''The Butcher of Planfield'' (Edward Gein)

By Crusader1307

The ‘’Butcher of Plainfield’’ was better known as Edward Gein. His gruesome activities would immortalize the 1950s Serial Killer and Body Snatcher in several Horror Genres. Gein would serve as ‘’inspiration’’ for Robert Bloch’s Novel ‘’Psycho’’ (aka ‘’Norman Bates’’) and much later as the fictional Screen ‘’Badie’’ – ‘’Leatherface’’ from ‘’The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’’.  Gein, born in Wisconsin (US), was part of the ‘’working class poor’’, in particular – a ‘’Dirt Farmer’’. His Father, who had many skills but was ‘’Master of None’’, was a classic alcoholic (who died when Ed was young). His Mother, was a stern and hyper-religious Woman who sheltered Ed and His Brothers from any Social contact. In short, Ed and His brothers were ‘’Mama’s Boys’’. His Brothers grew to be somewhat resected as ‘’hard workers’’, but it was Ed who was ‘’attached to His Mother’s Hip’’. Ed’s oldest Brother thought that perhaps there may be evidence of ‘’improprieties’’. He even accused Ed. And that was a mistake.

A ’’freak’’ Field Fire spread thru The Gein Property and threatened other nearby Farms. After The local Fire Department extinguished the flames, a horrible discovery was made. Ed’s ‘’accusing’’ older Brother was found in the fields, dead – His body burned. Thought initially to be an accident (He was caught up and overcome by the flames), Medical Examiners found evidence that He may have been ‘’beaten in the head’’. But, no proof was leveled against Ed. Ed’s other Brothers would leave The Family soon after, leaving only Ed and ‘’Mother’’. She would last for several more years, before a stroke would end Her life. Buried in The Town (Plainfield) Cemetery, Ed began to work normal jobs. His general demeanor was nothing to cause alarm. But a series of Grave Robberies in Plainfield cause some panic. At least (10) graves had been dug up – each an ‘’Older Woman’’, to include Ed’s Mother. It was a puzzlement. But when Ed was notified of the Crime – He did not seem upset. Next, Police had to contend with several disappearances in the area – both females. When a Sheriff found the head of one of the missing Women on Ed’s Property, a search warrant was issued. What was found caused even the most ‘’professional’’ Law Enforcement Officer to gag.

Apparently, Ed (missing His Mother) – dug Her up and rudely preserved (mummified) Her remains. Dressing Her everyday, He went thru Life with ‘’her’’ as if She was still alive. But that was apparently not good enough for Ed. He continued to exhume bodies of Women of a ‘’similar age’’ (at death), to His Mother, using their remains (bones) as ‘’furniture’’ and ‘’object’s d’ arte’’. The two missing Women? Yes, that was Ed too. He skinned the Women to make a ‘’skin suit’’ that He frequently wore. Naturally, Ed Gein was arrested and charged with all the Crimes, but He was judged ‘’criminally insane’’ and therefore could not stand traditional trial. Condemned to ‘’Life in a Mental Asylum’’, He lived until 1984, fairly normal and unassuming. But Gein’s House and His Crimes, would become a type of morbid ‘’National Shrine’’, attracting many ‘’strange types’’. After many break-in’s to Gein’s House for ‘’mementos’’, it was fenced off (and eventually caught fire, burning down to ash). But this didn’t stop ‘’The Fans’’. Ed’s surviving Brother (and other Family relations), reburied ‘’Mother’’ in The Plainfield Cemetery. When Ed died in 1984, His remain were interred next to Her as well. But ‘’Fans’’ chopped and picked at His Plaque so much, that literally nothing was left. Rather than having it happen again – no replacement has been placed, and most to this day are unsure just where Ed Gein in buried within The Cemetery.