She looked so innocent — but grew up to become one of the most notorious female killers
Aileen Wuornos: From Trauma to Infamy
Aileen Wuornos, known as America’s “Damsel of Death,” endured a childhood marked by neglect, violence, and loss that shaped the trajectory of her life.
Born in 1956 in Michigan, Wuornos lost her mother at age four when she disappeared, later admitting it was a grave mistake. Her father, imprisoned for kidnapping and assault, died by suicide soon after. She and her brother went to live with their grandparents, but safety remained elusive.
Her grandparents struggled with alcoholism and violence. Wuornos later recalled the family as abusive, leaving her and her brother feeling worthless. By age 13, she was pregnant due to assault, and the baby was placed for adoption.
Tragedy continued as her grandmother died and her grandfather committed suicide. Wuornos and her brother became wards of the state. By 11, she had begun exchanging sexual favors for survival, eventually dropping out of school and turning to crime and prostitution.
By her mid-20s, Wuornos moved to Florida, where she began killing men. She confessed to murdering seven men, claiming self-defense, alleging each had attempted to assault her. Prosecutors argued she was a calculated killer who lured and robbed her victims.
Her trial became a media sensation. Convicted in 1992, she received six death sentences. On death row, Wuornos remained defiant, admitting her guilt and expressing no remorse for her actions.
On October 9, 2002, she was executed by lethal injection at 46. Her chilling final words reflected her complex legacy, leaving society to debate whether her crimes were the result of nature, nurture, or both.
