WHEN Americans hear the words serial killer, they often think of Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, John Wayne Gacy, and Jack the Ripper.
While many believe that most serial killers are men, there are a few notorious ones that are women, including Aileen Wuornos.
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Who was serial killer Aileen Wuornos?
Aileen Wuornos was an infamous serial killer who was born on February 29, 1956, in Rochester, Michigan.
Between 1989 and 1990, she shot dead and robbed seven of her male clients while working as a prostitute along Florida highways, earning her the title of America’s First Female Serial Killer, according to Crime Museum.
During her trial, Wuornos claimed that she killed the men while acting in self-defense, and argued that they tried to sexually assault her.
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However, a jury found her guilty and she received six death sentences as a result.
On October 9, 2002, she then died by lethal injection at Florida State Prison.
Her last words were, “I’d 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," Crime Museum notes.
Her story has since been used in several documentaries over the years, including the popular 2003 film, Monster.
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Who were Aileen Wuornos' victims?
Aileen Wuornos' victims included:
- Richard Mallory, a 51 year old Clearwater electronics shop owner
- David Spears, a 43 year old construction worker
- Charles Carskaddon, a 40 year old part-time rodeo worker
- Troy Burress, a 50 year old Ocala salesman
- Charles "Dick" Humphreys, a 56 year old retired Air Force major and former police chief
- Walter Gino Antonio
Wuornos also confessed to killing Peter Siems, however, his body was never found, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Who were Aileen Wuornos' parents?
Wuornos' was born in 1956 to 19-year-old Leo Pittman and 16-year-old Diane Wuornos.
Like Wuornos, her father was also known as a convicted criminal, having done time in a Kansas prison after he was convicted of raping a 7-year-old, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
He also spent time in Kansas and Michigan mental hospitals prior to his passing.
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Pittmann ultimately died in prison on January 30, 1969, after he hanged himself in his cell.
While not much is known about Wuornos' mother, she was also not in the picture growing up, having abandoned Wuornos and her older brother when she was only a teenager.
"I just couldn't cope," Diane told police in 1991.
"The whole family came to me and, in turn, one at a time, begged me to give (Aileen and Keith) to my parents, which was probably the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life."
"I should have . . . adopted them to strangers," Diane added.
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"We in our family suffered a form of child abuse. My father was verbally abusive. My mother was verbally abusive, and we were always told we were no good."
Like her mother, Wuornos was also a teen mother and gave birth to a child in 1969 that she later gave up for adoption, the Tampa Bay Times notes.
