Human lampshades and bone ornaments – the horrifying true story behind Monster’s Ed Gein on Netflix

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Ed Gein is a famously disturbing killer from history, but surprisingly, many people haven’t heard of him. Now, Netflix is creating a show about his life.

Warning: we go into graphic detail below about Gein’s crimes

Many are calling this the most disturbing season of Monster so far, and it’s understandable why it’s getting so much attention, given its subject: Ed Gein. Previous seasons covered Jeffrey Dahmer and the Menendez brothers, but Gein isn’t a household name. Despite this, his horrifying crimes served as the basis for fictional characters like Buffalo Bill in Silence of the Lambs, Leatherface in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Norman Bates from Psycho.

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Let me tell you, when the police raided Ed Gein’s place back in the 1950s, after they’d arrested him, what they discovered was seriously messed up. I mean, it was the kind of thing that I bet haunted those officers for the rest of their lives. It was truly shocking. You can read more about the case here, but trust me, it’s not for the faint of heart.

The woman they were looking for was found decapitated, suspended by her ankles within the building. Investigators also found that he had hoarded human organs and skulls, and disturbingly, crafted clothing and accessories from human skin. The discoveries included a lampshade made from a deceased person’s face, and chairs covered in human skin upholstery.

Monster: The Ed Gein Story is the third installment in this anthology series and is certainly not for sensitive viewers. It features Charlie Hunnam (known from Sons of Anarchy and Queer as Folk) in the role of Gein, alongside Laurie Metcalf of Roseanne, who plays his demanding mother.

‘Ed Gein is likely one of the most important figures of the 20th century, but many people aren’t familiar with his story,’ explained Ryan Murphy, executive producer and co-creator, to Netflix’s Tudum. ‘He had a significant impact on some of the most notorious serial killers of that era.’

So who was this terrifying man?

Edward Gein was born in Wisconsin, USA, in August 1906. His father was a quiet man who struggled with alcohol, and his mother, Augusta, was deeply religious and very controlling. She constantly warned Ed and his older brother, Henry, about the dangers of desire and the importance of resisting evil, and she preferred to keep them close to home to shield them from temptation. As children, Ed and Henry were also physically abused by their father.

I’ve read that the family actually moved to a farm just outside of Plainfield around 1915, and apparently, Ed rarely left the house except for school. People said he spoke slowly and had a lazy eye, which, sadly, made him a target for bullies – everyone thought he was just a bit socially awkward, you know?

In 1940, their father, George, passed away from a heart attack, leaving Ed and Henry to support the family. They did various temporary jobs, and once, while trying to clear land by burning vegetation on their property, a fire broke out. Tragically, the fire took Henry’s life. He was discovered lying face down, and died from smoke inhalation. While the fire was officially the cause of death, some people later wondered if Ed had been responsible for what happened to his brother.

After Henry died, it was just Ed and his mother living together. He became incredibly focused on her, almost to an unhealthy degree. He stopped dating and cut himself off from friends and social life, except for when he was at work.

After Augusta died in 1945, Gein became increasingly withdrawn. He sealed off her bedroom, keeping it exactly as she’d left it – a sort of memorial to her – while allowing the rest of the house to become dirty and run-down.

It’s believed he began researching cannibalism and the horrific acts of the Nazis, specifically focusing on figures like war criminal Ilse Koch. Following this, he started desecrating the graves of recently deceased women who reminded him of his mother, using remains to create disturbing accessories.

Back in 1954, Mary Hogan, who ran a tavern, vanished. Then, three years later, Bernice Worden, a 54-year-old widow who owned a hardware store, also disappeared. Investigators found blood inside her shop, and the last known visitor was a man named Ed, age 51, who had purchased a gallon of antifreeze.

After his arrest, police searched Gein’s house and uncovered disturbing evidence. They found the remains of Bernice, along with human skulls, a corset – and various other items – crafted from human skin, and Mary’s skull.

During questioning, Gein reportedly confessed to police that he had shot and killed Worden and Hogan, both of whom reminded him of his mother. He also admitted to robbing graves to obtain skin which he used to make accessories. It was also stated that his intention was to create a ‘skin suit’ to bring his deceased mother back to life, as he remained fixated on her. Some accounts indicated he planned to actually wear the suit. Source

Even though he confessed to the murders, Ed Gein entered a plea of not guilty due to insanity. Following his diagnosis of schizophrenia, he was found unable to participate in a trial and was instead sent to Central State Hospital in Waupun, Wisconsin.

Wow, it took over ten years, but they finally said he was able to go to trial in 1968. Then, in November of that year, he was actually convicted of murdering Worden. But here’s the crazy part – the court decided he was insane when it happened, so they sent him right back to the same State Hospital. It’s just… a really complicated case, and I’ve been following it for a while now. It’s a lot to take in.

As a result, even though Ed Gein admitted to some wrongdoing, he was never put on trial or found guilty of murdering Mary Hogan.

After all that drama, he kind of disappeared from the public eye, though he did try to get out of prison in 1974, but it didn’t work. Sadly, his health started to go downhill a few years after that. By July 1984, they moved him to the Mendota Mental Health Institute, and that’s where he eventually passed away at 77 from complications with lung cancer and respiratory issues. It’s a really sad end to his story.

Monster: The Ed Gein Story is available on Netflix from 3 October

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2025-10-02 17:51