It takes the police a week to retrieve the bodies and cars of Norman’s victims from the swamp. Norman’s story causes a sensation in Fairvale. Sheriff Chambers gives several newspaper interviews. The townsfolk speculate wildly about Norman, attempting to tie him to every missing person case in the area, without evidence. The district attorney promises a quick trial and does nothing to contradict rumors that Norman is “guilty of cannibalism, Satanism, incest, and necrophilia” (166). Norman is sent to a state psychiatric hospital, while the Bates Motel and Sam’s hardware store become areas of intense public interest.

Ten days later, Sam visits Lila to discuss his interview with Dr. Nicholas Steiner, Norman's psychiatrist at the state hospital. He tells Lila that Norma dominated Norman’s life. Dr. Steiner suspects that Norman, who wanted to be like his mother, cross-dressed in secret long before Norma’s death. When Norman was around 19, the army recruited him, but Norma “deliberately prevented him from growing up” (168), presumably preventing him from joining. Joe Considine, who likely had his eye on her property, began to court Norma. He convinced her to sell the land and open the motel. Norman walked in on his mother and Joe Considine having sex; shortly after, they announced their marriage.