Nearly 50 years have passed since the horrifying crimes of Ed Gein were uncovered, yet new inquiries into the notorious serial killer and the woman who purportedly loved him, Adeline Watkins, continue to emerge. The Netflix anthology series created by Ryan Murphy, Monster: The Ed Gein Story, marks its third installment by focusing on Gein, known as the “Butcher of Plainfield.” Gein, infamous for his gruesome acts in the 1950s, murdered at least two women and robbed graves, turning his rural farm in Wisconsin into a “house of horrors.”
In 1957, following the murder of Bernice Worden, a local hardware store owner, police came upon Gein’s chilling collection of keepsakes and household items fashioned from human remains, sparking nationwide shock. His crimes influenced an array of horror films, including classics like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Psycho.
Watkins, portrayed by Suzanna Son in the series, claimed to have had a romantic relationship with Gein over two decades. Shortly after his arrest, she described him as “good and kind” in an interview, revealing that their outings typically involved trips to the movies or local taverns, although Gein was not much of a drinker. Watkins, living with her widowed mother at the time, emphasized that Gein was a considerate partner who respected curfews.
The duo also shared a mutual passion for literature, and Watkins revealed they often conversed about crime stories. At one point, she recounted an alleged marriage proposal from Gein, which she turned down due to her insecurities, stating she felt undeserving of such a good partner. Despite her change of heart regarding their relationship, her feelings for him reportedly remained intact.
However, Watkins later retracted her claims of a long-term romance, clarifying that their relationship was platonic. Her initial enthusiastic accounts garnered significant media attention, leading to her feeling overwhelmed and eventually correcting the record. Despite her position, she continued to affirm Gein’s kind nature.
In the series, Watkins is played by rising actress Suzanna Son, who expressed that taking on the character was a dream opportunity. As the narrative of Gein and Watkins unfolds in Monster, viewers are left to ponder the complexities of human relationships against the backdrop of horror, leaving a haunting impression that continues to resonate today.