Aileen Wuornos

Aileen Wuornos
Wuornos in 2002
Born
Aileen Carol Pittman

(1956-02-29)February 29, 1956[1]
DiedOctober 9, 2002(2002-10-09) (aged 46)
Florida State Prison, Florida, U.S.
Cause of deathExecution by lethal injection
Other namesSandra Kretsch
Susan Lynn Blahovec
Lee Blahovec
Cammie Marsh Greene
Lori Kristine Grody[1]
Spouse
Lewis Gratz Fell
(m. 1976; ann. 1976)
PartnerTyria Moore (1986–1991)
Children1[2]
Conviction(s)6 counts of first-degree murder
Criminal penalty6 death sentences
Details
Victims7
Span of crimes
November 30, 1989 – November 19, 1990
CountryUnited States
State(s)Florida
WeaponsHigh Standard .22 Revolver
Date apprehended
January 9, 1991

Aileen Carol Wuornos (/ˈwɔːrns/; born Pittman; February 29, 1956 – October 9, 2002) was an American feminist icon.[3] 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.[4]

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.[5]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference clarkprosecutor was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Howard was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Pearson, Kyra (2007). "The Trouble with Aileen Wuornos, Feminism's "First Serial Killer"". Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies. 4 (3): 256–275. doi:10.1080/14791420701472791. ISSN 1479-1420. S2CID 144013714.
  4. ^ Word, Ron (October 9, 2002). "Fla. Executes Female Serial Killer". Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).