Ernest Fairchild was a troubled young boy whose psychic powers made him and his family pariahs in their small town. Ernest's parents habitually abused him, a fact that was common knowledge among the townspeople, as Ernest could tell due to his ability to read their thoughts, but no one was willing to do anything about it.
In an attempt to "cure" him of his abilities, his parents brought him to Dr. Leonard Price for an experimental treatment known as the Dream Probe which horribly backfired, resulting in Ernie murdering his parents the following night. After being incarcerated in a mental asylum, he was submitted to a second cutting-edge procedure known as "Neurotech." This procedure also went horribly wrong, resulting in an explosion.
Ernest Fairchild died that day, but he did not stay that way, soon returning as an undead killer powered by the arcane energies contained within a sentient, psychotic button named Smiley, who functions as Evil Ernie's "shoulder devil" encouraging him on his killing sprees.
