Monster on Netflix: Who was Richard Speck and was he inspired by Ed Gein? Details explored

Richard Speck was one of the most infamous criminals in American history, and with mention of him in Ryan Murphy's new anthology series, Monster: The Ed Gein Story, the unfortunate curiosity arises again.

While Ed Gein gathered notoriety for digging up graves and making things out of dead human remains, Richard Speck's crime was the mass murder of eight student nurses in Chicago in 1966. Their crimes shocked the nation, and to an extent, the world.

As for a possible connection, there's no proof that Richard Speck was directly inspired by Ed Gein's crimes. However, in Netflix’s Monster: The Ed Gein Story, the criminal receives letters from other killers, and Speck is one of them.

He calls Gein his friend in the letter and even sent some nude photographs, possibly from one of his victims. The scene is both disturbing and chilling as it shows how killers think and feel about their victims.

This Season serves as the third installment of Murphy's anthology series, and just like the previous one, this is also being widely discussed among viewers. From Gein's relationship with his mother to the crimes he committed and his ultimate fate, the eight episodes cover them all.

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Who was Richard Speck? Exploring his life and crimes amid his mention in Monster: The Ed Gein Story

The brief appearance and a shocking letter of Richard Speck in Netflix's Monster: The Ed Gein Story has viewers thinking, "Who exactly was Richard Speck and what crimes did he commit?". So, if you've been searching for the same, here's a look into the notorious figure's life:

Richard Benjamin Speck was born on December 6, 1941 and had seven siblings. His childhood was difficult. His father, to whom he was very close, died when Speck was just six. His mother later remarried an alcoholic man with a criminal past, who was often abusive.

He struggled in school, repeating a grade and eventually dropping out at 16. Speck began drinking at the age of 12 and was often drunk by 15. He also ran into legal trouble early, with his first arrest at 13 for trespassing, followed by several other minor arrests.

As a young adult, Speck worked at a 7-Up bottling company in Dallas and married Shirley Annette Malone, with whom he had a daughter. However, his criminal behavior escalated. In 1963, he was sentenced to three years for forgery and burglary, serving 16 months.

He was arrested again for assault but was mistakenly released. By 1966, facing numerous warrants, he fled to Chicago. On July 13, 1966, Speck committed his most infamous crime: breaking into a dormitory for student nurses and murdering eight women.

One survivor, Corazon Amurao, hid under a bed and later helped identify him. He was arrested four days later after a doctor recognized his tattoo, "Born to Raise Hell." Speck was convicted and sentenced to death, which was later reduced to 100–300 years.

He died in prison of a heart attack on December 5, 1991, a day before turning 50. Known as the "Birdman" in prison for keeping sparrows, just like Ed Gein from Netflix's Monster, Speck's life remains a chilling example of a violent and troubled individual.

Also Read: How accurate is Monsters Season 2 on Netflix? Vetting all details of The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story

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Was Richard Speck inspired by Ed Gein? Is there a connection between the two?

As previously mentioned, Richard Speck briefly appears in episode 8, "Godfather" of Monster: The Ed Gein Story on Netflix, along with a letter sent by him to Ed. When Ed opens the letter, he finds some nude photographs inside the letter, with Speck thanking him for being a "role model".

So, does that mean Speck was really inspired by Gein? Despite the mention in the anthology series, there's no proof in real life which ca explain that Speck took inspiration from Gein in committing the 1966 murders.

No records, statements, or interviews from Speck himself suggest such an influence. So, the letter and Speck appear in the last episode of Monster Season 3 is fictional and does not make a factual claim.

In the episode, Ed Gein opens the letter which reads:

"He, Ed. This is your friend, Richard Speck. I haven't written in a while so I thought I'd drop you a line, send you a snapshot of my ti***** in case you need something to choke your ch***** to."

Speck says that he wished he had killed women just the way Gein did, and continues:

"... I'd feel good knowing my role model was struggling around the asylum wearing my ti*****... You know how I idolized you, well, some guy idolized me."

Speck explains in the letter that he also served as an inspiration for another killer who killed college girls. And in the end, he once again thanked Ed Gein. This way, Monster: The Ed Gein Story sheds light on America's most chilling criminals.

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Also Read: Why did Lyle and Erik Menendez kill their parents? Netflix's Monster Season 2 subjects, explored

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