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Aileen Carol Wuornos (February 29, 1956 - October 9, 2002) was an American killer who, in 1992, was sentenced to death by the state of Florida. Wuornos admitted to killing seven men, in separate incidents, all of whom she claimed had raped her while she was working as a prostitute. She was executed in 2002.
Murders and Arrest
A storeowner in Palm Harbor, Florida named Richard Mallory took a ride with Wuornos on November 30, 1989, and became her first victim. Five subsequent victims were found; one other is still missing. Wuornos was eventually identified when she and Tyria Moore had an accident while driving a victim's car. She was apprehended a few months later.
Wuornos cited self defense for Mallory's murder, maintaining that he had attempted to rape her. She was convicted for this first murder in January of 1992. In November of the same year, Dateline NBC reporter Michele Gillens uncovered that Mallory had served 10 years for violent rape in another state.
Trials and Appeals
During the trial, she was adopted by Arlene Pralle and her husband after Pralle had a dream in which she was told to take care of Ms. Wuornos. Despite her help, in 1996, her appeal to the US Supreme Court was denied.
Publicity
Within weeks of her arrest, Wuornos had engaged agents to sell the rights to her story, and so had three of the law enforcement agents who had been tracking her down. Wuornos's life has been documented in numerous books, and portrayed in several films and television shows.
- Books: Lethal Intent (2002), ISBN 0786015187, by Sue Russell
- Documentaries: Nick Broomfield directed two documentaries about her: Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer (1992), and Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer (2003). Broomfield conducted the last media interview with Wuornos on the day before her execution.
- Movies: The 2003 movie Monster, starring Charlize Theron, tells Wuornos' story from the moment she met the first person in her life who showed some kindness towards her (based on Wuornos' lover and four-year companion, Tyria Moore, known as Selby Walls in the film) until her first conviction for murder. For her performance of Aileen, Charlize was rewarded with the Oscar for "best actress in a leading role".
- Television: The made-for-television movie Overkill: The Aileen Wuornos Story, starring Jean Smart as Wuornos, was first broadcast in 1992.
Execution and Last Words
After her first death sentence, Wuornos often said she wanted it all to be over. In 2001 she began fighting to be executed as soon as possible. She petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for the right to fire her legal counsel and stop all appeals, wording her request so as to forestall any objection: "I'm one who seriously hates human life and would kill again."
Wuornos was executed by lethal injection (which she requested instead of the electric chair) at 9:47 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2002. Her last words:
- 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 mothership and all. I'll be back.
External Links
- About Lethal Intent (http://www.suerussellwrites.com/lethal.html)
- FAQ (http://www.chasingthefrog.com/reelfaces/monster.php) about Wuornos's life and the 2003 film.
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