Grave robber and the real-life inspiration for Norman Bates and Leatherface.

Ed Gein, the mild-mannered handyman from Plainfield, Wisconsin, shocked the world when police discovered what lay behind his farmhouse walls: human remains, skin masks, and grisly trophies made from corpses. But beneath the horror lies a deeper psychological question — what drove him to do it? 

In this episode of The A–Z of Psychopaths, Simon Ford dissects the life and crimes of Ed Gein, the so-called “Butcher of Plainfield.” They explore his twisted devotion to his mother, Augusta, his macabre “projects” inspired by loneliness and delusion, and his lasting influence on horror icons from Psycho to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Finally, we use three key traits from the Hare Psychopathy Checklist to examine whether Ed Gein really fits the profile of a psychopath — or whether he was something even more disturbing.

The A–Z of Psychopaths is a Psycho Killer production.

Special Mention: Laurie Metcalf’s extraordinary performance as Augusta Gein in Monster: The Ed Gein Story (Netflix) brings chilling realism to one of the most controlling maternal figures in criminal history. In our view, she deserves an Emmy. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.

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