Aileen “Lee” Wuornos, a 34-year-old woman, found herself behind bars after being suspected of a series of murders near the highway. During a phone call from jail, she reassured her girlfriend, Tyria Moore, who was worried about the police coming after her. Wuornos vowed not to let Moore go to prison, expressing her love and readiness to confess to protect her. This act of love ultimately led to Wuornos being convicted of six murders and later executed in 2002 by Florida authorities.
Known as “America’s first female serial killer,” Wuornos has been the subject of true-crime TV shows and the 2003 film “Monster.” Recently, new revelations about her troubled past and psyche have emerged, prompting a fresh look at the case.
A new Netflix documentary, “Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers,” premiered this week, featuring never-before-seen footage from a death row interview with Wuornos. The director, Emily Turner, describes a different side of Wuornos in the interview, portraying her as contradictory, deeply human, and sometimes unsettling.
Wuornos, a self-proclaimed “drifter,” had a tumultuous upbringing, abandoned by her parents at a young age and facing abuse from her grandfather. She disclosed being sexually assaulted by teenage friends in her youth. By 16, she had left home, leading a transient lifestyle as a sex worker, facing multiple instances of rape.
Her life took a turn when she met Moore, a motel maid, in 1986, sparking a passionate four-year relationship. However, their love story was short-lived as police began investigating a series of male murders along Florida highways. Wuornos was eventually caught after her fingerprint was discovered on an item from a victim’s belongings.
Arrested in 1991, Wuornos was persuaded by Moore to confess to the crimes to avoid implicating her. Despite claiming self-defense in the murder of her first victim, Richard Mallory, she was found guilty. Wuornos later pleaded no contest to five other murders and was sentenced to death.
The Netflix documentary features insights from Wuornos’ childhood friend, Dawn Botkins, recounting their final meeting before Wuornos’ execution. Reflecting on her life, Wuornos attributed her actions to years of abuse, alcoholism, and her intense relationship with Moore.
“Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers” is currently available on Netflix for viewers interested in exploring the complex story of Aileen Wuornos.
