Nearly five decades after Ed Gein’s horrifying crimes were first revealed, public fascination with the infamous “Butcher of Plainfield” hasn’t faded.
Netflix’s Monster: The Ed Gein Story, the third installment of Ryan Murphy’s chilling anthology series, revisits the story of the serial killer – and the woman who once claimed to love him, Adeline Watkins.
The series sheds light on the peculiar connection between Gein and Watkins, a Plainfield woman who, at the time of his arrest, publicly described him as “good and kind.” Her comments stunned the nation and added an unsettling layer to one of the most disturbing true crime cases in American history.
The Background: Ed Gein’s Crimes
Before diving into Watkins’ story, it’s crucial to recall who Ed Gein was. Gein became infamous in the 1950s after his gruesome crimes were discovered in Plainfield, Wisconsin. Known as the “Butcher of Plainfield,” Gein murdered at least two women – including hardware store owner Bernice Worden – and exhumed corpses from local cemeteries.
When police arrested him in 1957, they uncovered a farmhouse filled with grotesque items made from human remains: furniture, clothing, masks, and utensils. His case inspired some of Hollywood’s most iconic horror films, including The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Psycho, and The Silence of the Lambs.
Despite his nightmarish crimes, Gein maintained a quiet and polite reputation in his small community – a fact that makes his alleged relationship with Adeline Watkins even more puzzling.
Watkins Initially Claimed a 20-Year Romance
In November 1957, just days after Gein’s arrest, Adeline Watkins, a 50-year-old woman from Plainfield, Wisconsin, made shocking headlines. She told the Minneapolis Tribune that she and Gein had shared a 20-year romance.
Living with her widowed mother in a modest apartment, Watkins portrayed Gein as a gentle soul. She described him as “good and sweet and kind,” while her mother called him “a sweet, polite man” who always ensured Adeline was home by 10 p.m. after their dates.
According to Watkins, their outings were simple – they often went to the movies or occasionally to local taverns. But even then, she noted that Gein wasn’t much of a drinker.
“I would almost have to drag Eddie into a tavern,” Watkins said. “He would much rather have gone to a drugstore for a milkshake.”
Her words painted an image of a shy, bookish man, completely at odds with the monster that the world would soon come to know.
They Shared a Love of Reading
Watkins, described by the Minneapolis Tribune as “a plain woman with graying bangs and horn-rimmed glasses,” claimed that she and Gein bonded over their shared love of books.
“Eddie and I discussed books,” she said. “We never read the same ones, but we liked to talk about them anyway.”
She said Gein enjoyed reading about exotic animals and faraway lands like Africa and India. Beyond literature, they also discussed crime – ironically, not Gein’s own crimes, but others they’d heard about.
“I guess we discussed every murder we ever heard about,” Watkins told reporters. “Eddie told [me] how the murderer did wrong, what mistakes he had made. I thought it was interesting.”
Watkins Claimed Gein Proposed Marriage
In her early interviews, Watkins went so far as to say that Gein had proposed marriage, a claim that sparked national intrigue. Newspapers across the country ran her photo and story, turning her into a brief media sensation.
However, as attention grew, Watkins appeared increasingly uncomfortable. Within days, she retracted her claims, telling a local newspaper – the Plainfield Sun – that there had never been a romance.
“There was no 20-year romance,” she clarified.
She described her connection with Gein as purely platonic, saying he occasionally visited her apartment or accompanied her to the theater to watch movies.
Still, she maintained that her description of him as “quiet and polite” was truthful, though she firmly denied ever calling him “sweet” or “dragging him into taverns,” as previously reported.
In a later statement, Watkins expressed sympathy for Gein, saying she felt sorry for him after learning about his crimes.
She Is Portrayed by Suzanna Son in Netflix’s Monster
Decades later, Adeline Watkins’ strange story has found new life in Ryan Murphy’s Monster: The Ed Gein Story.
Watkins is portrayed by Suzanna Son, best known for her breakout role in HBO’s The Idol. Speaking to Women’s Wear Daily in May 2025, Son described the role as deeply rewarding.
“It’s just a dream role,” Son said. “I feel like I’m the luckiest girl in the world.”
She explained that she was drawn to the mystery of Watkins’ character — a woman caught between affection, denial, and shock.
“I can’t explain what I’m attracted to, but I always follow that feeling when I have it,” Son added.
The Legacy of Adeline Watkins
While the truth of Watkins’ relationship with Ed Gein remains uncertain, her brief rise to notoriety illustrates the chaos and confusion that surrounded the killer’s arrest. Whether she truly believed she loved Gein or was misinterpreted by the press, Watkins became an unlikely figure in one of America’s darkest true crime stories.
Through Netflix’s portrayal, new generations are once again asking: who was Adeline Watkins – and how close was she, really, to the Butcher of Plainfield?
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