Aileen Wuornos was the first ever convicted American serial killer, taking a total of six to seven lives along a Floridian highway from 1989-1990. Throughout the murders and the hunt to find the killer, Aileen received the nickname “Damsel of Death.” However, this “damsel” has a dark past.
- Aileen Wuornos did not have an easy upbringing. She was born to 16-year-old Diane Wuornos and 20-year-old Leo Pittman. She had an older brother, Keith, who would later unfortunately pass away from cancer.
- Aileen and Keith were brought up by their aunt and uncle, who had legally adopted the children.
- Aileen’s grandfather would physically, mentally, and mentally abuse her.
- Wuornos would go on to work for mature audiences in return for money or cigarettes as early as 11, and after getting pregnant at only 14, would be sent away to Detroit. After having her baby- whom she would promptly give up for adoption- Aileen would return home, living in abandoned cars, juvenile detention centers, the forest, and her own home until her grandfather kicked her out after the passing of his wife.
- Aileen would hitchhike across the country, offering her services as payment.
- At only 20 years old, Aileen Wuornos would be wed to 70-year-old Lewis Fell before divorcing him a month later.
- Ten years later, Aileen would meet Tyria Moore at an LGTBQ+ bar; the two would go on to date for four and a half years before breaking up due to Moore actually helping the police arrest Aileen.
- From 1989 to 1990, Aileen Wuornos killed seven men along a Floridian highway: Richard Mallory, David Spears, Charles Carksaddon, Troy Burress, Charles Humphreys, Walter Antonio, and Peter Siems.
- All seven bodies would be discovered at an illegal dumping site.
- After officials began searching for two female culprits, Moore promptly fled to Pennsylvania while Wuornos was arrested.
- Moore worked with police to avoid charges, helping them get a confession out of Moore.
- Wuornos was charged with first-degree murder on six counts and was additionally given six death penalties.
- After being on death row for nearly ten years, Aileen Wuornos was executed by lethal injection at the age of 46.
A Monster Formed
She was born on the 29th of February, 1965, to teenager Diane Wuornos, who surrendered the child and her elder brother Keith after her birth. Aileen’s father, Leo Pittman, was also absent in her life, as he had killed himself after being sent to prison. It is important to note that the children’s mother had been married to Leo at the age of only 14, while Leo was 18.
Aileen and Keith were raised by their aunt and uncle, who had legally adopted the children, but growing up quickly became difficult for her after her face was scarred by a grisly fire, causing the girl to struggle with making friends. At home, Aileen faced physical and mental abuse from her grandfather, who she had been raised believing was her father. Even from the early age of 11, Aileen began to work in mature industries, earning cigarettes or money in return. She ran away multiple times from home and was eventually sent out to Detroit after getting pregnant at the age of only 14. She had her baby boy in March of 1971, who was immediately given up for adoption.
Struggling to find a place, Aileen frequently stayed in old or abandoned cars, juvenile detention centers, the forest, or her own home. However, after the passing of Aileen’s grandmother, her grandfather- who would later kill himself- kicked her out. Hopeless and alone, Aileen resorted to hitchhiking across the country, offering her services.
Relationships
In 1976, Aileen Wuornos met 70-year-old Lewis Fell. Fell was relatively affluent, and 20-year-old Aileen quickly married him that same year. However, the two would separate only a month after being married.
Aileen’s second relationship was with a 24-year-old woman named Tyria Moore. Aileen- who was 30 then- would later go on to explain how she truly did love Tyria, and their relationship would later prove very relevant in catching Aileen.
The two had first encountered each other in 1986 at an LGTBQ+ bar, where they would go on to date for nearly five years. Their relationship only ended after Moore helped officials arrest Wuornos.
The Victims
Between the years 1989 and 1990, Aileen Wuornos shot and killed seven men along a Floridian highway. Richard Mallory was the first of Aileen’s victims, whom she had informed Tyria Moore that she had taken his life. His body was later discovered at an illegal dumping site. David Spears, Charles Carksaddon, Troy Burress, Charles Humphreys, Walter Antonio, and Peter Siems were also found at that site. Siems would be very important in this case, as witnesses would identify Wuornos and Moore being in his vehicle.
The Arrest
After news broke out that officials were searching for two potential female killers, Moore quickly fled from the state. A few months later, Wuornos was promptly arrested; however, police lacked the necessary evidence to make a conviction. Recognizing the relationship between the two, authorities were able to locate Moore. Police informed her that they would refrain from pressing charges if she supplied them with evidence against Wuornos. Moore would oblige and would later convince Wuornos to confess to the killings while on the phone.
The Trial
Wuornos was initially charged with murder of the first degree for the death of Richard Mallory. Her story about Mallory would go on to change, first saying that he had abused her- though there was no evidence for it yet. Wuornos would be given the death penalty for killing Mallory, and after confessing to the rest of the murders two months later, would be given the death penalty for each one as well. However, she was not charged for killing Siems, as his body had not yet been discovered. At 46, about 11 years after being arrested and put on death row, Wuornos would be executed by lethal injection, finally putting the victims to rest and closing the case once and for all.
