A Missing Woman and a Horrific Find
- The Inventory of Horror: What Was Found Inside Gein's Home?
- Ed Gein's Mental State: Unraveling the Mind of a Killer
- The Aftermath: The House's Fate and Gein's Confinement
- Gein's Legacy: The Enduring Influence on Pop Culture
- Human Skulls Used as Bowls: Gein had meticulously cleaned and preserved human skulls, repurposing them as decorative bowls and ashtrays.
- Chairs Upholstered with Human Skin: The furniture in Gein's home was not merely old or dilapidated; it was covered in tanned human skin, stretched and sewn together to create macabre coverings.
- A Wastebasket Made from Human Skin: Similar to the chairs, a wastebasket was fashioned from human skin, further illustrating Gein's grotesque fascination with human remains.
- A Lampshade Made from a Human Face: Perhaps one of the most disturbing items, the lampshade was crafted from the skin of a human face, stretched and shaped to fit over a frame.
- A Corset Made from a Female Torso: Gein had meticulously skinned a female torso and fashioned it into a corset, which he reportedly wore.
- Leggings Made from Human Skin: Similar to the corset, leggings were made from the skin of human legs, further highlighting Gein's desire to inhabit or become the women whose remains he possessed.
- Masks Made from Human Faces: Gein had created masks from the faces of his victims, preserving their features in a terrifying and grotesque manner.
- Nine Vulvas in a Shoe Box: This particularly disturbing find revealed the extent of Gein's obsession and the lengths to which he went to collect and preserve human remains.
- Various Body Parts in Jars and Boxes: Throughout the house, police found various body parts, including organs, preserved in jars and boxes, indicating a systematic collection and storage of human remains.
The Initial Discovery: A Missing Woman and a Horrific Find
The investigation into Ed Gein's crimes began with the disappearance of Bernice Worden, the owner of the Plainfield hardware store, on November 16, 1957. Suspicion quickly fell upon Gein, who had been seen in the store that morning and had purchased antifreeze. When police arrived at Gein's farmhouse, located just outside Plainfield, they were unprepared for the scene that awaited them.
"The first thing they found was Bernice Worden's body, hanging upside down in a shed, gutted like a deer," recounts Harold Schechter, a true crime historian and author of "Deviant." This initial discovery was just the tip of the iceberg. The subsequent search of the farmhouse revealed a macabre collection of human remains and artifacts crafted from human body parts, transforming the investigation from a missing person case into a horrifying murder investigation.
The sheer scale of the horror within Gein's home was unprecedented for its time. While murder was not uncommon, the bizarre and deeply disturbing nature of Gein's activities set him apart, solidifying his place in the annals of criminal history. The discovery of Worden's body was the catalyst, but the true horror lay within the walls of the farmhouse itself.
The Inventory of Horror: What Was Found Inside Gein's Home?
The inventory of items found inside Ed Gein's farmhouse reads like a catalog of nightmares. Police meticulously documented each disturbing object, painting a chilling picture of Gein's twisted world. Among the most shocking discoveries were:
The sheer volume and variety of these items painted a horrifying picture of Gein's activities. He was not merely a murderer; he was a grave robber and a craftsman of the macabre, transforming human remains into objects of twisted art. The discovery of these items sent shockwaves through the nation, forcing people to confront the darkest aspects of human behavior.
The Source of the Remains: Grave Robbery
While Gein confessed to the murder of Bernice Worden and Mary Hogan (a tavern owner who disappeared in 1954), he claimed that most of the remains found in his home were obtained through grave robbery. He admitted to exhuming the bodies of recently deceased women from local cemeteries, targeting those who resembled his deceased mother.
"He said he'd open the graves and take the bodies back to his house," explains Robert Bloch, author of "Psycho," who drew inspiration from the Gein case. "He was looking for his mother, essentially, trying to recreate her." This statement sheds light on the possible psychological motivations behind Gein's actions.
Gein's claims were largely corroborated by the condition of the graves he targeted. Authorities found several graves that had been disturbed, with coffins opened and bodies missing. This confirmed that Gein was not only a murderer but also a grave robber, adding another layer of horror to his crimes.
Ed Gein's Mental State: Unraveling the Mind of a Killer
Understanding Ed Gein's mental state is crucial to comprehending the motivations behind his horrific actions. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia and other mental disorders, which likely contributed to his distorted perception of reality and his fascination with death and decay.
Gein had a deeply troubled childhood, dominated by his overbearing and religiously fanatical mother, Augusta. She preached to him and his brother about the evils of the world, particularly the sins of women. After his father's death and his brother's accidental death, Gein was left alone with his mother, further solidifying her influence over him.
"His mother was the center of his universe," notes Dr. George Arndt, a forensic psychiatrist who studied the Gein case. "Her death left a void that he tried to fill by recreating her, both literally and figuratively." This suggests that Gein's actions were driven by a deep-seated desire to resurrect his mother and to reclaim the security and stability he felt he had lost.
Gein's mental state was further complicated by his isolation and lack of social interaction. He lived a solitary life on his farm, with limited contact with the outside world. This isolation likely exacerbated his mental illness and allowed his fantasies to fester and grow.
The combination of a traumatic childhood, mental illness, and social isolation created a perfect storm that led to Gein's descent into madness. While his mental state does not excuse his crimes, it provides a framework for understanding the complex factors that contributed to his horrific actions.
The Aftermath: The House's Fate and Gein's Confinement
Following Gein's arrest and the discovery of the horrors within his home, the farmhouse became a focal point of morbid curiosity. People flocked to Plainfield to catch a glimpse of the infamous property, turning it into a temporary tourist attraction.
However, the townspeople of Plainfield, understandably traumatized by Gein's crimes, wanted nothing to do with the house. It was deemed a public nuisance and a symbol of the town's darkest hour. In 1958, the farmhouse was mysteriously destroyed by a fire. While the cause of the fire was never officially determined, it was widely believed to be arson, likely committed by someone seeking to erase the memory of Gein's crimes.
As for Gein himself, he was found legally insane and unfit to stand trial. He was committed to the Central State Hospital for the Criminally Insane in Waupun, Wisconsin, where he spent the rest of his life. He was later transferred to the Mendota Mental Health Institute in Madison, Wisconsin, where he died of respiratory failure in 1984 at the age of 77.
The destruction of the farmhouse and Gein's confinement marked the end of a dark chapter in Plainfield's history. However, the memory of his crimes and the images of the horrors within his home continue to haunt the town and the nation.
Gein's Legacy: The Enduring Influence on Pop Culture
Ed Gein's crimes have had a profound and lasting impact on popular culture, particularly in the horror genre. His story has inspired numerous books, films, and television shows, solidifying his place as one of the most infamous and influential criminals in American history.
As mentioned earlier, Gein served as the inspiration for Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho," Leatherface in Tobe Hooper's "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," and Buffalo Bill in Jonathan Demme's "The Silence of the Lambs." These iconic characters all share similarities with Gein, including their troubled relationships with their mothers, their fascination with death, and their propensity for crafting objects from human remains.
"Gein's story is so disturbing and so compelling that it's impossible to ignore," says Stephen King, the master of horror. "He represents the ultimate nightmare: the ordinary man who harbors unspeakable evil." King himself has drawn inspiration from Gein's crimes in his own work, further highlighting the enduring influence of his story.
Beyond these specific examples, Gein's legacy can be seen in the broader themes of horror, including the exploration of madness, the fear of the unknown, and the fragility of the human psyche. His story serves as a reminder that evil can lurk in the most unexpected places and that the line between sanity and insanity can be frighteningly thin.
The enduring fascination with Ed Gein's crimes is a testament to the power of horror to both terrify and captivate. His story forces us to confront the darkest aspects of human nature and to grapple with the uncomfortable truths about the potential for evil that resides within us all.
Ed Gein's crimes represent a disturbing chapter in American history, a stark reminder of the darkness that can exist within the human psyche. The photos of his farmhouse, revealing the macabre collection of human remains and artifacts, serve as a chilling testament to his depravity. While the house is gone and Gein is no longer alive, the memory of his crimes and the influence of his story continue to resonate in popular culture, solidifying his place as one of the most infamous and influential criminals of all time. His legacy serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of isolation, the fragility of mental health, and the enduring power of horror to both terrify and fascinate.
