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| Interview with Eric Gein By: Blissfulviolet |
Blissfulviolet: What got you so interested in serial killers?
Eric Gein: From a very early age I was always interested in
morbid and bizarre type shit. In high school I started studying up
on them, renting the movies, reading the books, getting as much
info in as I could about any and all of them. I became pretty
obsessed with them and it became a huge part of my life.
morbid and bizarre type shit. In high school I started studying up
on them, renting the movies, reading the books, getting as much
info in as I could about any and all of them. I became pretty
obsessed with them and it became a huge part of my life.
Their mind was what I was after learning about, because I felt
that not just anyone could do the things they did. In a very
strong and powerful way, I felt as if I could easily fit the mold.
Growing up I had a few thoughts of my own along those lines, I
never acted upon them, but they were there and they were
prevalent. I was into violent music, violent friends and had violent
teenage years; it seemed all that was around me was death,
violence and hate. It grew on me. :)
that not just anyone could do the things they did. In a very
strong and powerful way, I felt as if I could easily fit the mold.
Growing up I had a few thoughts of my own along those lines, I
never acted upon them, but they were there and they were
prevalent. I was into violent music, violent friends and had violent
teenage years; it seemed all that was around me was death,
violence and hate. It grew on me. :)
Just so happens years later in my mid 20s, I had a friend who
was writing to John Wayne Gacy. I asked him for a few
addresses and that’s where it all began; I started writing to
was writing to John Wayne Gacy. I asked him for a few
addresses and that’s where it all began; I started writing to
Ramirez, Henry Lucas and a few others. I made friendships and got to know what was in their mind,
surprisingly they seemed like anyone else, personable, friendly, emotional. I made some true friendships
and I then discovered the collectible side of it and began having them draw for me and send me
memorabilia.
surprisingly they seemed like anyone else, personable, friendly, emotional. I made some true friendships
and I then discovered the collectible side of it and began having them draw for me and send me
memorabilia.
Blissfulviolet: How long have you been interested in serial killers and what piece from your personal
collection would you say you treasure the most?
collection would you say you treasure the most?
Eric: I’m 38 now, discovered and became immersed in this whole culture when I was in 10th or 11th
grade. It was around the time Richard Ramirez was doing his rounds in California, 1985. That’s probably
what started it all for me, along with the fact that Jacksonville, Florida, the city in which I live, also has
past regarding serial killers, as well as the state prison/death row, which is only a few miles down the
road from Jacksonville. So, high profile murders/trials/executions are something I grew up with watching
on the local news. Henry lee Lucas met up with Ottis Toole right here in Jax and shared a boarding
house room before they left to go out west. Also, Ted Bundy came through the area, Lake City, a small
town outside of the city here; it’s where he killed his last victim, 12 yr old Kimberly Leach.
grade. It was around the time Richard Ramirez was doing his rounds in California, 1985. That’s probably
what started it all for me, along with the fact that Jacksonville, Florida, the city in which I live, also has
past regarding serial killers, as well as the state prison/death row, which is only a few miles down the
road from Jacksonville. So, high profile murders/trials/executions are something I grew up with watching
on the local news. Henry lee Lucas met up with Ottis Toole right here in Jax and shared a boarding
house room before they left to go out west. Also, Ted Bundy came through the area, Lake City, a small
town outside of the city here; it’s where he killed his last victim, 12 yr old Kimberly Leach.
So it has been a good 20 years. Fuck that makes me sound old! But yeah, I think my morbid fascination
with death and the bizarre, as well as the local media and happenings here in town helped form the
obsession.
with death and the bizarre, as well as the local media and happenings here in town helped form the
obsession.
My most treasured piece would probably be a painting I have that was done by a friend named Sean
Sellers. He meant very much to me and was like a brother! He painted a farewell painting for me a few
months before he was executed by the state of Oklahoma, Feb 4, 1999 for 2 murders he committed.
Sellers. He meant very much to me and was like a brother! He painted a farewell painting for me a few
months before he was executed by the state of Oklahoma, Feb 4, 1999 for 2 murders he committed.
The painting is of a tiger fighting a phoenix. It has deep personal meaning to me. I learned he and I had
a lot in common when we were growing up, and we formed a very awesome friendship/brotherhood. I
love and miss him much! Rest in peace Sean. There is a true crime book out about Sean its called
"Devil Child" he was the youngest person in the united states to be put to death for a crime he
committed as a minor (he was 16 when he committed his crimes. In his late 20's was when he was put to
death for those crimes.
a lot in common when we were growing up, and we formed a very awesome friendship/brotherhood. I
love and miss him much! Rest in peace Sean. There is a true crime book out about Sean its called
"Devil Child" he was the youngest person in the united states to be put to death for a crime he
committed as a minor (he was 16 when he committed his crimes. In his late 20's was when he was put to
death for those crimes.
| Oil Painting By Sean Sellers |
Blissfulviolet: So who would you say has been the most
interesting serial killer that you have been in contact with?
Got any stories to tell?
interesting serial killer that you have been in contact with?
Got any stories to tell?
Eric: Richard Ramirez has always been pretty interesting,
not for anything other than his boyish charisma and
personable nature. He reminds me of a naive little boy, that’s
not knocking him, not at all, he just has a boyish charm to
him, he's awesome, and he’s been very good to me.
not for anything other than his boyish charisma and
personable nature. He reminds me of a naive little boy, that’s
not knocking him, not at all, he just has a boyish charm to
him, he's awesome, and he’s been very good to me.
I was at one time engaged to marry Christa Pike; she’s a wild
chic, but a hottie! Not too well known, but there is a lot of info
out on the net about her. She managed to brutally kill a
classmate in a satanic style murder out in Tennessee back
in 1996, she was the youngest female ever sentenced to
death in the United States. She was 18 when she committed
her crime. She sits on death row at the Tennessee prison for
women in Nashville. I used to make yearly visits to see her,
but have not been up since 2005 to visit. Maybe this summer
I will make it up there. That would be nice.
chic, but a hottie! Not too well known, but there is a lot of info
out on the net about her. She managed to brutally kill a
classmate in a satanic style murder out in Tennessee back
in 1996, she was the youngest female ever sentenced to
death in the United States. She was 18 when she committed
her crime. She sits on death row at the Tennessee prison for
women in Nashville. I used to make yearly visits to see her,
but have not been up since 2005 to visit. Maybe this summer
I will make it up there. That would be nice.
The funniest story, well, it wasn’t funny at the time, but a
psycho by the name of Robert Bardo (he stalked and killed 'my sister sam' actress Rebecca Schaeffer)
he had done some horrible ass kindergarten quality drawings for me. This was during the time I was
unloading Ramirez drawings 20 and 30 at a time. Well, Robert sent me a package of maybe 10 very
shitty big bird, elmo, and muppet drawings, I tried to sell them but no one wanted these monstrosities! I
held on to them thinking one day id be able to sell them, well a few months went by and I started getting
letters from him that contained death threats to me and my family. He also had another no name inmate
write me and threaten me. To make a long story short, I ended up faxing all the letters to his warden and
his crazy ass got put in solitary confinement...and anyone who knows anything about Robert Bardo,
knows that solitary confinement to him is a personal hell. Well 6 months later I get a letter from him
apologizing to me. I wrote him back one last time, told him if he ever wrote me or threatened me again, id
have him killed...and to take a line from Charlie Manson...I told him "I have a little system of my own!"
never heard from him again. He has been the only person I've had those kinds of issues with. Good
times eh? :)
he had done some horrible ass kindergarten quality drawings for me. This was during the time I was
unloading Ramirez drawings 20 and 30 at a time. Well, Robert sent me a package of maybe 10 very
shitty big bird, elmo, and muppet drawings, I tried to sell them but no one wanted these monstrosities! I
held on to them thinking one day id be able to sell them, well a few months went by and I started getting
letters from him that contained death threats to me and my family. He also had another no name inmate
write me and threaten me. To make a long story short, I ended up faxing all the letters to his warden and
his crazy ass got put in solitary confinement...and anyone who knows anything about Robert Bardo,
knows that solitary confinement to him is a personal hell. Well 6 months later I get a letter from him
apologizing to me. I wrote him back one last time, told him if he ever wrote me or threatened me again, id
have him killed...and to take a line from Charlie Manson...I told him "I have a little system of my own!"
never heard from him again. He has been the only person I've had those kinds of issues with. Good
times eh? :)
Blissfulviolet: You were once engaged to a killer? Interesting… What can you tell me about female
killers or serial killers? Some say they make a very small portion of society, while others think that there
are more female killers out there, but they just don’t fit the definition of a serial killer, so we don’t hear
much about them.
killers or serial killers? Some say they make a very small portion of society, while others think that there
are more female killers out there, but they just don’t fit the definition of a serial killer, so we don’t hear
much about them.
Eric: I was engaged to marry Christa Pike; she is on death row in Nashville, Tennessee for the torture
supposedly "ritualistic" murder of a girl who was from Jacksonville here where I live. They were job corp.
students. As I said before you can find much info on Christa on the internet.
supposedly "ritualistic" murder of a girl who was from Jacksonville here where I live. They were job corp.
students. As I said before you can find much info on Christa on the internet.
She is well known to a point because she was the youngest female ever sentenced to death in the
United States; she was 18 when he committed her crime. I care about her much, we are very loyal
friends, and we were going to marry 2 months before her scheduled execution so I would have special
rights to her story. She was never executed and we called it off, we remains as we've always been, loyal
friends.
United States; she was 18 when he committed her crime. I care about her much, we are very loyal
friends, and we were going to marry 2 months before her scheduled execution so I would have special
rights to her story. She was never executed and we called it off, we remains as we've always been, loyal
friends.
Blissfulviolet: Do your family and friends accept your
interest in these killers or are they unsupportive?
interest in these killers or are they unsupportive?
Eric: The first few years only my girlfriend knew I was in
contact with these guys, one night we had a fight and she
blabbed it to my entire family. My dad thought it was
disgusting, my mom didn’t know what to think. As time went
by they all saw it was something that my heart was very into
and in later years my mom would ask me "Have you gotten
any new artwork lately?" I always thought that was funny,
she’s the last person I’d ever expect to ask me that. But yes,
they’ve been very supportive over the years. Well...except
contact with these guys, one night we had a fight and she
blabbed it to my entire family. My dad thought it was
disgusting, my mom didn’t know what to think. As time went
by they all saw it was something that my heart was very into
and in later years my mom would ask me "Have you gotten
any new artwork lately?" I always thought that was funny,
she’s the last person I’d ever expect to ask me that. But yes,
they’ve been very supportive over the years. Well...except
My friends have always supported me. I have a close knit group of good friends who I love to death. I’ve
given most of them pieces from my collection.
given most of them pieces from my collection.
I think when females kill, it’s that they are more prone to just snap and kill instead of methodically
planning murders out - at least that’s how it seems, but you do have your exceptions, such as Aileen
Wuornos and Carol Bundy (sunset strip murders) who were very methodical serial murderers. I think
most of the serial murderers do it for sexual power and gratification, and that just goes along with the
male reality that sex is power, I mean you don’t see a lot of women raping men either. So it’s just the
nature of the beast I think.
planning murders out - at least that’s how it seems, but you do have your exceptions, such as Aileen
Wuornos and Carol Bundy (sunset strip murders) who were very methodical serial murderers. I think
most of the serial murderers do it for sexual power and gratification, and that just goes along with the
male reality that sex is power, I mean you don’t see a lot of women raping men either. So it’s just the
nature of the beast I think.
Blissfulviolet: What have you gained or learned from these killers? Lots of people always want to now
what goes on in their mind, what would you say?
what goes on in their mind, what would you say?
Eric: The main thing I’ve learned is that they’re human just like you and I. Not some mental basket
psychopaths who piss themselves daily while pacing their cells (well maybe Bardo but he is an exception
there!) but for the most part, I’ve gotten to know them on personal levels and that led me to see they
could easily be who you are. I think we all have mental issues, some just more so than others, and that
fine line of taking obsessions or compulsions too far, If that makes any sense to you?
psychopaths who piss themselves daily while pacing their cells (well maybe Bardo but he is an exception
there!) but for the most part, I’ve gotten to know them on personal levels and that led me to see they
could easily be who you are. I think we all have mental issues, some just more so than others, and that
fine line of taking obsessions or compulsions too far, If that makes any sense to you?
Blissfulviolet: Yep, it makes perfect sense. As far as this hobby has come along, I take it you will be
keeping it for many years to come?
keeping it for many years to come?
the marriage thing to Christa pike, they didn’t want that to happen. They were very opposed to that,
being that they didn’t want their names involved with her. lol. Go figure!
being that they didn’t want their names involved with her. lol. Go figure!
| Christa Pike |
Eric: I'll always remain in contact with the ones I made a friendship and bond with! I don’t write nearly as
many as I used to, but those that are friends will always be friends. Till then end.
many as I used to, but those that are friends will always be friends. Till then end.
| Richard Ramirez Hand Sketch |
Blissfulviolet: I noticed that you also run two interesting
myspace pages as well. Can you tell us more about them?
myspace pages as well. Can you tell us more about them?
Eric: Funny, but the 2 other sites besides my own are not serial
killers per say, but along the same lines. I have a Charlie
Manson music page, where I showcase some of his lesser heard
and unknown music. Right now I have tracks from his "All the
Way Alive" album up on the site, which was recorded in 1967,
two years before the 1969 Tate/Labianca murders. His music is
acoustic folk and is very well done!
killers per say, but along the same lines. I have a Charlie
Manson music page, where I showcase some of his lesser heard
and unknown music. Right now I have tracks from his "All the
Way Alive" album up on the site, which was recorded in 1967,
two years before the 1969 Tate/Labianca murders. His music is
acoustic folk and is very well done!
As you probably know, he didn’t kill anyone. The kids at the
ranch were the murderers. A lot of debate is out there as to his
actual role in the murders. Lots of theories. No one knows the
entire truth I suppose except for those directly involved.
The page is at:
www.myspace.com/thefamilyjams
ranch were the murderers. A lot of debate is out there as to his
actual role in the murders. Lots of theories. No one knows the
entire truth I suppose except for those directly involved.
The page is at:
www.myspace.com/thefamilyjams
The other page is an Eddie Gein page. My favorite psychopath!
America’s favorite ghoul! :) ...he as well wasn’t a serial killer, only
America’s favorite ghoul! :) ...he as well wasn’t a serial killer, only
2 murders were actually attributed to him (Bernice Worden and Mary Hogan). They suspect there were
more, but no one knows for sure. Eddie was all about grave robbing, resurrection and pleasing' his
momma! There are quite a few good books and movies out on him! He should be everyone’s favorite
psychopath! Very interesting case! Very interesting man! I love Eddie!
That page can be found at:
www.myspace.com/plainfieldghoul
more, but no one knows for sure. Eddie was all about grave robbing, resurrection and pleasing' his
momma! There are quite a few good books and movies out on him! He should be everyone’s favorite
psychopath! Very interesting case! Very interesting man! I love Eddie!
That page can be found at:
www.myspace.com/plainfieldghoul
Blissfulviolet: Thanks Eric, for sharing all your interesting stories and letting me know more about
your world, got any final comments?
your world, got any final comments?
Eric: Thank you for the interview! You guys rule! You can check out my page at:
www.myspace.com/ericgein I do sell items (artwork, signatures etc) so if you are looking for true
crime memorabilia - or just want to check some of it out, shoot me an email! Or just stop by and send
your greetings! Thanks again! 6 6 6
www.myspace.com/ericgein I do sell items (artwork, signatures etc) so if you are looking for true
crime memorabilia - or just want to check some of it out, shoot me an email! Or just stop by and send
your greetings! Thanks again! 6 6 6
Some people collect baseball cards or comic books, others may have interest in
hunting down old vinyl records; but for Eric Gein, this is definitely not the case. Since
an early age, Gein developed a huge fascination with serial killers and since then
has made friendships with some of the worlds most hated criminals.
Throughout his years of contact through letters, visits and phone conversations, he
has built an extraordinary collection of serial killer memorabilia and gained a clear
understanding into their bizarre world. Gein has shared with us some of his
interesting stories with his encounters and has enclosed some pics from his personal
collection, along with his phone conversation that he had with Richard Ramirez, years
back.
hunting down old vinyl records; but for Eric Gein, this is definitely not the case. Since
an early age, Gein developed a huge fascination with serial killers and since then
has made friendships with some of the worlds most hated criminals.
Throughout his years of contact through letters, visits and phone conversations, he
has built an extraordinary collection of serial killer memorabilia and gained a clear
understanding into their bizarre world. Gein has shared with us some of his
interesting stories with his encounters and has enclosed some pics from his personal
collection, along with his phone conversation that he had with Richard Ramirez, years
back.
| Phone conversation with Richard Ramirez part 1 |
| Phone conversation with Richard Ramirez part 2 |