Where Is Ed Gein Buried? The Chilling Story Behind the Serial Killer’s Missing Gravestone

More than 40 years after his death, Ed Gein’s final resting place remains a point of fascination for true crime enthusiasts. The notorious Wisconsin killer was buried in a family cemetery plot, but visitors searching for his grave will discover something unusual: his gravestone is gone, leaving the burial site unmarked.

Gein, often called the “Butcher of Plainfield,” became infamous after authorities uncovered the horrifying details of his crimes in 1957. He was arrested in connection with the murder of hardware store owner Bernice Worden. Investigators searching his farmhouse discovered human remains and disturbing objects made from body parts.

Gein confessed to killing two women, Bernice Worden and Mary Hogan. He also admitted to digging up bodies from cemeteries and using human remains to make various objects. The discoveries shocked the country and later influenced fictional horror characters featured in films such as Psycho, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Silence of the Lambs.

After being found not guilty by reason of insanity in Worden’s murder case, Gein spent the remainder of his life in psychiatric institutions. He died on July 26, 1984, at age 77, after suffering from cancer-related respiratory failure.

His body was returned to Plainfield, Wisconsin, where he was buried in Plainfield Cemetery alongside members of his family. His grave was originally marked with a large gray granite headstone.

But the marker eventually became a target for people fascinated by his crimes. Visitors reportedly chipped off pieces as souvenirs, and some alleged fragments were offered for sale. In June 2000, the entire gravestone, weighing approximately 200 pounds, was stolen.

The headstone was never restored to its original place, and the grave remains unmarked. The burial site lies between the graves of his mother, Augusta, and his brother, Henry.

Despite the missing marker, Gein’s final resting place has continued to attract curiosity from people interested in notorious criminal cases. His story has also returned to public attention through documentaries, books and dramatized television productions.

The disappearance of the gravestone adds another unusual chapter to the legacy of a man whose crimes shocked America in the 1950s. Even decades after his death, the place where he was buried continues to draw attention, illustrating how the fascination surrounding infamous criminals can outlast their lives.

Source: PEOPLE