What happened to Ed Gein's family including mysterious death as Netflix Monster series releases

The latest series from Netflixtrue crime anthology Monster is finally here. All episodes of The Ed Gein Story are streaming from today (October 3).

The eight-part series retells the gruesome crimes of Ed Gein, also known as the The Plainfield Ghoul, or The Butcher of Plainfield. Charlie Hunnam takes on the role of Gein in the series, which also recreates significant moments of the killer's life. In the first episode, this includes the role of his overbearing mother and strange fate of his brother.

According to Netflix's synopsis: "Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan's ground-breaking anthology series returns with its third, most harrowing installment yet. Monster: The Ed Gein Story tells the story of how one simple man in Plainfield, Wisconsin, became history's most singular ghoul. He revealed to the world the most horrific truth of all - that monsters aren't born, they're made... by us."

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But what really happened to Ed Gein's family? Here's what you need to know?

What happened to Ed Gein's father and brother?

The series concentrates heavily on Ed Gein's relationship with his mother. The first episode of the series is even called 'Mother!'.

At least in the opening episode, however, very little is said about Gein's father. George Philip Gein worked as a carpenter, tanner, and firefighter. He also owned a grocery store, but sold it and eventually left the city with his family to live on a 155-acre (63-hectare) farm in Plainfield, Wisconsin.

George Gein was said to be an alcoholic and beat both his sons. He died of heart failure on April 1, 1940, at the age of 66. After their father's death, Ed and his brother Henry took over the running of the farm, as well as working odd jobs in the community, including as handymen. Ed also babysat for neighbours, while his brother began dating a divorced mother of two and planned to move in with her.

Henry apparently worried about Ed's attachment to their mother and often spoke ill of her around his brother. In May 1944, Ed was burning away marsh vegetation on the property when the fire got out of control.

After it was extinguished with the help of the fire department, Ed reported his brother missing. The 43-year-old's body was discovered lying face down, unburned, and with no clear injuries - although it was believed he had been dead for some time.

Police dismissed foul play and recorded cause of death as asphyxiation. A biographer who wrote a book about Ed Gein reported that bruises were found on Henry's head, and some have suggested Ed was responsible for his brother's death - but he never owned up to it.

What happened to Ed Gein's mother?

If you're familiar with the plot of Alfred Hitchcock's iconic movie Psycho, the depiction of Ed Gein's mother Augusta in Monster will seem familiar. Ed Gein is cited as an influence on the character of Norman Bates in the original novel, and the acclaimed film adaptation.

Henry's death left just Gein and his mother living at the farm together. Like in the series, his mother did indeed suffer a paralyzing stroke shortly after her eldest child died, leaving Gein to take care of her.

According to Gein himself, one day they visited a man to purchase some straw. They witnessed him beating a dog and a woman came outside to stop him, leaving Gein's mother upset - not because of the treatment of the dog, but rather of the presence of the dog itself, which she apparently started calling a 'harlot'.

However, unlike what happens in the series, in real life she suffered a second stroke and died shortly afterwards, on December 29, 1945, at the age of 67. A biographer claimed as a result of this Ed "lost his only friend and one true love. And he was absolutely alone in the world."

Monster: The Ed Gein Story is streaming on Netflix.