True crime fanatics will likely have spent their weekend bingeing the new Monster offering on Netflix, an anthology series that explores the life and crimes of America's most notorious murderers and serial killers. So far, we've had The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, which focuses on the brothers who killed their parents in 1989, and The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, which over 10 episodes, unpacks the sadistic murders committed by the “Milwaukee Monster” between 1978 and 1991.
In the third installment of the series created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, the pair look into the heinous crimes of Ed Gein, another serial killer, who also had a penchant for grave robbing and making household items from the deceased's body parts.
Though Gein was charged with the 1957 murder of hardware store owner Bernice Worden in 1968 (he also later admitted to killing tavern owner Mary Hogan in 1954), he was never sentenced to prison. Rather, he was deemed legally “insane” and was remanded to a psychiatric institution where he remained until his death in 1984, aged 77.
During the final episodes of the show, viewers see Gein finding a “new purpose” in the hospital—helping the FBI catch Ted Bundy, another serial killer who operated between 1974 and 1978. Granted, Netflix does explain that this is a dramatized version of real-life events, and the synopsis teases that, “as the past and present blur, his terrifying legacy looms larger than ever.” All of which begs the question, did Gein actually help track down Bundy, or was it all in his imagination?
Was Ed Gein involved in catching Ted Bundy?
In a nutshell: Ed Gein had nothing to do with the capture of Ted Bundy, who was found to have kidnapped, raped and murdered dozens of young women and girls in the 1970s.
Despite the show making you believe Gein was involved in the case, it actually transpires that it's all a figment of his imagination—a representation of Gein's schizophrenic personality, and inability to separate fact and fiction.
The show also sees FBI agents John Douglas and Robert Ressler (who are real people) paying Gein a visit in the hospital, where they seek his help to understand the psyche of Bundy. However, this is false.
In reality, Bundy was initially arrested after attempting to flee a patrol car. He was later connected to his crimes and sentenced to death. Bundy was executed on 24th January, 1989, aged 42.
Monster: The Ed Gein Story is available to stream on Netflix right now.
