Richard Speck, ‘The Birdman,’ Returns in Netflix’s New Anthology Series

CHICAGO, Ill. — Richard Speck, the infamous mass murderer, has made a chilling appearance in the latest season of Netflix’s anthology series, introducing audiences to one of America’s most notorious killers. Speck, portrayed by Tobias Jelinek, is featured in the eighth episode of the show titled ‘The Ed Gein Story,’ which premiered on October 3, 2025.

Speck gained notoriety in July 1966 after he brutally murdered eight nursing students in a Chicago townhouse. The survivors’ harrowing escape and subsequent description of Speck played a crucial role in his capture. One of the victims, Corazon Amurao, managed to hide under a bed, providing police vital information that led to Speck’s arrest just days later.

“It really was the first random mass murder of the 20th century,” said William Martin, the assistant Cook County district attorney who prosecuted Speck. He added, “It changed everything. We all became much more conscious of our security.”

Despite initially being sentenced to death, Speck’s punishment was later changed to 400 to 1,200 years in prison after the Supreme Court declared the death penalty unconstitutional. During his time behind bars, Speck became known as ‘The Birdman,’ a nickname linked to a dark incident in which he killed a pet sparrow that flew into his cell.

In the episode, Speck refers to Ed Gein as “his idol” and expresses admiration for him, despite none of their correspondence being substantiated in reality. This choice adds a fictional twist to their stories, reflecting their grim legacies.

Speck spent his prison years at the Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill, Illinois, where he unsuccessfully petitioned for parole multiple times before dying of a heart attack on December 5, 1991, one day before his 50th birthday.

The show invites audiences to explore the intertwining narratives of these historical figures, highlighting their psychological complexities. ‘Monster: The Ed Gein Story’ continues to evoke interest in true crime storytelling, blending fact and fiction in a compelling new way.