How Old Was Ed Gein When He Started Murdering

Ed Gein: The Man, The Myth, The Murderous Timeline

Alright, gather 'round, folks. I've got a tale to spin about a fella named Ed Gein. Now, you might know him as the inspiration behind some of Hollywood's most chilling characters, like Norman Bates in 'Psycho'. But today, we're not here to talk about the movies. We're here to talk about the man himself, and when he started his... less than stellar career in the murder department.

Meet Ed: The Quiet Neighbor

Picture this: it's the 1950s, in the quiet, unassuming town of Plainfield, Wisconsin. Ed Gein is your average Joe. He's a farmhand, lives with his mom (yes, you heard it right, he's a mama's boy), and keeps to himself. He's the kind of guy who'd blend into a crowd so well, you'd forget he was there. Until, of course, you found out he wasn't so average after all.

Now, you might be wondering, "When did this nice, quiet guy decide to pick up a hobby like... murder?" Well, buckle up, because we're about to dive into the twisted timeline of Ed Gein.

From Farmhand to... Something Else

Ed's story starts to take a turn when his mom, Augusta, kicks the bucket in 1945. Now, Ed's a grown man, but he's still living at home, and his mom's not exactly the warm, fuzzy type. She's strict, religious, and, according to Ed, a real taskmaster. So, when she dies, Ed's left to his own devices, and boy, does he make the most of it.

You see, Ed's always had a bit of a... fascination with women. Not in the way you might think, though. He's got this weird idea that if he could just wear their skin, he could become one of them. I know, I know, it's a bit out there. But hey, we're all a little weird, right?

First Kill: The One That Started It All

So, fast forward to 1954. Ed's been living alone on the farm for nearly a decade, and he's been... practicing his craft. He's been grave-robbing, see. He's got this thing for women who remind him of his mom. He's exhumed bodies, taken their skin, and made himself little... trophies. But he's never killed anyone. Until now.

Enter Mary Hogan, a local tavern owner. She's a tough cookie, and Ed's got his eye on her. He decides she's just the right woman to help him become... well, more womanly. So, on the night of December 8, 1954, Ed does the deed. He shoots Mary, takes her body back to his farm, and gets to work. And just like that, Ed Gein, the quiet farmhand, becomes Ed Gein, the murderer.

Ed Gein - Killer, Grave Robber, Murdered, Children and Wife

But here's where things get a little weird. Ed doesn't just kill Mary and call it a day. No, no, no. He keeps her body, and he uses it to make himself a... well, a 'woman suit'. I know, I know, it's gross. But hey, we're all here to learn, right?

More Murders, More Mayhem

After Mary, Ed takes a little break. But in 1957, he's back at it. This time, his target is a woman named Bernice Worden. She's a hardware store owner, and Ed's got his eye on her. He lures her to his farm under the pretense of buying anti-freeze, shoots her, and takes her body back to his place. But here's where things go from bad to worse.

You see, Ed's not exactly the cleanest of killers. He leaves a trail of clues, and the police start to close in. They raid his farm, and that's when they find it: the motherlode of weird. They find Bernice's body, sure, but they also find a whole host of other... things. There's a wastebasket made from a human skull, a belt made from a human leg, and even a face mask made from a human face. It's a veritable smorgasbord of the macabre.

And that, my friends, is how Ed Gein went from quiet farmhand to notorious murderer. He was 57 years old when he started his killing spree, and he managed to pack a whole lot of weird into just a few short years. So, the next time you're feeling a little... off, just remember: at least you're not Ed Gein. And hey, maybe lay off the grave-robbing. Just a thought.