Ed Gein: The Real Buffalo Bill (Rhetorical Modes)
The mind of a serial killer is a truly fascinating thing. As human beings, we overlook the reasons as to why serial killers commit such horrific crimes. Often times the question regarding “why” relates to asking if there’s any childhood trauma or are they just mentally ill? Without proper research, the question can be a problematic one to answer. Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, John Wayne Gacey, and Ed Gein: these are all feared names across America. They have committed unspeakable acts upon humanity and for that, they served their time. In some cases, when further researching, police determined it was mental illness. In other cases, it was due to childhood trauma or simply a sick curiosity of what …show more content…
1968; doctors had come to the conclusion that he had the mental capacity which made him able to speak with a counsel and participate in his trial. November 7, 1968 was when his trial began which lasted simply a week. Gein had claimed that he did not know if the killing of Bernice was intentional or not, explaining that he simply saw the gun hanging in the shop and then it going off and killing Bernice Worden. Gein’s trial was held without a jury due to the request of the counsel. He was found guilty of murder in the first degree by Judge Robert H. Gollmar. On November 14th another separate trial dealt with his sanity where he continued to plead not guilty by insanity and the judge ultimately ruled him as not guilty due to insanity. He was sent back to the Central State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. His things were auctioned off back in 1958 but in the previous year his house had be burned down in a suspected arson case. When he was told about his house he simply shrugged. Gein was once again transferred back to the Mendota Mental Health institute where he remained until his death on July 26, 1984 at the age of 77. His grave was placed between his parents and his brother in the cemetery. Many tourists would chip away at his grave stone as a souvenir and it was later stolen in 2000. The stone was found in June, 2001 and remains in storage in a sheriff’s department. The grave now rests unmarked between his parents and brother. The Butcher of Plainfield may be dead but not forgotten. The book and film Psycho based the character, Norman Bates, on the actions and mannerisms of Gein. Norman Bates had even said “a boy’s best friend is his mother” (Psycho.) Buffalo Bill from the novel and film Silence of the Lambs was also based on Gein. Much like Gein, Buffalo Bill was making a skin suit from women. In the
The mind of a serial killer is a truly fascinating thing. As human beings, we overlook the reasons as to why serial killers commit such horrific crimes. Often times the question regarding “why” relates to asking if there’s any childhood trauma or are they just mentally ill? Without proper research, the question can be a problematic one to answer. Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, John Wayne Gacey, and Ed Gein: these are all feared names across America. They have committed unspeakable acts upon humanity and for that, they served their time. In some cases, when further researching, police determined it was mental illness. In other cases, it was due to childhood trauma or simply a sick curiosity of what …show more content…
1968; doctors had come to the conclusion that he had the mental capacity which made him able to speak with a counsel and participate in his trial. November 7, 1968 was when his trial began which lasted simply a week. Gein had claimed that he did not know if the killing of Bernice was intentional or not, explaining that he simply saw the gun hanging in the shop and then it going off and killing Bernice Worden. Gein’s trial was held without a jury due to the request of the counsel. He was found guilty of murder in the first degree by Judge Robert H. Gollmar. On November 14th another separate trial dealt with his sanity where he continued to plead not guilty by insanity and the judge ultimately ruled him as not guilty due to insanity. He was sent back to the Central State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. His things were auctioned off back in 1958 but in the previous year his house had be burned down in a suspected arson case. When he was told about his house he simply shrugged. Gein was once again transferred back to the Mendota Mental Health institute where he remained until his death on July 26, 1984 at the age of 77. His grave was placed between his parents and his brother in the cemetery. Many tourists would chip away at his grave stone as a souvenir and it was later stolen in 2000. The stone was found in June, 2001 and remains in storage in a sheriff’s department. The grave now rests unmarked between his parents and brother. The Butcher of Plainfield may be dead but not forgotten. The book and film Psycho based the character, Norman Bates, on the actions and mannerisms of Gein. Norman Bates had even said “a boy’s best friend is his mother” (Psycho.) Buffalo Bill from the novel and film Silence of the Lambs was also based on Gein. Much like Gein, Buffalo Bill was making a skin suit from women. In the