‘Monster: The Ed Gein Story’: Did Ed Gein Really Kill His Brother in Real Life?

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The latest season of Netflix’s ‘Monster’ focuses on Ed Gein, and it raises a disturbing question. The series spends a lot of time on the 1944 fire that happened on the Gein farm and the death of his brother, Henry. After watching, viewers are left to consider whether the show’s interpretation of events aligns with what actually happened, or if the story has been fictionalized for dramatic effect. It’s a haunting portrayal, and makes you question what’s fact and what’s fiction. The details are unsettling.

The true story lies hidden within a murky part of Wisconsin’s past. Ed was well-known in Plainfield as a reserved handyman who generally preferred his own company. The documentary series builds upon this image, creating a disturbing depiction of a man whose later offenses provided inspiration for the characters in ‘Psycho’ and ‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,’ which explains why the initial enigma surrounding his life continues to captivate people even today. It’s a truly unsettling story.

This is what the official records state. On May 16, 1944, firefighters were called to a brush fire on the Gein property. After the fire was extinguished, Ed Gein reported his brother, Henry, missing. Searchers quickly discovered Henry’s body nearby, but he hadn’t been burned. Local law enforcement first considered the death accidental. However, the coroner eventually determined that Henry died of asphyxiation. No charges were filed in the case.

Over time, people began to wonder about the circumstances surrounding the death. A biographer noted that Henry had head injuries, leading to years of discussion about whether Ed might have been responsible. Despite this, the police didn’t investigate it as a murder, and the original ruling of accidental death stood. This ambiguity continues to fascinate fans of true crime. The Netflix series acknowledges this uncertainty, but officially, the death was and remains classified as an accident.

Details surrounding Henry’s case are presented alongside undisputed facts about Ed. Ed was arrested in 1957 following the disappearance of Bernice Worden, which led investigators to his farm. What they found there shocked the nation and would later become a part of American horror history. As one Wisconsin sheriff who saw the scene described it, “You’ve read fictional stories about werewolves and similar things and dismissed them as imaginary. But this was too horrifying to even discuss,” and “It just didn’t seem real.”

Get to know the real-life figure behind the terrifying tale.

Charlie Hunnam stars in Monster: The Ed Gein Story. Available October 3.

— Netflix (@netflix) September 4, 2025

Ed admitted to the murders of Worden and Mary Hogan, the owner of the local tavern. After being declared legally insane, he lived out his life in a state hospital. It was these confirmed crimes-not the lingering mysteries surrounding Henry-that truly established his notoriety and served as inspiration for fictional killers who came after him.

Did Ed Gein actually kill his brother? Officially, the answer is no. Records state his brother died from accidental asphyxiation. Though people have suspected foul play for many years, and the story continues to be explored in fiction, police never filed charges and no new proof has altered the original finding. The show’s dramatic portrayal keeps the question open, but historical records maintain the established conclusion.

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2025-10-04 12:14