On November 17, 1957, police in Plainfield, Wisconsin, investigated the Plainfield farmhouse of Ed Gein after a routine missing-person inquiry. They discovered the body of his mother, Augusta Gein, in the kitchen. Her body had been exhumed from the family plot at the Plainfield Cemetery, and evidence at the scene indicated that Ed had also taken her from her grave and kept parts of her body inside the home. This verified account details what Ed Gein did to his mother, the discoveries made by investigators, and the forensic and cultural significance of the case.
Who Was Ed Gein
Edward Theodore Gein (August 27, 1906 – July 26, 1984) was an American body snatcher and serial killer who lived alone with his parents on a farm in rural Wisconsin. His mother was a devoutly religious woman who instilled strict beliefs about sin and female death. After her death in 1945, Gein’s psychological state deteriorated, leading to a pattern of grave robbery and the creation of objects made from human remains. His crimes, discovered in 1957, influenced numerous fictional works but were grounded in a specific, tragic family history.
The Death of Augusta Gein
Augusta Gein died on December 29, 1945, at age 77. The official cause of death was a heart attack. Following her death, Ed Gein prevented her from being cremated and demanded an open casket viewing. He kept her in the family home for as long as possible, and local reports from the time indicated he slept in the room next to her body for several nights following her death. After her burial in the Plainfield Cemetery, Gein continued to visit her grave and, in time, removed her body from the site.
What Ed Gein Did After Her Death
Over the years following Augusta’s death, Ed Gein engaged in body snatching from local cemeteries. He exhumed multiple women, but focus remains on his mother because of the symbolic role she played in his life and crimes. Investigators found evidence that Gein took bodies from graves, including his mother’s, and processed human tissue inside his home. He fashioned items from human skin and bone, including a belt and lampshades, though the extent to which these items specifically involved his mother’s remains was limited compared to the overall scope of his behavior.
The 1957 Discovery at the Gein Farmhouse
In 1957, sheriff’s deputies investigating the disappearance of hardware store owner Mary Hogan visited the Gein property. After questioning Ed Gein, they searched the farmhouse and found human remains, including a box containing his mother’s heart. Her head was preserved in a bucket. Law enforcement also discovered graves that had been disturbed, leading to the exhumation of Augusta Gein’s body. An autopsy concluded that her body had been kept at the farmhouse for an undetermined period following her exhumation.
Condition of the Body and Evidence
The state of Augusta Gein’s body when recovered indicated she had been exposed to air and handled post-burial. The exact duration between her exhumation and recovery was not specified in publicly released investigative summaries, but the physical condition suggested a period consistent with exposure prior to discovery. Items recovered from the home, including a bowl fashioned from a human skull and facial skin, were documented in official reports but were not all directly tied to his mother. Investigative records emphasized the coherent pattern of behavior rather than individual artifacts.
Legal Proceedings and Psychiatric Evaluation
Ed Gein was charged with murder but was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 1960. He spent the remainder of his life in a state psychiatric facility in Mendota, Wisconsin. During evaluations, Gein claimed he had wanted a ‘woman’s body’ and viewed his mother as the most important person in his life. He described his actions as a way to keep her with him. His mental state and the influence of his mother’s teachings were central to the psychiatric assessments that followed his arrest.
Forensic and Cultural Impact
The Ed Gein case remains a cornerstone in forensic science and criminal psychology because of the extreme nature of the body snatching and the symbolic preservation of his mother. The case redefined how investigators considered crime scene preservation and offender motivation. It also highlighted the long-term psychological effects of parental influence and the potential for grave robbery to escalate into criminal behavior. Modern examinations of the case focus on mental health, family dynamics, and the chain of custody for recovered evidence.
Timeline of Key Events
| Date or Period | Event | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| December 29, 1945 | Augusta Gein dies | Triggers Ed Gein’s prolonged fixation and subsequent criminal behavior |
| 1945–1957 | Period of grave robbery and body snatching | Indicates sustained pattern of behavior around his mother’s death |
| November 17, 1957 | Discovery at the Gein farmhouse | remains a reference point in forensic investigations|
| 1960 | Found not guilty by reason of insanity | Establishes legal precedent for mental state considerations in extreme cases |
| 1984 | Ed Gein dies in custody | End of a notorious case that shaped crime scene analysis and cultural narratives |
Key Takeaways
- Ed Gein exhumed his mother’s body and kept parts of her remains inside his home after her burial.
- The 1957 discovery included her heart in a box and her head preserved in a bucket.
- Gein was found not guilty by reason of insanity and lived in a psychiatric facility until his death.
- The case influenced forensic science, crime scene methodology, and theories on criminal motivation.
- Public records show his behavior was part of a broader pattern of grave robbery, not limited to his mother alone.
FAQ
Reader questions
Was his mother’s body the only one he tampered with?
No. While his mother’s case is the most prominent due to the symbolic importance he placed on her, Gein exhumed multiple bodies from cemeteries over a period of years.
What happened to his mother’s remains?
After the 1957 investigation, Augusta Gein’s body was autopsied, then cremated. Her ashes were interred in a new location to prevent further disturbance. Items claimed to be from his mother, such as a skull bowl, were documented in evidence but represented one aspect of his broader collection of human remains.
How did investigators connect him to the grave robberies?
Through interrogation, evidence found in the farmhouse, and comparisons between the disturbed graves and Gein’s access to cemetery records, investigators linked the exhumations to him. The absence of forced entry and the geographic pattern of grave disturbances supported his culpability.
Did he ever speak publicly about his mother?
In psychiatric evaluations and limited interviews, Gein spoke about his mother as the dominant influence in his life. He described wanting to preserve her presence and admitted to taking her body from the grave, though he did not provide detailed public confessions beyond those made during legal and medical examinations.