Have you heard of the Damsel of Death, a.k.a Aileen Wuornos, a serial killer who shot, killed, and robbed seven of her male victims?
Childhood/Early life
Aileen was born on February 29, 1956, and grew up in Rochester, Michigan. Aileen grew up in a troubled family. She never met her father, Leo Pittman, who raped and a kidnapped a 7 year old and was sentenced to life in prison, where he later committed suicide in 1969. Diane, Aileen’s mom, abandoned her and her brother, Keith, when Aileen was only 4 years old. Aileen’s grandparents got custody of her and her brother. Her grandmother, Britta, was an alcoholic and her grandfather, Lauri, physically and sexually abused Aileen. Aileen was sexually active at a young age. She had a child with her brother, Keith, and soon thereafter gave her son up for adoption. She dropped out of high school and started to live on the streets. Later, Aileen met a girl named Tyria Moore, and they soon started dating.
Her first murder: After Aileen dropped out of high school, she began working as a prostitute and, when hitchhiking, to Florida she met 51-year old Richard Mallory. Mallory was a pawn shop owner who joined the Prostitute Interstate 75 in Florida. Aileen claimed that Mallory beat her, raped her, and drove her to an abandoned house. Two days later, a Volusia County Deputy discovered Mallory’s body several miles away from his car. Mallory was shot multiple times in the chest; Aileen later claimed that she shot him in self-defense.
Crimes/Victims of Aileen Wuornos
David Spears: Spears was a 43-year old construction worker. He went missing on May 19, 1990. Spears’ body was found on June 1, 1990, in Citrus County, Florida. He was shot six times and his body was left nude with a used condom nearby.
Charles Carskaddon: Charles was a 40-year old part-time rodeo worker. After Spears’ body was found, Charles’ body was discovered in Pasco County. He was shot nine times in the chest and in the stomach.
Tory Burress: Tory was a 50-year old salesman. His body was discovered by Marion County law enforcement. He was shot twice in the torso; his body decomposed.
Charles “Dick” Humphreys: Humphreys was a 56-year old retired Air Force major, police chief, and child abuse investigator. His body was found in Marion County on September 12. Although he was found fully clothed, he had suffered multiple gun shots to the head and torso.
Peter Siems: Peter was a 65-year old retired merchant Marine. Peter was headed to New Jersey when his car was found in Orange Springs on July 4. Although Peter’s body was never found, witnesses described a woman abandoning his vehicle.
Walter Antonio: Antonio was a 61-year old security guard and a reserve police officer. Antonio’s body was found on November 19, near a logging road in Dixie County, Florida. Antonio was partially dressed when his body was discovered. He was shot four times in the back and head.
The Arrest/Confession
On May 27, 1974, Aileen was arrested at The Last Resort Biker Bar in Volusia County. The arrest was made on the warrant for carrying a concealed weapon. Of course, the officers already had suspicion of Aileen when fingerprints were found on an item from the pawn shop that belonged to Mallory. Meanwhile, Moore was being tracked by the police in an attempt to gather additional evidence. Three days after being arrested, Aileen confessed in order to protect Moore.
Her trial
During the trail, Aileen kept claiming her innocence and that she was defending herself from the men who had tried to rape/abuse her. Aileen was convicted for the murder of Richard Mallory and was sentenced to death row. Aileen continued to plead innocence to the five other murders even though she claimed that all seven men had either raped or attempted to rape her during the entire trial. In the end, she received a total of six death sentences.
Execution/Death
Aileen was executed on October 9 2002, by a lethal injection. Aileen died at 9:47 a.m. She had declined her last meal and received only coffee before her death. Aileen’s last words were “Yes, I would 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 mother ship and all, I’ll be back, I’ll be back”.
This is the resort where Aileen was arrested. She was lured outside where the undercover cops were waiting for her.
Aileen explains to the judge how Mallory was choking her. This photo was taken during her first trial.
Aileen walking into court.
Sources:
https://capitalpunishmentincontext.org/cases/wuornos
https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/women-s-studies-and-feminism/aileen-wuornos
https://softskull.com/bookauthor/aileen-wuornos/
