THE STORY:
Wisconsin has been responsible for so many good things—beer, cheese, the Violent Femmes—that it’s difficult to believe that two of the most gruesome and disturbing serial killers in American history were from America’s Dairyland.
First up, Ed Gein. Hailing from Plainfield, WI, he was devoted to his mother. After her death, he began robbing graves, practicing necrophilia and experimenting with human taxidermy. He made bowls from skulls, chair seats from human skin, kept body parts as trophies, and created female skin suits. Soon after, Gein turned to murder. When police went to Gein’s farm to investigate a woman’s disappearance in 1957, they uncovered some of the most grotesque crimes ever committed. Gein inspired such film characters as Norman Bates (Psycho), Buffalo Bill (Silence of the Lambs) and Leatherface (Texas Chainsaw Massacre).
Next is Milwaukee’s own Jeffrey Dahmer. One of the worst serial killers in American history. Between 1978 and 1991, Dahmer killed 17 men, mostly young African-Americans that he met at gay bars. He would bring them home to his grandmother’s basement where he would drug them, strangle them to death, molest the corpses, and then dismember the bodies. Dahmer also kept body parts as souvenirs and often took photos of each victim at various stages of the murder process, so he could later relive the experience. Dahmer was finally caught in 1991 and sentenced to 15 life terms in 1992.
THE ARTIST:
Melody Sorenson – Milwaukee, WI
“I’ve always been interested in the horror cult graphic style. I am drawn to the grunge and color palettes and I’ve always been envious of illustrators who were able to capture a heavy mood in such a small space. I was interested in illustrating this topic because it was a subject matter that I have never tried to illustrate before. I am usually illustrating rather bright and friendly subjects, so I was excited at the opportunity to try my hand at a new, darker style and subject matter. Also, it’s not every day someone asks you to illustrate some infamously creepy Wisconsinites.”
FANTASTIC! I have always been fascinated by their stories (to this day, whenever we drive by the prison near Portage, we always say “Dahmer Prison!”) so I am really enjoying Melody’s interpretation of their homes. And after reading her thoughts, I’m especially impressed with how she worked out of her comfort zone for this one. Great, great work!!
I adore these, they are fantastic, I want, I want, I want.
Was just looking up info on Mary Bell the child murderer when popping up on the screen were links to other multiple killers. And side by side were two links, one for Jeffrey Dahmer who I well knew of, and one for Ed Gein who I hadn’t heard of, looking at the pictures I thought wow, these men look alot alike, from their mouths to their nose to the cheeks. Then I find this article that tells me they’re both from Wisconsin, and reading about their crimes wow are they rather similar in many places. Makes me wonder if they are relations to eachother somewhere along the line
Just read where Dahmer revived tourism in Milwaukee. People love this stuff. So, how about a new license plate slogan: Wisconsin – Land of Gein and Dahmer