Did Ed Gein Really Kill His Brother? Exploring the Frightening Mystery of a Notorious Case

Did Ed Gein Really Kill His Brother? Exploring the Frightening Mystery of a Notorious Case

Did Ed Gein murder his brother? Read the terrifying details, theories, and historical accounts about Ed Gein's dark past and the death of his brother Henry.

The Spooky Tale of Ed Gein

When someone hears Ed Gein's name, they most likely think about horror films, awful and gory murders, as well as a real-life inspiration for the unforgettable fictional characters such as Norman Bates in Psycho and Leatherface of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. However, the most disturbing questions that continues to perplex us is did Ed Gein kill his brother?

Ed Gein's story includes odd details, disturbing discoveries, and puzzles that still amaze criminologists and true crime aficionados alike. One of those puzzles includes the death of his older brother, Henry Gein.

Today we will lay out who Ed Gein was, what the strange circumstances of Henry's death were, and how Ed Gein may be involved.

Who was Ed Gein?

Before we answer the question, it is important to know who Ed Gein was and why his story remains so shocking.

Real name: Edward Theodore

Born: August 27, 1906, La Crosse, Wisconsin

Job Title: Agricultural Laborer

Famous For: Abuse of corpses, murder, and bizarre and unique use of human remains

Ed spent the majority of his life living in Plainfield, Wisconsin, in extreme solitude with his overbearing mother, Augusta, and drunken father, George. His early youth was shaped by strict, religious morals his mother espoused, calling the outside world, sinful and corrupt.

This toxic environment would later breed Ed’s crimes and might be the underlying cause of the events which surrounded Ed’s brother Henry.

Henry Gein: The Lost Brother

Ed's brother, Henry George Gein, was born in 1901, making him four years older than Ed. Unlike Ed, Henry was more questioning of their mother's teachings and the influence she had over their lives.

Henry was described as more sociable, and while Ed lived in seclusion, he had a girlfriend and appeared to achieve a somewhat-normal and ordinary life.

Some have suggested that Henry even openly questioned Ed’s obsessive devotion to their mother, which contributed to a rift between the brothers.

The two evidently lived different lifestyles between their childhood and adulthood, which proved to be a conflict within the Gein home.

The Fire of 1944

The most unusual event that took place in Ed Gein’s family story occurred on May 16, 1944.

A fire occurred in a marshy area surrounding the Gein farm.

Both Ed and Henry were supposedly engaged in extinguishing the fire.

At one point, Ed claimed that he lost sight of Henry in the smoke and flames.

Later, Ed went to the authorities and reported his brother missing. Remarkably, Ed led the authorities directly to Henry’s body, which was lying face down in an area that appeared untouched by fire.

Concerns about Death of Henry:

The circumstances investigators encountered when they arrived at the scene of Henry's death raised several red flags in terms of needing additional investigation:

Cause of Death:

Henry’s death was officially ruled a result of asphyxia (smoke inhalation).

On the other hand, there are reports that indicate Henry had sustained injuries to his head, which also raised concerns of foul play.

Ed's Actions:

An officer found it suspicious on Ed's part that he was unable to "lose" his brother in the fire, but was perfectly comfortable taking them straight to the shell of his brother's body without skipping a beat.

While Ed's demeanor was suspicious, authorities had no clear evidence to accuse Ed.

No Evidence of an Autopsy:

At that time, authorities did not want to pursue a full investigation or detailed autopsy.

Did Ed Gein Really Kill His Brother?

The big question still begs for an answer. Did Ed Gein kill his brother Henry, or was it an accident?

Case for an Accident:

In rural Wisconsin, fires were common, and accidents happen when people's trying to put out those fires.

It is possible Henry succumbed to either fatigue or smoke inhalation.

Case for Murder:

The reported bruises may indicate some sort of head trauma.

And, Henry openly referenced grousing about their mother's teachings, albeit Ed partnered with, idolized, Augusta. Maybe this was a motive.

Considering the horrific crimes Ed committed - it is easy to suspect that perhaps Ed was capable of violence a little earlier in his youth.

While no proven evidence exists that Ed murdered Henry, the relationship and circumstances are interesting enough that many criminologists have alluded to Henry's death as a conundrum - if not sinister.

Importance of Henry’s Death in Ed Gein’s Life Story:

Henry's death proved to be significant:

With the loss of Henry (the last of their family) and their father (previously) deceased, Ed was left alone with his mother.

The death (1945) of Augusta then plunged Ed into complete isolation and was potentially (immanently) correlated to Ed's descent into madness.

Some theorists assert that had Henry lived, Ed may never have descended so deeply into his criminal behavior.

Henry’s suspicious death is often used to mark the beginning of Ed’s darker tendencies.

Ed Gein’s Other Crimes

After Henry’s death, Ed Gein became darker:

He became isolated, living alone in the deteriorating family home.

From the late-1940s to early-1950s, he began raiding graves, collecting human remains, and creating gruesome household items like lampshades made of skin.

In 1957, he was charged with the murder of Bernice Worden, which ultimately revealed what he had been up to.

Ed is deemed legally insane and spends the remainder of his life in mental hospitals until his death in 1984.

Ed Gein's Popular Culture Legacy

The chilling story of Ed Gein inspired several famous horror characters:

Norman Bates (Psycho)

Leatherface (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre)

Buffalo Bill (The Silence of the Lambs).

The uncertainty about Ed murdering his brother adds to the creepy enigma of life, and he is also notorious among those discussing true crime.

Experts Exploration and Speculation

True crime researchers and criminologists have been discussing Henry's death for decades.

Some folks claim it was an accidental death, which was poorly investigated for the time period. Others theorize that Ed's subsequent crimes indicate he had some experience with violence prior to Henry's death, and Henry was likely his first victim. Ultimately, without modern forensic science, we may never know what really happened.

In the end, we have a story that will never die. Did Ed Gein really kill his brother in real life? I guess the answer lies in the hands of history. Official records indicate Henry died of smoke inhalation in a fire, but there were many suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. However, that can also be said about his brother Ed over the subsequent years of horrible crimes.

We know this much: Henry Gein's unusual death would lead Ed down an alternate, lonely, and chaotic future—setting the scene for some of America's most horrific criminal history. Even today, Ed Gein is not only living on because of the horrifying things that he committed but because of the unresolved questions about his life and the circumstances surrounding his horrifying behavior, which includes the death of his brother.