did adeline know about ed gein

Adeline Watkins did know about Ed Gein, and they had a relationship, though the nature and duration are subject to conflicting accounts. Adeline initially claimed in a 1957 interview that they had a romantic relationship of about 20 years and that Ed Gein was "good, kind, polite and sweet." She said he proposed to her in 1955, but she rejected him, fearing she wouldn't live up to his expectations. They shared interests such as reading and discussing murders, and went out occasionally to movies and taverns. However, Adeline later retracted the claim of a 20-year romantic relationship, clarifying that their actual involvement was shorter and more intermittent—only about seven months of dating spread intermittently, and that they never visited each other's homes. She described the relationship as more of a friendship with some dating rather than a long-term romance. She consistently described Ed Gein positively, even after his crimes were revealed, saying she still loved him. Gein himself never publicly spoke about Adeline. In summary, Adeline Watkins did know Ed Gein personally and had some level of acquaintance or brief romantic involvement, but the relationship was not as extensive as initially reported, and much is still unclear or disputed about the exact nature of their connection.