Ed Gein was an American murderer whose gruesome crimes gained worldwide notoriety in the 1950s, when it was discovered that he robbed graves and used body parts to make household items and other objects. In 1968 Gein was found guilty of murdering a woman, though he also confessed to killing another person. In addition, some believe he murdered his brother, who died in mysterious circumstances during a fire. The death, however, was ruled an accident. Ed Gein inspired numerous books and horror films.