Ed Gein
Ed Gein (born August 27, 1906, La Crosse, Wisconsin, U.S.—died July 26, 1984, Madison, Wisconsin) was an American murderer whose gruesome crimes gained worldwide notoriety in the 1950s, when it was discovered that he robbed graves and used body parts to make household items and other objects. In 1968 Gein was found guilty of murdering a woman, though he also confessed to killing another person. In addition, some believe he murdered his elder brother. Deemed insane, Gein remained in a mental hospital until his death in 1984. He inspired numerous books and horror films, the latter of which include Psycho (1960), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), and The Silence of the Lambs (1991).
Citation Information
Article Title:
Ed Gein
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
08 July 2025
Access Date:
July 11, 2025