Biography, Serial Killer, Charlize Theron Monster

1956-2002

Who Was Aileen Wuornos?

Serial killer Aileen Wuornos was convicted for murdering six men in Florida in 1989 and 1990. Wuornos had exhibited unusual sexual behavior as a child before leaving home as a teen and had multiple brushes with the law by the 1980s, when she made a living as a sex worker on Florida’s highways. Her killing spree started around late November 1989 and earned her the nickname “Damsel of Death.” After being arrested in January 1991, she confessed to seven murders before receiving death sentences in the six cases brought against her. Although her sanity was questioned, Wuornos was executed by lethal injection in October 2002 at age 46. In addition to documentaries, books, and an opera, her story was depicted in the 2003 movie Monster, starring Charlize Theron, and more recently, 2021’s Aileen Wuornos: American Boogeywoman.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Aileen Carol Wuornos
BORN: February 29, 1956
DIED: October 9, 2002
BIRTHPLACE: Rochester, Michigan
SPOUSE: Lewis Fell (1976)
CHILD: 1 son
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Pisces