Edward Theodore Gein

Serial Killer

Edward Theodore Gein: The Crimes of the Plainfield Killer

Edward Theodore Gein, commonly known as Ed Gein, was born on August 27, 1906, in Wisconsin and became one of the most notorious criminals in American history. Living on an isolated farm outside Plainfield, Wisconsin, Gein appeared to many neighbors to be a quiet, eccentric handyman who occasionally performed odd jobs around town. His crimes remained hidden until November 1957, when the disappearance of a local businesswoman led police to his property. What investigators discovered revealed that Gein was not only a murderer but also a grave robber who had spent years removing human remains from cemeteries and transforming them into disturbing objects.

Confirmed Murder Victims

Although Gein is frequently described as a serial killer, only two murders were conclusively associated with him. He admitted killing both women. He was ultimately tried only for the murder of Bernice Worden. The dates below reflect the documented or accepted dates on which the two women were killed.

• Mary Hogan December 8, 1954 Pine Grove, Wisconsin: Mary Hogan, approximately 51 years old, operated a tavern in the Town of Pine Grove in Portage County, several miles northwest of Plainfield. She was last seen alive at her tavern on December 8, 1954. Later that day, a customer entered the building and discovered that Hogan had vanished. Blood and other evidence indicated that she had been seriously injured and removed from the tavern. Her disappearance remained unsolved for almost three years. After Gein's arrest in 1957, investigators discovered Hogan's skull and facial remains in his farmhouse. During questioning, Gein admitted that he had shot Hogan. December 8, 1954, the day of her disappearance, is accepted as the date of her death.
• Bernice Worden November 16, 1957 Plainfield, Wisconsin: Bernice Worden, 58, operated the Worden Hardware and Implement Store in Plainfield. On the morning of November 16, 1957, Gein entered the store and purchased antifreeze. Worden disappeared shortly afterward. Her son, Deputy Sheriff Frank Worden, entered the store later that afternoon and found blood on the floor and the cash register open. A sales receipt showed that Gein had been the last recorded customer. Police arrested Gein that evening and searched his farm outside Plainfield. In an outbuilding they discovered Bernice Worden's body. She had been shot with a .22-caliber firearm, and her body had been mutilated after death. Her head had been removed, and her body had been suspended upside down and processed in a manner investigators compared to the dressing of a deer.

The Disappearance and Murder of Mary Hogan

Mary Hogan's disappearance in 1954 was an important unsolved case in central Wisconsin long before anyone suspected Gein. Hogan ran a tavern in the Town of Pine Grove and lived in or near the establishment. On December 8, a visitor arrived at the tavern and found it strangely empty. Blood inside the building suggested that Hogan had been attacked, and evidence indicated that her body had been dragged away. A search followed, but investigators could not locate her remains. Gein was familiar with Hogan's tavern. According to later accounts of the investigation, he even made unsettling jokes about her disappearance, but people who heard the remarks did not realize that he had direct knowledge of what had happened. The truth emerged only after police searched his property in November 1957. Inside Gein's home they found Mary Hogan's skull as well as facial skin that had been preserved like a mask. Gein subsequently admitted shooting her. The discovery finally explained a disappearance that had remained a mystery for nearly three years. ...

Confirmed Victims: (2)

Mary Hogan Age: (51), Date of Death: 1954-12-08

Suspected Victims:

Henry Gein Age: (43), Date of Death: 1944-05-16

Georgia Weckler Age: (8), Date of Death: 1947-05-01

Victor Travis , Date of Death: 1952-11-01

Ray Burgess , Date of Death: 1952-11-01

Evelyn Hartley Age: (15), Date of Death: 1953-10-24

Ed Gein - Wikipedia