Aileen Wuornos
Aileen Carol Wuornos (/ˈwɔːrnoʊs/; born Pittman; February 29, 1956 – October 9, 2002) was an American serial killer. In 1989–1990, while engaging in street prostitution along highways in Florida, she shot dead and robbed seven of her male clients. Wuornos claimed that her clients had either raped or attempted to rape her, and that the homicides of the men were committed in self-defense. Wuornos was sentenced to death for six of the murders. She was executed on October 9, 2002, by lethal injection after spending more than 10 years on Florida's death row.
Aileen Wuornos | |
|---|---|
Wuornos in 2002 | |
| Born | Aileen Carol Pittman February 29, 1956 Rochester, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | October 9, 2002 (aged 46) Florida State Prison, Raiford, Florida, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Execution by lethal injection |
| Resting place | Cremated, ashes scattered in Fostoria, Tuscola County, Michigan |
| Other names | Sandra Kretsch Susan Lynn Blahovec Lee Blahovec Cammie Marsh Greene Lori Kristine Grody |
| Spouse |
Lewis Gratz Fell
(m. 1976; ann. 1976) |
| Partner | Tyria Moore (1986–1991) |
| Children | 1 |
| Conviction(s) | 6 counts of first-degree murder |
| Criminal penalty | 6 death sentences |
| Details | |
| Victims | 7 |
Span of crimes | November 30, 1989 – November 19, 1990 |
| Country | United States |
| State(s) | Florida |
| Weapons | High Standard .22 Revolver |
Date apprehended | January 9, 1991 |
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.