Aileen Wuornos

Aileen Wuornos
Wuornos in 2002
Born
Aileen Carol Pittman

(1956-02-29)February 29, 1956
Rochester, Michigan, U.S.
DiedOctober 9, 2002(2002-10-09) (aged 46)
Florida State Prison, Florida, U.S.
Other namesSandra Kretsch
Susan Lynn Blahovec
Lee Blahovec
Cammie Marsh Greene
Lori Kristine Grody[1]
Criminal statusExecuted by lethal injection
Spouse
Lewis Gratz Fell
(m. 1976; ann. 1976)
PartnerTyria Moore (1986–1991)
Children1[2]
ConvictionFirst-degree murder (6 counts)
Criminal penaltyDeath
Details
Victims7
Span of crimes
November 30, 1989 – November 19, 1990
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
WeaponsHigh Standard .22 revolver
Date apprehended
January 9, 1991

Aileen Carol Wuornos (/ˈwɔːrns/) (née Pittman; February 29, 1956 – October 9, 2002) was an American serial killer.[3] Between 1989 and 1990, while engaging in street prostitution along highways in Florida, Wuornos shot dead and robbed seven of her male clients. She claimed that her victims had either raped or attempted to rape her, and that the homicides were committed in self-defense. Wuornos was sentenced to death for six of the murders and was executed in 2002 after spending more than ten years on Florida's death row.[4]

In the feature film Monster (2003), Wuornos' story is described from her first murder until her execution; for her portrayal of Wuornos, Charlize Theron won the Academy Award for Best Actress.[5]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference clarkprosecutor was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Howard was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Pearson, Kyra (2007). "The Trouble with Aileen Wuornos, Feminism's "First Serial Killer"". Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies. 4 (3): 256–275. doi:10.1080/14791420701472791. ISSN 1479-1420. S2CID 144013714.
  4. ^ Word, Ron (October 9, 2002). "Fla. Executes Female Serial Killer". Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).