Ed Gein was 51 years old when he was caught in November 1957 for the murder of Bernice Worden, which led to the discovery of his other crimes.

Quick Scoop

  • Ed Gein was born on August 27, 1906, in La Crosse County, Wisconsin.
  • He was arrested in mid-November 1957 after Bernice Worden disappeared from her hardware store in Plainfield, Wisconsin.
  • Doing the simple timeline math (1957 minus 1906) shows he was 51 years old at the time of his arrest.

Brief context (serious topic)

Ed Gein’s arrest came after investigators traced a sales slip from Worden’s store to him and then searched his isolated farmhouse, where they uncovered numerous grave-robbed body parts and evidence of two murders. His crimes and subsequent trial, where he was ultimately found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to psychiatric institutions, later inspired several notorious horror characters in film and literature.

This case is often discussed in true crime and horror circles, but it involves real victims and very graphic violence, so it is important to approach it with care and respect for those affected.