Episode 14: Eddie Gein "The Butcher of Plainfield"

Crimes from the Peanut Gallery

Episode 14 of the podcast covers the disturbing true crime case of Edward Theodore Gain, also known as Eddie or the Butcher of Plainfield. Eddie was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin in 1906 and had a troubled upbringing under the domineering and fanatical beliefs of his mother Augusta. After the deaths of his father and brother, Eddie lived alone with his mother until her death in 1945. He then began a series of gruesome acts, including grave robbing and creating items from human body parts. Eddie was eventually arrested and found to be mentally incompetent to stand trial. He spent the rest of his life in a mental institution and died in 1984. Takeaways Edward Theodore Gain, also known as Eddie or the Butcher of Plainfield, was a disturbed individual who engaged in gruesome acts including grave robbing and creating items from human body parts. Eddie had a troubled upbringing under the domineering and fanatical beliefs of his mother Augusta. He was arrested and found to be mentally incompetent to stand trial, spending the rest of his life in a mental institution. The case of Eddie Gain highlights the importance of mental health and the potential dangers of extreme beliefs and isolation. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Updates 03:03 Eddie's Troubled Upbringing 08:02 Eddie's Disturbing Habits and Reading Preferences 13:10 Suspected Victims and Mysterious Deaths 39:17 Eddie's Mental State and Institutionalization 41:58 Burning of Eddie's Farm and Aftermath