Who Did Ed Gein Kill? Facts vs Fiction in Netflix’s ‘Monster’

Ed Gein confessed to killing two women: tavern owner Mary Hogan in 1954 and hardware store owner Bernice Worden in 1957. Netflix’s new season, Monster: The Ed Gein Story, premiered on Oct. 3, 2025. The show revisits the case and blends dramatization with verified history.

The question “who did Ed Gein kill” often gets lost in urban legend. The record is clear. Authorities proved two murders, not dozens.

The verified record: who did Ed Gein kill

Police tied Gein to Worden after she vanished from her Plainfield, Wisconsin store in November 1957. Investigators found her body on his property. Gein admitted to killing Hogan as well.

Both victims were shot. Gein was later found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to psychiatric care. He remained institutionalized until his death in 1984.

What fueled the myths were the grisly discoveries at his farmhouse. Investigators documented masks and a body “suit” made from human skin. They also found skulls repurposed as household items.

Gein told investigators he robbed graves. He targeted fresh burials after reading obituaries. He said he often took only parts of the remains, sometimes an entire body.

Despite rumors, authorities did not establish cannibalism. Gein also denied necrophilia. The confirmed facts center on two murders, grave robbing, and post-mortem mutilation.

What the series dramatizes—and what the files say

Netflix frames the story through Gein’s isolated life and fixation on his mother. Charlie Hunnam plays Gein. Laurie Metcalf portrays Augusta Gein, while Addison Rae appears as Evelyn, a fictionalized figure who draws his attention.

The show depicts the suspicious 1944 death of Gein’s brother, Henry. That death was ruled accidental at the time. There was no charge linking Ed to Henry’s death.

Where the series matches the record is in the crime-scene evidence. It shows the skin suit, the masks, and the grave robberies. It also reflects Gein’s lasting impact on horror, echoing inspirations for Psycho, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and The Silence of the Lambs.

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How the case reshaped true crime and horror

Gein’s story sits at the intersection of real violence and pop culture. Filmmakers drew on the details of his crimes to build fictional killers. That influence still shapes horror in 2025.

The renewed attention from Monster can blur lines between legend and record. But the fundamentals stand: two confirmed murders, extensive grave robbing, and a home filled with macabre artifacts. Keeping that distinction helps audiences judge the drama without rewriting history.

Bottom line: who did Ed Gein kill? Mary Hogan and Bernice Worden. The rest of the infamy comes from what was found after the murders. The Netflix retelling adds context, but the confirmed victim count remains two.

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FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: Who did Ed Gein kill?

Mary Hogan in 1954. Bernice Worden in 1957. Those are the only confirmed victims.

Q2: Did Ed Gein kill his brother Henry?

Henry died in 1944 during a brush fire. The death was ruled accidental. No charges linked Ed to the death.

Q3: Was Ed Gein a cannibal?

No confirmed evidence of cannibalism. Gein denied it during questioning.

Q4: How many graves did Ed Gein rob?

Gein said he made dozens of cemetery visits. Investigators corroborated multiple exhumations of recently buried women.

Q5: How accurate is Netflix’s ‘Monster’ about Ed Gein?

Core facts match the record: two murders, grave robbing, and the skin suit. Some personal interactions and timelines are dramatized.