Aileen Wuornos
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, Florida, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Execution by lethal injection |
| 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 |
| Convictions | 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 | Florida |
| Weapons | High Standard .22 revolver |
Date apprehended | January 9, 1991 |
Aileen Carol Wuornos (/ˈwɔːrnoʊs/; born Pittman; February 29, 1956 – October 9, 2002) was an American serial killer. 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.
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.