The new Netflix series Monster: The Ed Gein Story introduces a terrifying character named Evelyn Hartley, a babysitter who meets a grim fate at the hands of the titular killer. While her story is a key part of the show’s horror, the real-life history of Evelyn Hartley is a different, and still unresolved, mystery.
In the series, Evelyn Hartley is shown as a young woman struggling with a polio diagnosis. Her character is kidnapped and murdered by Ed Gein in a disturbing scene that echoes classic horror films. This portrayal, however, is a fictional creation for the show. The real Evelyn Hartley’s disappearance remains an open case, and her connection to Gein was never proven.
Who Was the Real Evelyn Hartley?
The real Evelyn Grace Hartley was a 15-year-old girl who disappeared in October 1953 from La Crosse, Wisconsin. She was the daughter of a biology professor and was babysitting a 20-month-old child at the time. The family she was working for was that of another professor, Viggo Rasmussen.
On the night she vanished, Evelyn was at the Rasmussen home. When her father arrived to pick her up, she was nowhere to be found. Signs of a struggle were discovered, including broken glasses and what were believed to be drag marks. Despite a massive search party involving over 2,000 people, Evelyn was never found. No trace of her has ever been discovered, and her case remains one of Wisconsin’s most famous unsolved mysteries.
Did Ed Gein Kill Evelyn Hartley?
When Ed Gein was arrested in 1957 for the murder of hardware store owner Bernice Worden, police found a house of horrors on his farm. This led investigators to question him about other unsolved cases, including the disappearances of Evelyn Hartley and another girl, 8-year-old Georgia Weckler.
While Gein eventually confessed to killing Mary Hogan and Bernice Worden, and to digging up numerous graves, he always maintained his innocence regarding Hartley. It was reported that Gein was in the area visiting family around the time Evelyn vanished. However, no evidence linking him to her disappearance was ever found at his property. In November 1957, police officially cleared Gein of any involvement in the cases of Evelyn Hartley and Georgia Weckler.
Fact vs. Fiction in the Netflix Series
The Netflix series takes creative license by directly linking Gein to Evelyn Hartley’s story. In Monster: The Ed Gein Story, the character of Evelyn is played by social media star and actress Addison Rae. Her portrayal shows Evelyn being fired from a babysitting job, only to be later targeted and killed by Gein.
This dramatic depiction serves the show’s narrative but blends fact with fiction. The real Evelyn Hartley’s case has no confirmed connection to Ed Gein. Her inclusion in the series highlights how Gein became a figure onto which many unsolved crimes were projected, even without evidence.
A Lasting Mystery
The disappearance of Evelyn Hartley continues to be a painful, open wound. For decades, investigators and amateur sleuths have pursued leads, but none have provided answers. The case is a sobering reminder that, unlike in the streamlined stories of television, many real-life tragedies never get a resolution.
The character in the Netflix show brings a new layer of horror to the Ed Gein story. However, the true story of Evelyn Hartley is its own separate tragedy—a young girl who vanished, and whose fate remains unknown.
Also Read: Monster: The Ed Gein Story – The Shocking Nurse Scene Explained
