Aileen Wuornos
Early Life:
Aileen Carol Wuornos (born Aileen Carol Pittman) was born on February 29, 1956, in Rochester, Michigan, to Diane Wuornos and Leo Dale Pittman. Her childhood was marked by instability and trauma. Diane, only 14 when she married Leo, who was then 18, filed for divorce two months before Aileen was born. Aileen never met her father, who in 1967 was sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping and raping a 7-year-old girl, committed suicide by hanging in prison on January 30, 1969.
Abandoned by her mother when she was just 4, Aileen was raised by her grandparents, Lauri and Britta Wuornos. Unfortunately, Aileen's upbringing was far from stable. Her grandfather was reportedly an abusive alcoholic, while her grandmother was emotionally detached. Aileen and her brother Keith faced severe neglect and abuse. By age 11, Aileen had started engaging in sexual activities for food, drugs, and cigarettes. She had also engaged in sexual activities with her brother. By 14, she became pregnant, allegedly due to rape by a family friend. She gave birth to a son at a home for unwed mothers on March 23, 1971 and the child was put up for adoption.
Adolescence and Early Adulthood:
A few months after her son was born her grandmother died of liver failure and Aileen dropped out of school. Shortly thereafter, at age 15, her grandfather threw her out of the house, it was at this time it's believed she began living a transient lifestyle, engaging in petty crime and sex work to survive. This period solidified her pattern of using her body to make a living, a cycle that would continue throughout her life.
Crime and Prostitution:
Aileen's life of crime escalated in the late 1970s and early 1980s. On May 27, 1974, at age 18, Wuornos was arrested in Jefferson County, Colorado, for driving under the influence (DUI), disorderly conduct, and firing a .22-caliber pistol from a moving vehicle. She was later charged with failure to appear. She was arrested multiple times for offenses such as DUI, disorderly conduct, and theft.
In 1978, at the age of 22, she attempted suicide by shooting herself in the stomach. Between the ages of 14 and 22, she attempted suicide six times. On May 20, 1981, Wuornos was arrested in Edgewater, Florida, for the armed robbery of a convenience store, where she stole $35 and two packs of cigarettes. She was sentenced to prison on May 4, 1982, and released on June 30, 1983. On May 1, 1984, Wuornos was arrested for attempting to pass forged checks at a bank in Key West. On November 30, 1985, she was named as a suspect in the theft of a revolver and ammunition in Pasco County. She hitchhiked across the country, supporting herself through sex work. Aileen's relationships were often tumultuous and abusive, further deepening her mistrust of people and society.
In 1986, Aileen met Tyria Moore, a motel maid, in a Daytona gay bar called Zodiac. They quickly became inseparable, with Aileen providing for them through sex work. Their relationship, however, was fraught with financial struggles and emotional turmoil. On July 4, 1987, Daytona Beach police detained Wuornos and Moore at a bar for questioning regarding an incident in which they were accused of assault and battery with a beer bottle.
Tyria would later play a crucial role in Aileen's capture.
The Murders:
Between 1989 and 1990, Aileen murdered seven men in Florida. All the men were motorists between the ages of 40 and 65.
November 30, 1989: Richard Charles Mallory (51 years-old) - Wuornos' first victim, his body found several miles away from his abandoned vehicle. He had been shot several times, but the (2) bullets to the left lung were found to have been the cause of his death.
May 19, 1990: David Andrew Spears (47 years-old) - declared missing, his naked body found on June 1, 1990 along US 19 in Citrus County. He had been shot (6) times with a .22 pistol.
May 31, 1990: Charles Edmund Carskaddon (40 years-old) - his body found in Pasco County, wrapped in an electric blanket, badly decomposed, shot (9) times with a .22 caliber weapon.
July 4, 1990: Peter Abraham Siems (50 years-old) - his car was found in Orange Springs, Florida. Wuornos was seen abandoning the car, her hand print was found on the interior door handle, Peter's body was never found.
July 31, 1990: Troy Eugene Burress (50 years-old) - reported missing, on 8/4/90 his body was found along State Rd 19 in Marion County. He had been shot (2) times.
September 11, 1990: Charles Richard Humphreys (56 years-old), retired U.S. Air Force Major, former state child abuse investigator and former Chief of Police, his body was found in Marion County, fully clothed, shoy (7) times in the head and torso.
November 19, 1990: Walter Jeno Antonio (62 years-old) - his nearly naked body was found near a remote logging road in Dixie County, He had been shot (4) times.
Aileen claimed self-defense, stating that the men had either raped or attempted to rape her while she was working as a prostitute. However, the nature of the killings, such as the theft and the manner of shooting, suggested premeditation and contradicted her self-defense claims. The brutality and frequency of the murders shocked the nation and brought intense media scrutiny.
Arrest and Trial:
Aileen was arrested on January 9, 1991, at The Last Resort, a biker bar in Volusia County, Florida. Tyria Moore cooperated with the police, and through a series of recorded phone calls, she persuaded Aileen to confess to the murders. Aileen's trial was a media circus, with her often lashing out at the court, the media, and even her defense team.
On January 14, 1992, Wuornos went to trial for the murder of Richard Charles Mallory. Although previous convictions are normally inadmissible in criminal trials, under Florida's Williams Rule, the prosecution was allowed to introduce evidence related to her other crimes to show a pattern of illegal activity. On January 27, 1992, Aileen was convicted of the first-degree murder of Richard Mallory and four days later she was sentenced to death. She received additional death sentences for the murders of David Spears, Charles Carskaddon, Troy Burress, and Charles Humphreys. Aileen pleaded no contest to the murders of Walter Antonio and Peter Siems, hoping to expedite her execution.
Life on Death Row:
Aileen spent over a decade on Florida's death row. During this time, she gave numerous interviews, often changing her story about the murders. She expressed a desire to die, stating that she could not stand the confinement and wanted to end her suffering.
In her final interviews, Aileen claimed that prison guards and other inmates were torturing her with sonic pressure and other methods. Her mental health deteriorated, and she exhibited signs of paranoia and delusion. Despite these claims, she was found competent to be executed.
Execution:
On October 9, 2002, Aileen Wuornos was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison. She declined her last meal which could have been anything under $20 and opted for a cup of coffee instead. Her last words were, "Yes, I would just like to say I'm sailing with the rock, and I'll be back, like Independence Day with Jesus, June 6, like the movie, big mother ship and all. I'll be back." She died at 9:47 a.m. EDT. She was the second woman in Florida and the tenth in the United States to be executed since the 1976 United States Supreme Court decision restoring capital punishment.
Legacy:
Aileen Wuornos' life and crimes have left a lasting impact on American culture and the criminal justice system. She has been the subject of numerous books, documentaries, and films, most notably the 2003 film "Monster," in which Charlize Theron portrayed her and won an Academy Award for Best Actress.
Aileen's case raised significant questions about the treatment of women in the criminal justice system, especially those with histories of abuse and trauma. It also highlighted the complex intersection of mental illness, trauma, and crime. Aileen Wuornos remains a controversial figure, symbolizing both the failures of society to protect its most vulnerable members and the capacity for extreme violence that can arise from such neglect.
Reflections on Aileen Wuornos' Life:
Aileen Wuornos' life story is a tragic narrative of a woman who endured immense suffering and perpetrated horrific violence. Her early experiences of abuse and neglect undeniably shaped her worldview and survival mechanisms. The constant betrayal and exploitation she faced contributed to her deep mistrust and anger towards society, which manifested in her violent crimes.
Despite the brutality of her actions, Aileen's life invites a broader reflection on the systemic failures that allowed her to fall through the cracks. Her story underscores the importance of addressing childhood trauma, providing mental health support, and creating social safety nets to prevent such tragic outcomes.
In the end, Aileen Wuornos' life serves as a grim reminder of the consequences of neglect and abuse. It challenges society to look beyond the surface of criminal behavior and consider the underlying factors that drive individuals to commit such acts. While her crimes cannot be excused, understanding her life context provides a more comprehensive view of the complex interplay between personal trauma and societal failure.
2/29/56 - 10/09/02
Jefferson County
Tyria Moore
Richard Mallory
Walter Jeno Antonio
The Last Resort
