Henry Gein died in 1944 during a fire on the family farmland. The official cause of his death was asphyxiation leading to heart failure. He was found with severe burns and bruises on his head, but his death was ruled an accident, and no foul play was suspected. Although there has been speculation that his brother Ed Gein may have been involved, there is no public evidence or confession proving that Ed killed Henry. Ed Gein himself denied harming his brother, and the death was officially considered accidental during the fire they were battling together.
