Ed Gein, the infamous Wisconsin grave robber and murderer whose gruesome acts inspired films like Psycho and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, has long fascinated true crime enthusiasts. But amid the horror of his crimes—robbing graves in the 1940s and killing at least two women in the 1950s—questions linger about his personal life. Did this reclusive figure ever find companionship? Enter Adeline Watkins, a name resurfacing thanks to Netflix's recent series Monster: The Ed Gein Story.
The show portrays Watkins as Gein's girlfriend, a twisted romance spanning two decades, complete with shared obsessions and even marriage plans. Yet, reality paints a far murkier, less romantic picture. Watkins, a Plainfield local, did know Gein, but their connection was fleeting. In a 1958 interview with the Minneapolis Tribune, she described a supposed 20-year affair, calling him "so nice" and hinting at deep affection. However, she quickly backtracked in follow-ups, insisting the story was sensationalized by reporters hungry for details.
Indeed, Watkins clarified they weren't close until 1954, and even then, it lasted just seven intermittent months. They shared a love of reading—Gein devoured geography magazines on tribal customs, while she enjoyed books too. A few movie outings, some chats, but nothing intimate. Gein reportedly proposed marriage once, but Watkins turned him down flat. No wedding bells, no long-term bond. She never stepped foot in his nightmarish farmhouse, later described as a chamber of horrors with human skin lampshades and masks.
Moreover, Gein himself never spoke of Watkins romantically during his trials or confinements. He died in 1984 at age 77, alone in a mental hospital, his secrets buried with him. The Netflix dramatization amps up the intrigue for narrative punch, blending fact with fiction to explore Gein's psyche. But experts and biographers, drawing from old records, emphasize the exaggeration. Watkins passed away in the 1970s, her brief brush with infamy fading into obscurity.
However, the series has reignited curiosity, prompting viewers to sift through the myths. Was there more to their story than admitted? Or does it simply highlight how isolation warped Gein's world? In the end, one wonders if true monsters ever truly connect with anyone.