Aileen “Lee” Wuornos, aged 34, found herself in jail following suspicions of a series of murders committed along the motorway. During a phone conversation with her 28-year-old girlfriend, Tyria Moore, Wuornos made a heartfelt promise in a moment of distress. Wuornos expressed her love for Moore and vowed to protect her, even if it meant confessing to everything to shield her from trouble.
This act of love ultimately led Wuornos to be convicted of six murders, culminating in her execution by the state of Florida in 2002. Dubbed “America’s first female serial killer” by the media, Wuornos’ story has inspired true-crime TV shows and the 2003 film “Monster.” Now, her case is under scrutiny once more, shedding new light on the killer and her troubled past.
A recently released Netflix documentary titled “Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers” features footage from a death row interview with Wuornos. The director, Emily Turner, reveals that through this interview, a different side of Wuornos emerges – complex, contradictory, and at times unsettling.
In her final interviews, Wuornos chillingly asserts that she was not inherently a serial killer but rather became one due to being profoundly lost. Raised by her grandparents in Michigan after being abandoned by her parents at a young age, Wuornos faced a tumultuous upbringing marked by abuse and trauma.
By the age of 16, Wuornos had taken to the streets as a sex worker, enduring a harsh and dangerous lifestyle. Her life took a turn when she met Moore, sparking a passionate love affair that lasted four intense years. However, their relationship was eclipsed by the unfolding investigation into a series of murders near Florida highways.
Following a breakthrough in the case where Wuornos’ fingerprint was found on a pawnshop item belonging to one of the victims, she was arrested in 1991. Convincing her lover, Moore, to cooperate with authorities, Wuornos stood trial and was found guilty of multiple murders, leading to her eventual death sentence.
The Netflix documentary includes insights from Wuornos’ childhood friend, Dawn Botkins, who recounts their final meeting before Wuornos’ execution. Reflecting on Wuornos’ troubled past and tumultuous relationships, Botkins recalls Wuornos’ acknowledgment of her actions and the tragic love affair with Moore.
“Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers” is now available on Netflix, offering viewers a deeper look into the complex and haunting story of Aileen Wuornos.