The Texas Chainsaw Massacre True Story
The real-life model for terrifying horror movie psychos like Leatherface, Buffalo Bill, and Norman Bates was a man named Ed Gein, whose actual exploits were even more shocking than the movie plots they inspired. Who was this man and what did he do that made so many filmmakers fictionalize his story over the years? Read on, if you dare…
Edward Theodore Gein was born in a small Wisconsin farming community in the early 1900s, and is one of the most notorious serial killers from Wisconsin. Gein’s mother Augusta was a controlling, domineering, and deeply religious woman who isolated Ed and taught him that women were evil. The two lived alone after the deaths of Ed’s father and brother. After her death, Ed began to act on his morbid fascination with the female body.
He studied anatomy texts and accounts of the terrible experiments performed by the Nazis in concentration camps. He then moved on to grave robbing…digging up recently buried female corpses from nearby cemeteries. He chose the bodies of women who were roughly the age of his mother at the time of her death. He dissected the bodies, keeping the sexual organs and making “suits” out of the skins (the inspiration for Buffalo Bill in Silence of the Lambs).
At some point he moved on from grave robbing to murder, choosing middle aged women similar to his mother as his victims. The reclusive Gein’s presence in town was connected to the disappearance of one local woman, and when authorities went to his isolated farmhouse, they discovered a true house of horrors. The farmhouse was filled with Ed’s ghastly souvenirs. Here are some Ed Gein crime scene photos of his house.
Among the discoveries: a decapitated and gutted female body hung upside down in the kitchen (the most recent victim); bowls made out of skulls; lampshades, chair upholstery, and a wastebasket made from human skin; nine skinned faces of women hanging on the bedroom wall; a belt made of nipples; skulls on the bed posts; leggings and a corset made from skin; and a box full of female private parts. This is only a partial list.
The remains of at least 15 female bodies were found at the house. Gein told authorities he enjoyed dressing in the female skins and masks and pretending he was his mother. He spent 10 years in a mental hospital until he was declared fit to stand trial. He was found guilty of murder…and also criminally insane. He spent the rest of his life in two different mental institutions, dying at the age of 77 in 1984.
If you want to read more about Ed Gein I HIGHLY recommend Deviant: The Shocking True Story Of Ed Gein (The Original Leatherface). The book details Ed's infamous 'murder house' and will captivate you from the moment you start reading. I literally read the entire book in one sitting.
Gein’s disturbing legacy lives on in famous movies like Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and The Silence of the Lambs, as well as Deranged, Three on a Meathook, Motel Hell, Maniac, Ed Gein: The Butcher of Plainfield, and Ed and His Dead Mother (a dark comedy with Steve Buscemi).
If you haven't already, check out our serial killer shirts - each of them are hand printed and limited edition!
More killers:
62 comments
roberthebruce
I believe in learned behavior and environment is what shapes the hearts and minds of all individuals regardless of any physical or mental issue. We are all Intelligent bipeds with AI already installed. No Two AI Individuals will (in all probability) never have the same download. So just plug the right scenario and WHAM. So be carful in what type of example we set and what we read, listen to and say to other AI’s. What…?
Jeannine Ferry
Hopefully people will start to realize that killers, criminals, drug users & prostitutes were seriously abused/neglected during their formative years by at least 1 sociopathic/narcissistic parent or caregiver. These types of people are not born that way, they’re MADE that way no matter what so called ignorant experts may claim.
Marcus
Theres no heaven or hell, none of you are living on so get it through your thick heads. Animals insects etc all have a place and are actually vital to the environment they live in. We destroy everything use up every resource then move on and do it again. Humans are a fucken disease at best and if a disease could speak it would probably be offended at that comment. You religious morons are the worst. Oh yeah and im with babylon on daniel angletti someone needs to take that motherfucker out right now!!
Arianna
I honestly love this case although it has a lot of Gore I think that it is one of the most awe-striking but it is very messed up and twisted and IDK why the movie is called the “chainsaw massacre” when a chainsaw wasn’t involved.
Paul logsdon
I don’t quite understand. But I’m understanding another side of the story. I like real events and knowing true history, of people, places and thing’s.
Spade
Gein was not a serial killer. By definition a serial killer is convicted of killing three or more people in different places and at different times with “cooling off periods.” It is a clearly defined label to which there is not enough evidence to conclude he killed more than two people. He got close, but he was stopped before he could officially be labeled a “serial killer.”
Reinhardt J lilley
I worked in a psych setting with Ed’s former nurse. She told me one day Ed seemed distraught so she asked what was going on. Ed replied I’m afraid I won’t go to heaven, her reply was it because what you did to those people? He stared no. It because what I did to my Brother. Keep in mind he was not tried or officially accused of his brothers death that I know of officially .
Bob
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) had a scene deleted, you know the bit when Sally is tied up and the Hitchhiker is trying to hit Sally over the head with his hammer, originally Grandpa gets his old knob out and starts jerking in Sally’s contorted face. But it was cut ?
Brian
He only killed three people his first one was his brother then the woman in the hardware store and the owner of the bar it’s what he did with the bodys is what is unthinkable .
Death
I was one comment that said God is a killer will that is true and as well the Devil. Good and Evil are always at war God has to sacrifice people time to time but the Devil well he just kills. But the comment about the Nazi Death Camp yea that was not by God but it was planed it was indemnity
Mark
People seem to forget that he was insane. he probably had no control over his actions. ok, there is a nature over nurture debate here, was his mother the blame for his insanity? or was he already insane to start with? Ok, the fact that he killed a few people and kept some body parts in his home was / is a bad thing… however, he was insane after all, those actions to him, are perfectly normal.
Tristen ward
Over half of the people here are fucking crazy obviously, first of all how can u idiots say that god is setting up for people to kill another WHEN ONE OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IS THOU SHALL NOT KILL, I know its not my place to judge but that doesnt make any sense to me, and I shouldn’t judge those I dont know, but dammit anybody who believes a person who kills and molest kids are gonna be exonerated when the rapture comes, ur fûckin crazy, ur a disgrace if ur a Christian and ya believe that, I don’t pretend to know all the verses in the bible but at least I wouldnt come on here saying shit when I dont know what it means or all of the story, but for someone to come on here and say the kinda shit u people are saying is ridiculous, and one of u came across as if u read the bible, but why the hell would a murderer be exonerated during the rapture, im sorry to say ut but this world is going straight to hell and it’s people like y’all whos part of to blame..AND THATS COMING FROM A DAMN 14 YEAR OLD, IGFF IVE GOT MORE SENSE THAN OVER HALF OF THE PEOPLE HERE THEN THIS WORLD IS DOOMED..but lemme tell ya I’m sick an tired of people tryna act like they know things about the world WHEN YA DONT, ya dont know if theres a god and ya can believe what ya want, but that doesnt mean ya have to be posting the crap for everyone else to see and potentially end up believing, im done with u clowns im outtie
Jeannie Dalton
As disturbing as ed geins was and others that followed him…. his story And others like it fascinate me.
Doris Slider
He didnt kill his Mother !!!!
Connor weston
There is a such thing as god it is that we humans choose to do bad
Babylon
Umm….someone should clearly be keeping tabs on Daniel John Angeletti
Deptford NJ MAN
First off there is NO such thing as GOD. And if you believe in a GOD you should believe in Santa Claus and the Easter bunny.All people have some sort of evil inside. Even your God is Evil nonforgiving at least that’s what the Bible is trying to make you think.
Daniel John Angeletti
Somehow we must realize that people who die and people who kill are fulfilling karmic roles that they themselves have absolutely no control over. Innocent victims are only innocent in theory. Otherwise the ALMIGHTY would never have permitted an atrocity to occur. The Devil and his imps need permission from God before they can bring harm on any person. ( read the Book of Job ) Oftentimes men , women and children are targeted by God Himself for strict punishment due to what they represent as living relatives of accursed tribes or individuals whom have offended God extremely. No accidents are involved in things of this nature. The Nazi Death Camps were ordained by God Himself. Serial Killers are simply the instruments of a higher power which even they themselves are totally unaware of as being related to what it is that they do as an incidental sequence of cosmic justice , no matter how heinous.
Other serial killers such as the ancient ones who fought and killed for God in His war against the Canaanites and other infidels were simply being obedient soldiers. Being serialized by God and deemed worthy for punishment is no easy feat for any victim of an atrocious act. And in the end THE KING OF TERROR mentioned in Job 18 may show up as the worst of serial killers doing only what he was sent to do. So many of them , in my opinion, will eventually be exonerated on Judgment Day. …..
Crystal
For his crimes death penalty would have been appropriate punishment but still too humane for the monster he was.
Parker
He need deserves to be put in the worlds worst pain
Julz B
You have to wonder what goes on inside the depraved individual’s mind, during and before and after committing these unspeakable acts of horror. He could have actually done himself and the world a favor and just wasted his psychotic mother instead and left it at that!
Hubert wagner
I believe people like. Him will get what god has plaind for them
Lulu
I believe that in his next life he will be the victim so he really learns what its like.
Greg
It was quality work. He had a good system throughout his killings. I believe he kept too many souvenirs. You do not need to keep the objects, or the full corpses. Just remember the screams, and the look of agony they were in before you killed them. The criminally insane are amazing individuals to study.
Mojo
Ed Gein is a poster child for birth control !! Some people are not meant to be parents…thanks for being such a great role model Mom !!! … You’re son Ed.
Smiles
Crazy man ,sick and wicked it’s awesome
GrndMaster
So if you Switch on the lamp?
Will it cast a “smiley face” on the wall in the background LMFAO!!!
IcU
As a Child I Grew up being scared of Ghosts and things like monsters hiding under your bed,The boogie man , only to realize as i grew up later in life that the real Monsters are us We Humans.I Get why God wanted and Should have Destroyed us.
Just think ?Maybe if He started over,We would’ve been Perfect .
Mike
He was sick,sick as in mental so I’m not sure god is going to hold him responsible. That’s what sick means, Mary, you’re an absolute mental giant. How do ya know he’s not basking in god’s grace and mercy and 👆 in heaven.
mike
So they just lock him up in jail or a looney hospital for the rest of his life? Wheres the justice for those he kill and the pain he cause to the families. He should have been torture the same way like those he murder, in front of the victims families. If that was my wife, mother, sister, daughter that got murder, l want to be the one to butcher him and get my justice, l want to see him suffer as much as those he murder before l slowing butcher him to death. An eye for an eye is justice, not leaving him in jail and still live a full life with no worries.
Jasper
My balls need jesus
Alesha Foreka
It’s pretty cool I love learning about stuff like this and I’m actually in Texas right now🤟🏽
Paul Hackmann
I never understood why they said that The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was based on a true story or true event’s because Ed Gein wasn’t from Texas and he never even used a dam Chainsaw in any murder that he committed!!!!! HEd Gein never belonged in prison and to be honest neither did 95% of the famous serial killers because it’s obvious that they are mentally unstable and people like that belong in a Mental Hospital plane and simple!!!!!
Jen
This is very shocking and fascinating at the same time. It’s taboo creepy scary stuff but damn! I think his mom didn’t give him enough love and that made him long to be love by his mom that’s why he’s attracted to female that remind him of his mom. It’s sad but still this is fucked up and dark. I live in Wisconsin my whole life. I can’t believe creepy shit like this exist in such a small isolated town.
Michael
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre people have never been found from the FBI or CIA or any body with or with out a bag!! To me honestly I think the FBI and CIA and all the other government agencies that you know you are in on it for a very very long time ago back then where this family came out on tv!!
benny
i am so fascinated by this i am 15 but i love reading about this i want to learn more about it even though im terrified of chainsaws i am just crazy fascinated
Chloe
As you read this, it seems interesting. Not because it’s cool what he did, because by no means was it cool. It was very cruel & fucked up. But the fact that there are some people out there like this, blows my mind. You never know what people are capable of until your reading it on social media or some shit.
stephani smith
This was actually pretty gross but it’s kind of interesting because people in this world are capable of doing many crazy things like this.
Ashley Busby
This man needs Jesus.
Adam
What is normal today? Do what makes you happy and what feels right. The wotld is fucked and so are 99% of the people in it.
Akawolf
That’s a sick man he should have been killed the second they caught him instead of going to jail
Sharlis
I don’t think this is for kids but that is sick man but not for kids waring " not for kid "
Peez Upt
It’s still people in the world like that.
isaac
bs
Blake
These people who gives us excitement into this world get rid of some idiots too
Branden Lew
THIS GUY IS WORSE THEN JEFFERY DAHMER
Michael kane
Philadelphia had Gary heidnick
Crazy ass world we live in. I always thought the original Texas chainsaw massacre was based on a true story.ed gein should dress up as a clown for children’s parties. If he was still alive.
Miles
Thats just messed up
Jennifer
I thought this whole time it was in Texas.damn that’s an upset.
Nichole
Sick sob is a understatement!!!!!