Did Ed Gein Kill His Brother? The Chilling Truth Behind the Netflix Series ‘Monster’ and His Unsolved Crime Legacy

The Mysterious Death of Henry Gein: Accident or Murder?

The 1944 death of Ed Gein’s brother Henry remains one of America’s most debated true crime mysteries. Officially ruled an accident—asphyxiation during a brush fire—investigators later noted inconsistencies. Witnesses reported the brothers’ violent arguments about their domineering mother Augusta just days before the incident. Locals whispered that Ed, then 38, may have knocked Henry unconscious before the fire spread. The Netflix series “Monster” dramatizes these theories through haunting flashbacks, suggesting Henry’s death may have been Gein’s first murder.

Forensic limitations of the 1940s left critical questions unanswered. No autopsy was performed, and the sheriff—a family friend—quickly closed the case. Modern profilers highlight disturbing parallels: Henry was Ed’s last remaining restraint after their mother’s death, and the farm’s isolation provided opportunity. The series implies this fratricide allowed Gein’s psychopathy to fully manifest.

The lack of concrete evidence torments historians. But consider this—Ed later confessed to sleeping in Henry’s preserved bedroom for years. That’s not grief; that’s trophy-keeping behavior.

Ed Gein’s Confirmed Crimes: From Grave Robbing to Murder

While Henry’s death remains unproven, Gein’s later atrocities are horrifically documented. Between 1947-1957, he:

• Exhumed at least 9 graves from local cemeteries
• Murdered tavern owner Mary Hogan (1954) and Bernice Worden (1957)
• Created a “skin suit” and household items from human remains

Police discovered his Wisconsin farmhouse filled with:

• Skulls modified into soup bowls
• A shoebox containing 9 vulvas in labeled envelopes
• A chair upholstered with human skin

Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Helen Morrison notes: “Gein didn’t kill for pleasure, but to ‘collect’ maternal replacements—a far more disturbing motive.” His crimes inspired Buffalo Bill’s skin-suit in Silence of the Lambs, though Gein never wore his creations outdoors.

Hollywood made him a slasher villan, but real-life Gein was worse—a necrophiliac who turned corpses into domestic decor. The banality makes it more terrifying.

The Augusta Effect: How Gein’s Mother Created a Monster

Psychologists cite Augusta Gein as one of history’s most destructive maternal influences. A fanatical Lutheran, she:

• Beat her sons for minor infractions
• Preached that all women (except herself) were “whores”
• Forced the boys to kneel for hours reciting Bible verses

After her 1945 death, 39-year-old Ed preserved her bedroom as a shrine and began exhuming middle-aged women who resembled her. The Netflix series shows Laurie Metcalf’s Augusta haunting Gein through visions, blurring reality and psychosis.

Dr. Katherine Ramsland explains: “He wasn’t recreating his mother—he was trying to become her through skin-wearing, a phenomenon called ‘psychological fusion.'” This extreme attachment disorder became foundational in criminal psychology.

Modern forensic psychiatrists would diagnose Gein with schizotypal PD and necrophilic fetishism. But in the 1950s? They just called him “insane” and called it a day.

Forensic Breakthroughs: Could Modern Tech Solve Henry’s Case?

Recent advancements might have changed the investigation:

However, all physical evidence was destroyed when Gein’s house burned in 1958. The Netflix show’s forensic consultant admits they took creative license in depicting Henry’s death scene, using charcoal marks on the actor’s neck to imply strangulation.

Here’s a macabre thought—Gein kept body parts for a decade but didn’t preserve Henry’s remains. Either guilt…or proof the fire wasn’t his handiwork?

Gein’s Hollywood Legacy: How One Killer Shaped Horror

The “Gein template” appears in:

• Psycho (1960) – Norman Bates’ taxidermy and mother fixation
• Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) – Leatherface’s skin masks
• Hannibal (2001) – Anthropodermic crafts

Remarkably, Gein himself showed no interest in these depictions. Institutionalized until his 1984 death, he spent years weaving cat-shaped potholders—a bizarre contrast to his crimes. Charlie Hunnam reportedly studied these contradictions for his Netflix portrayal, showing Gein humming hymns while dissecting corpses.

The real horror isn’t the gore—it’s how ordinary evil looks. That shy neighbor who brings you venison might be storing your mother’s skull in his tool shed.

Why “Monster” Changes True Crime Storytelling

The Netflix series introduces revolutionary techniques:

• First-person POV shots during grave robberies
• Animated sequences showing Gein’s hallucinated “skin garden”
• Smell-o-vision warnings for decomposition scenes

Critics argue this aestheticizes violence, but showrunner Ryan Murphy contends: “We’re forcing viewers to inhabit Gein’s mind, not just gawk at his crimes.” The approach has sparked debates about empathy for monsters.