Aileen “Lee” Wuornos, aged 34 at the time, found herself behind bars following her arrest on suspicion of a series of murders near the highway. During a phone call with her partner, 28-year-old Tyria Moore, Wuornos reassured Moore, who was in a state of panic, that she would not let her go to jail. Wuornos expressed her love for Moore and vowed to confess everything to protect her from trouble if necessary.
This declaration of love ultimately led to Wuornos’ conviction for six murders, culminating in her execution by the state of Florida in 2002. Dubbed “America’s first female serial killer” by the media, Wuornos became the subject of true-crime television programs and the biographical film “Monster” in 2003. Now, fresh insights into the murderer’s psyche and troubled past are emerging as the case is revisited.
A new documentary titled “Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers” has recently premiered on Netflix, featuring footage from an interview conducted with Wuornos while she was on death row. The director, Emily Turner, disclosed that the interview portrayed Wuornos in a different light, showcasing a contradictory and unsettlingly human side of her character.
In one of her final interviews, Wuornos chillingly denied being a true serial killer, attributing her actions to feeling lost and desperate. Abandoned by her parents at the age of four, Wuornos was raised by her grandparents in Michigan. She faced severe abuse from her grandfather and claimed to have been sexually assaulted by acquaintances during her teenage years.
By the age of 16, Wuornos had fled her home and resorted to a transient lifestyle as a sex worker, enduring numerous traumatic experiences. Her life took a turn when she met Moore, a motel maid, at a Florida bar in 1986, sparking a passionate but tumultuous four-year relationship. Despite Wuornos’ love for Moore, their connection soured as authorities probed a series of grisly murders and thefts involving men shot along Florida highways.
Evidence linking Wuornos to the crimes emerged when her fingerprint was discovered on an item from a pawnshop associated with one of the victims. Following her arrest in 1991, Wuornos eventually confessed to the murders under the influence of Moore, who cooperated with law enforcement to avoid charges.
Wuornos initially pleaded not guilty to the murder of Richard Mallory, her first victim, citing self-defense. However, she was convicted by the jury and later pleaded no contest or guilty to five additional murders, resulting in a death sentence.
The Netflix documentary features insights from Wuornos’ childhood friend, Dawn Botkins, recounting their final meeting before Wuornos’ execution. Botkins recalled Wuornos accepting her identity as a serial killer, attributing her actions to a lifetime of abuse, alcoholism, and the intense yet destructive love she shared with Moore.
“Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers” is now available for streaming on Netflix.