Ed Gein's alleged girlfriend was Adeline Watkins, a woman from his hometown of Plainfield, Wisconsin. After Gein's arrest in 1957, Watkins, then about 50 years old, publicly claimed that she had been romantically involved with him for around two decades. She described Gein as "good and kind and sweet" and recalled that he had proposed to her in 1955, an offer she declined because she feared not being able to meet his expectations. They reportedly shared interests such as reading and discussions about murders in the news. However, Watkins later retracted much of her initial claims, stating their relationship was considerably shorter—about seven months in 1954—and more casual, largely limited to occasional dates and visits. Gein himself never publicly acknowledged any relationship with her, and there is no evidence that she was complicit in his crimes. Thus, while Adeline Watkins did have some personal connection to Ed Gein, the exact nature and duration of their relationship remain unclear and subject to differing accounts.