The true story of Adeline Watkins and Ed Gein reveals a twisted mix of love, rumors, and denial at the center of Netflix’s Monster.
Netflix’s latest installment of Ryan Murphy’s true crime anthology Monster: The Ed Gein Story dives deep into the twisted world of the Wisconsin killer, but one of the most surprising aspects of the series is the spotlight on his rumored girlfriend, Adeline Watkins. Rising actress Suzanna Son takes on the role in the Netflix series, starring opposite Charlie Hunnam’s chilling portrayal of Gein. But who was Adeline Watkins really, and what was the truth behind her alleged relationship with one of history’s most notorious murderers?
Here are the key facts about the real Adeline Watkins, separating myth from reality.
1. She was rumored to be Gein’s longtime love interest
In a 1957 Minneapolis Tribune interview republished in the Wisconsin State Journal, Watkins claimed she had been romantically involved with Gein for over 20 years. She described him as “good and kind and sweet,” admitting that she often felt she was “taking advantage of him” when he gave in to her interests.
2. They bonded over books, movies, and small-town outings
Watkins said that while the two rarely read the same novels, they often shared long conversations about books. Gein gravitated toward tales of wild animals and far-off lands, while she enjoyed different genres. They also went to movies and local taverns, though Gein preferred milkshakes over alcohol.
3. They openly discussed murders in the news
Hauntingly, Watkins recalled that Gein often analyzed murder cases they read about. He would point out what the killer did wrong or mistakes they had made, which she found “interesting.”
4. Gein allegedly proposed in 1955
According to Watkins, their last date came in 1955, when Gein proposed marriage in his own quiet way. She turned him down, not because of his behavior, but out of fear that she couldn’t live up to his expectations. Despite that rejection, Watkins admitted in the interview, “I loved him and I still do.”
5. Her mother thought highly of Gein
Watkins’s mother reportedly remembered him as a polite man who always brought her daughter home before curfew, adding another layer of normalcy to the chilling story.
6. She later retracted her story
Only two weeks after the widely circulated interview, Watkins distanced herself from her earlier claims. In the Stevens Point Journal, she called the story “exaggerated” and “blown up out of proportion.” Watkins clarified that the pair had only dated for seven months, not two decades.
7. Their relationship was brief and limited
In her retraction, Watkins said Gein only called on her occasionally during that short stretch of time. The two went to the Plainfield Theater “a few times,” but she insisted they were never especially close.
8. She never entered Gein’s house
Watkins made it clear she had never stepped foot inside Gein’s home, which was later revealed to contain gruesome remains of his victims and a disturbing shrine to his mother. She maintained that while he was “quiet and polite,” they were far from deeply connected.
9. Gein never spoke publicly about her
For his part, Gein himself never confirmed or commented on Watkins, leaving her role in his life shrouded in mystery.
Netflix’s Monster: The Ed Gein Story dramatizes this unsettling relationship, showing how rumors, interviews, and conflicting accounts blurred the line between truth and fabrication. Whether Watkins was a long-term partner or a brief acquaintance, her name remains forever linked to one of history’s most infamous killers.
