Ed Gien Age, Height, Death, Net Worth, Biography

Ed Gien aka Edward Theodore was an American murderer and body snatcher, infamously known as the ‘Butcher of Plainfield.’

His notoriety stems from a dark and isolated upbringing in a small farming community, shaping his life in profound ways.

Ed Gein’s twisted tale has left an indelible mark, influencing various fictional characters in music, movies, and literature, such as ‘Norman Bates’ in ‘Psycho’ (1960) and ‘Ezra Cobb’ in ‘Deranged’ (1974).

Who was Ed Gien? 

Edward Theodore ‘Ed’ Gein, infamously known as the ‘Butcher of Plainfield,’ was an American murderer and body snatcher.

Born into a small farming community, he lived an isolated and repressive childhood with little social interaction.

His life story has influenced the creation of several fictional characters in music, movies, and literature, such as ‘Norman Bates’ in ‘Psycho’ (1960), ‘Ed Gein’ from The Ziggens’ album ‘Rusty Never Sleeps’ (1992), ‘Ezra Cobb’ in ‘Deranged’ (1974), and ‘Ed Gein: The Butcher of Plainfield’ (2007).

Early Life of Ed Gien 

Ed Gien was born on 27 August 1906. He would have been 116 years of age if he would have been alive, but he died at the age of 77.

His zodiac sign is Virgo.

He was born in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. Ed Gien had an American nationality and belonged to the white ethnic group.

Ed Gien’s father was named George Philip who was an alcoholic and his mother was Augusta Wilhelmine Gein, who was religiously fanatic. He had a brother named Henry George Gein.

Born into a small farming community, he lived an isolated and repressive childhood with little social interaction. He was obsessively devoted to his mother and stayed with her until her death.

He was obsessively devoted to his mother and stayed with her until her death.

During his childhood, his family moved to Plainfield, Wisconsin. He was known to have an isolated childhood, leaving home only to attend a local school in the states.

As a child, he was shy, had poor social skills, and was often targeted by bullies. His teachers remembered him exhibiting queer mannerisms, such as laughing randomly.

His mother was an ardent follower of Lutheranism. She shared knowledge on topics like the innate immortality of the world, the sins of carnal desire, and drinking with her sons.

She discouraged any contact with outsiders to avoid her children from being influenced by others.

Thus he had a very lonely childhood.

Ed Gien Career 

Ed Gein’s story had a major impact on filmmakers, writers, and musicians. Several movies based on his life were made.

Some of these movies include ‘Deranged’ (1974), ‘In the Light of the Moon (2000), and ‘Ed Gein: The Butcher of Plainfield’ (2007).

His crimes paved the way for a new genre of art called ‘black humor.’

Examples of this include the song ‘Dead Skin Mask’ from the ‘Slayer’ album ‘Seasons in the Abyss’ (1990), ‘Nothing to Gein’ from Mudvayne’s album ‘L.D. 50’ (2001), and ‘Ed Gein’ from The Ziggens’ album ‘Rusty Never Sleeps’ (1992).

The car that he used to carry the corpses from the graveyard was sold at a public auction for a sum of $760 to an enterprising carnival show operator.

Ed Gien Personal Life 

Ed Gien was never married and did not have any children of his own. This was because he did not have the social skills to socialize and form lasting bonds.

Ed did not have the emotional intellect to form any relationships and thus lived a lonely life after the death of his mother.

The crimes that he committed around Plainfield, Wisconsin, gathered notoriety after authorities discovered that he had exhumed corpses from graveyards to fashion keepsakes and trophies from their skin and bones.

Later, he also confessed to murdering two women in the years 1954 and 1957. However, as he was found mentally unfit for trial, he was transferred to a mental health facility.

Years later, he underwent trial for murder and was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment, which he spent at the mental hospital.

Ed Gein died of lung cancer on 26 July 1984, in ‘Goodland Hall’ at the ‘Mendota Mental Health Institute.’

His body was buried at the ‘Plainfield Cemetery.’ Over the years, visitors vandalized the gravestone by chipping off pieces.

In the year 2000, a majority of the gravestone was stolen. It was recovered the following year and is currently maintained by a museum in Waushara County.

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Ed Gien Net Worth 

Ed Gien had an estimated net worth of $800,000 as of 2022. This was also the net worth he had at the time of his death in the year 1984.

All his major sources of money that he collected came from the crimes he committed ranging from murder to lootery.

Ed Gien did accumulate a huge amount of money during his lifetime and saved a huge amount of it. Per year he used to earn at least $ 40,000 but he had nothing or no one to spend his money on.

However, since he spent most of his life after being convicted, in prison, all his money was taken off and he was left with nothing as such.

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Physical Appearance 

Ed Gien was a handsome man in his prime time and was liked by a lot of females whom he used to lure to secluded places. He had a height of about 5 feet 7 inches or around 170 centimeters or 1.70 meters.

He weighs around 65 kg or 143 lbs approximately. He had deep-set blue eyes and brown hair which added to her charm.

Apart from being physically attractive, he also had a very appealing personality which made many people like him.

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