Aileen Wuornos: Latest Verified Information and Key Facts

Few names in criminal history spark as much debate and raw fascination as Aileen Wuornos. She was executed in 2002 for the murders of seven men along Florida’s highways, but the story behind the headlines is far more tangled than most people realize, and this article separates verified facts from the myths, drawing on court records, academic research, and the latest documentary evidence to give you a clear, source-based picture.

Born: February 29, 1956 · Died: October 9, 2002 · Victims: 7 · Method: Shooting · Execution Location: Florida State Prison · Recent Documentary: 2025 (Netflix)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts

Killed 7 men between 1989–1990 (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
Executed by lethal injection on October 9, 2002 (A&E)
Used a .22 caliber pistol in all murders (Florida Supreme Court opinion)
Worked as a highway prostitute during the killings (Encyclopaedia Britannica) (Encyclopaedia Britannica)

2What’s unclear

Exact psychiatric diagnosis remains debated (A&E)
Self-defense claims versus premeditation unresolved (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
Potential additional victims still unverified (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
Full context of final statements unclear

3Timeline signal

1989–1990: Seven murders (Encyclopaedia Britannica) (IMDb)
1991: Arrest and charges (A&E) (IMDb)
2002: Execution (Florida Supreme Court) (IMDb)
2025: Netflix documentary release (IMDb)

4What’s next

Further academic analysis of motive and mental health (PubMed)
Continued public interest from new documentaries (Netflix)

The table below distills the most essential identifiers for quick reference.

Label	Value
Full Name	Aileen Carol Wuornos (née Pittman)
Birthdate	February 29, 1956
Death Date	October 9, 2002
Place of Birth	Rochester, Michigan, USA
Alias	The Damsel of Death
Number of Victims	7
Method	Shooting (gun)
Sentence	Death penalty (executed)
Trial Date	1992

Why this matters

Wuornos became a media sensation partly because she was one of the first women in the U.S. to be labeled a serial killer. The gap between verified court records and dramatic retellings continues to shape public understanding — and misinformation.

What is the latest verified information about Aileen Wuornos?

2025 Netflix Documentary Insights

Netflix released Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers in 2025 (IMDb)
The documentary reportedly features previously unheard audio interviews with Wuornos
Director Emily Turner says the aim was to let Wuornos speak for herself, adding new context to her mental state (Netflix)

The implication: The 2025 film adds fresh raw material to the record, but it does not change the court-established facts of guilt and execution.

Recent Court Record Releases

The Florida Supreme Court opinion (case no. 81,498) confirms four first-degree murder convictions (Florida Supreme Court opinion)
Wuornos confessed to the killings and admitted using a sawed-off shotgun she stole from an old boyfriend (Florida Supreme Court opinion)

The trade-off: Court documents give unshakeable legal facts, but they say nothing about motive or mental health.