Monster: The Ed Gein Story Episode 7 Recap — Did Ed Really Contact His Idols?

The penultimate chapter of Netflix’s chilling true-crime series, Monster: The Ed Gein Story, takes viewers deep inside Ed Gein’s fractured mind. Episode 7, released this week, follows the aftermath of Ed’s crimes being exposed and explores whether he truly connected with infamous figures like Ilse Koch and Christine Jorgensen — or if it was all a delusion.

This episode builds tension by blurring reality and hallucination. It also uncovers Ed’s mental breakdown after his arrest and confinement, showing a disturbing mix of grief, fantasy, and growing psychosis.

Ed’s Belongings Auction and His Mental Decline

Episode 7 opens with Deputy Worden still grappling with his mother Bernice’s gruesome death at Ed’s hands. Desperate for justice, he plans to auction off Ed’s possessions to claim damages. Sheriff Schley warns him against profiting from the killer’s notoriety, but Worden refuses to back down. The auction draws crowds eager to see the killer’s home, but chaos follows — Ed’s property is mysteriously burned down, leaving only his car to sell.

Meanwhile, Ed is confined to a mental hospital after doctors deem him unfit to stand trial. A nurse named Salty strikes a deal to get Ed supplies in exchange for a cut of his estate money. Ed asks for three ham radios, claiming he wants to reach out to his “idols.”

Ed’s Conversations With Ilse Koch and Christine Jorgensen — or So He Thinks

Ed believes he contacts Ilse Koch, a notorious war criminal imprisoned in Germany. Their eerie conversation shows two prisoners sharing their pain and isolation. Ilse tells Ed not to let the world label him a monster. Later, he attempts to reach Christine Jorgensen, the famous trans woman and public figure. Ed confides confusion about his gender and sexuality, while Christine — disturbed but compassionate — explains that he might not be transgender but a gynephiliac, meaning someone who is extremely attracted to women’s bodies.

But there’s a dark twist: none of these conversations were real. A hospital doctor later reveals that Ed’s requested radios were never sent. The voices and discussions came from Ed himself. His supposed chats with Ilse and Christine were hallucinations born from severe mental illness.

Ed’s Schizophrenia Diagnosis and Escalating Violence

The episode takes a disturbing turn when Ed, spiraling deeper into delusion, attacks new head nurse Roz with a chainsaw — only to see her alive the next day. Terrified and confused, he confesses to the hospital doctor, who finally diagnoses him with schizophrenia. The hallucinations, voices, and imagined radio calls all stem from his psychosis.

Despite his horrific actions, the doctor offers Ed a sliver of hope. He gives him medication to silence the voices and help him feel whole. In one of the episode’s most haunting scenes, Ed breaks down, takes the pills, and hugs Roz, signaling both surrender and fragility.

Episode 7 confirms that Ed never really contacted Ilse Koch or Christine Jorgensen. These encounters were the product of his deteriorating mental health, underscoring the series’ portrayal of Gein as a man consumed by delusion and darkness.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: Did Ed Gein actually talk to Ilse Koch in real life?

No. The series reveals Ed imagined the entire conversation due to schizophrenia.

Q2: Did Ed Gein contact Christine Jorgensen before his death?

No. The radios he ordered were never sent. His conversation was a hallucination.

Q3: What mental illness was Ed Gein diagnosed with in the show?

Ed is diagnosed with schizophrenia, explaining his hallucinations and voices.

Q4: Was Ed Gein declared unfit for trial?

Yes. He was sent to a mental hospital instead of prison after being found insane.

Q5: What happens at the end of Episode 7?

Ed begins taking medication after his schizophrenia diagnosis and embraces his nurse Roz.