Aileen Wuornos: The Real Story Of The Serial Killer Who Inspired Monster

Identifying information 

Aileen Wuornos was born in 1956 on February 26. The woman was born in Rochester, Michigan. Aileen’s mother was sixteen years old when she became pregnant with her second child, Wuornos. Diane, Wuornos’ mother, was not in a happy marriage since she was in an increasingly abusive marriage. Aileen’s father would beat up her mother regardless of the fact that she was pregnant. However, she kept her pregnancy but divorced the husband months after Aileen’s birth his mother abandoned him and his older brother, Keith.

She had a painful childhood since she was thrown out of her grandparent’s house when she was young (Arrigo, & Griffin, 2004). When Aileen was small, her mother abandoned her with her younger brother. Instead, she left her children with the care of ruthless grandparents since Wuornos grandfather would beat her mercilessly while her grandmother was an alcoholic. While leaving at her grandparents house, her brother died and succumbed due to cancer leaving Wuornos with the only decision of moving to Florida where she worked as a sex worker. She was always at the wrong place with the law since she possessed firearms and she worked as a prostitute as well (Weatherby, Blanche, & Jones, 2008). Aileen was a serial killer between the years 1990 and 1991 in the United States of America having killed over six men. In the year 1989, for example, she killed a man who picked her up with claims that he wanted to rape her. She was later caught, convicted, and executed in the year 2002 with a lethal injection.

Chief Complaint/Presenting Problem 

According to Weatherby, Blanche, & Jones, (2008), Aileen had a tremor in her body while she talked about her life. Besides that, she was concerned about the unpunished injustices that were committed against her. Due to her experiences in the past, she suffered a mental trauma. For instance, while she was eight she complained that her friend’s father assaulted her. Additionally, in the hospital, she stipulated that her father had tried to assault him in various ways. Both of the people accused of having violated her sexually went unpunished (Weatherby, Blanche, & Jones, 2008). As a result, she committed a series of crime against men. After conviction, she admitted of having killed seven men during duration of one year in Florida while she was working as a sex worker. She defended herself indicating that she feared that those men would beat her or even rape her. In addition to that, she stated that she robbed the men of their money and indispensables after killing them in cold blood. She was regarded of having suffered from a mental trauma that resulted in the death of six men between the years 1989 and 1990.

Personal History 

Aileen Wuornos failed to attend school but instead indulged in drugs and sexual affairs. Her grandparents were no interested in her or her brother. While Aileen was eight years old, an old man supposedly to be her father’s friend, sexually harassed her ( The Case of Aileen Wuornos - The Facts | Capital Punishment in Context ., 2003). In addition to that, her father could not believe it when she reported the assault. Thus, this led to Aileen’s bitterness that was catalyzed by the injustices that had been done to her. Aileen’s brother died because she was suffering from cancer. During that period, Aileen was eleven years old. Therefore, Wuornos resulted to selling drugs and engaging in sexual affairs whereby she would ask for beer, money and cigarettes in (Weatherby, Blanche, & Jones, 2008). Aileen became a drug addict when she was young. At the age of 14, Wuornos got, her first child leading to her being chased out of her grandfather’s house. She gave her child for adoption and became homeless leading to her flee into Florida. In Florida, Aileen would engage in prostitution and in the year 1986, she was involved in a romantic relationship with Tyria Moore. However, after the arrest of Wuornos, the relationship between Tyria and Moore ended and the police used Tyria to make a statement against Wuornos resulting in her death sentence trial. Tyria and Aileen stole items from the stores in Florida. While the police investigated Wuornos, they realized that she possessed stolen items from a store in Florida that had illegal receipts alongside them. Thus, Aileen was not only involved in prostitution and murder but also accused of indulgent in forgery. Her counterpart moved back to her parent’s house after the arrest of Wuornos.

Family History 

Her mother abandoned Aileen when she was at a tender age together with her older brother. Her father had been convicted for allegedly molesting a child but later died while in prison. Aileen’s mother left her two children under the care of her parents and fled to an unknown place. However, Wuornos grandparents showed her minimal care. Aileen once reported that her grandfather was making sexual advances on her and, in some cases; he would physically and sexually molest her. Her grandmother was an alcoholic who died of liver disorders while her grandfather would beat her up mercilessly (Weatherby, Blanche, & Jones, 2008). Aileen’s brother, Keith, died while he was young due to cancer leaving Aileen alone with her parents. The passing on of Keith led Aileen to relocating to Florida where she worked as a sex worker. She was always at the wrong side with the law because of her prostitutions and in some cases; she was reported for having the possession of illegal firearms ( The Case of Aileen Wuornos - The Facts | Capital Punishment in Context ., 2003). The fact that Aileen’s father was a criminal, he may have passed the ill traits through genetic means to Aileen. Aileen lacked a good parental upbringing since she was chased out of her grandparent’s home at the age of 14 after having acquired a child through rape.

Therapy History 

Trauma is observable as Aileen recalls her personal experiences. In most cases, Aileen portrays tremor when talking about her past life experiences. Most individuals that have suffered a traumatic event in their lives suffer from trauma when narrating the incident. She does not trust people easily and she was often blaming other people for her actions ( The Case of Aileen Wuornos - The Facts | Capital Punishment in Context ., 2003). For instance, she complained about the unpunished injustices that were committed against her while she was growing up. Aileen had signs of emotional depression and was distressed mainly by her mother’s abandonment. She was concerned with the rejection instances that she was exposed to at a very tender age. Besides that she was anxious and she lost the people that genuinely cared about her such as her brother. The symptoms that were exhibited by Wuornos resulted from the trauma she faced in her childhood experiences.

Substance Abuse History 

Aileen used alcohol and cigarettes as the main drugs that she used to consume on daily basis. Wuornos would use the money incurred from her sexual promiscuity. Moreover, she received a bountiful of money after her brother died. Therefore, this increased her consumption of both alcohol and cigarettes. The patient has used the drug substances since she was eight. Wuornos had a troubled childhood. According to Doherty, (2004), in one of her school reports, the teacher indicated that it was critical for Wuornos welfare to receive counseling immediately. However, instead of going for counseling she resulted in drug abuse. By the time she reached her early adolescent stage, she had indulged in alcohol, cigarettes and sex. Some of her behavioral patterns that were caused by her drugs and substance abuse include serial murder and suicide. Wuornos attempted suicide at least twice in her life. For example, in one occasion, she shot herself in the stomach but survived it. Besides that, she was raped at the age of 13 and her grandfather blamed her (Weatherby, Blanche, & Jones, 2008). She received no medical intervention or counseling. This, this led to her pregnancy and was chased out of her house for the unwed mothers. Aileen was not skilled at sympathy due to her drug consumption problem. In most cases, she would indult her fellow adolescents. As a result, most people did not like her. She had a fierce temper as a child. Most people in her village would refer her as a bitch, Slut, or a cigarette pig since she started her smoking habits when she was at a tender age ( The Case of Aileen Wuornos - The Facts | Capital Punishment in Context ., 2003). Often, she would lash out her peers and teachers. Therefore, most people hated her and the only way she would be nice is by buying cigarette and food to her fellow children. Besides that, she would also offer sex to the boys that made her a ridiculing object. Further, she would engage in sexual favors in exchange for cigarettes and alcohol. Therefore, this shows that Aileen was an alcoholic and a cigarette addict.

Theories that may have led to Wuornos behavior 

The subsequent crimes by Aileen Wuornos can be linked to various theories of criminal behavior. The theories include the self-control theory, Biological, as well as, the self-recognition theory. The biological theory stipulates the criminals are not made but instead they are born. In Wuornos case, her family and genes may have played a critical role in her developed criminal behavior (Weatherby, Blanche, & Jones, 2008). Aileen’s father was an alcoholic and both physically and sexually abusive. Despite the fact that she was not raised by her father, she may have passed the criminal traits to his children. The aggressive behavior of his parents was passed down to his children genetically. Wuornos exhibited the aggressive behavior in various ways that included the brutal murder of seven men in Florida. Moreover, Wuornos mother, father and grandmother were alcoholics leading to a genetic transmission of the traits in Wuornos ( The Case of Aileen Wuornos - The Facts | Capital Punishment in Context ., 2003). Aileen had a problem of substance abuse that was observed in her brutal murders. In most cases, before she killed a person, they were reported to having drunk together for some few hours ( The Case of Aileen Wuornos - The Facts | Capital Punishment in Context ., 2003). Therefore, Aileen traits and offences may have been influenced biologically. Further, the social control theory indicates that the life experiences of Aileen may have led to her development into a serial killer. Both her parents abandoned Aileen. Moreover, she was also molested at a very small age. Her grandfather kicked her out of her house at the age of 14. By the time Aileen was 14, she became a school dropout and also became pregnant due to sexual molestation. Such life experiences may have contributed to the high crime rates. The only way Aileen would make money was through prostitution. Wuornos childhood played a major role in her behavior since she was reckless, violent, and remorseful as well. Thus, this shows that Aileen is a product of the surroundings in which she was brought up. She was abandoned, abused and alienated by the society and the only way she would have acquired money was through prostitution that eventually led her to becoming a serial killer (Schilt, 2000).

Lastly, the self-control theory lacked self-control theory when killing at least seven men. She has been a sex worker for several years but she managed to kill seven men. She lacked self-control considering the fact that she killed seven people. She may have enjoyed the killing of those men and the killings may have caused her to develop a feeling of satisfaction. However, the social control theory can influence once self-control because life experiences can influence the control of an individual.

Diagnostic impression 

The patient’s current state was influenced by her painful childhood. At the time the patient was directed by her teacher to have some counseling sessions, she resulted to drugs. Based on the symptoms, Aileen showed symptoms of posttraumatic stress and borderline personality disorder as well. The diagnoses can be based on her recollection of the traumatic events that she passed through when she was small. Wuornos exhibits all the criteria for the diagnosis of the posttraumatic stress disorder ( The Case of Aileen Wuornos - The Facts | Capital Punishment in Context ., 2003). In the posttraumatic stress diagnosis, the main stressor in the life of Aileen was her exposure to sexual violence from her grandfather and his friends as well. In the second criteria for the diagnosis, Aileen evidenced traumatic events through flashbacks. Tremors were exhibited in her body language as she narrated her experiences. Aileen was also avoidance that portrayed her traumatic feelings and reminders as well. Wuornos also had a bad temper and negative alterations in her mood. She had a negative connotation about herself and the world. She lacked trust for men. Besides that, she was persistently angered and shameful about her life (Doherty, 2004). Aileen had a tremor in her body while she talked about her life. Besides that, she was concerned about the unpunished injustices that were committed against her. Due to her experiences in the past, she suffered a mental trauma. For instance, while she was eight she complained that her friend’s father assaulted her. Additionally, in the hospital, she stipulated that her father had tried to assault him in various ways. Both of the people accused of having violated her sexually went unpunished. As a result, she committed a series of crime against men ( The Case of Aileen Wuornos - The Facts | Capital Punishment in Context ., 2003). After conviction, she admitted of having killed seven men during duration of one year in Florida while she was working as a sex worker. She defended herself indicating that she feared that those men would beat her or even rape her. In addition to that, she stated that she robbed the men of their money and indispensables after killing them in cold blood. She could be regarded as having suffered from a mental trauma that resulted in the death of six men between the years 1989 and 1990. Such experiences may have contributed significantly to her symptoms leading to diagnosis of having a posttraumatic stress disorder.

Aileen’s personality disorder can be analyzed through her personality functioning. Her self-functioning ability is ruined and impaired due to her unrealistic goals. She lacked a self-direction in life since she could not get the appropriate guidance. Moreover, she would painful recall her abandonment and her relationships were characterized by neediness and mistrust. The second criterion is the pathological personal traits exhibited by Wuornos. Her frequent mood changes and emotional instability may have been characterized by her life experiences ( The Case of Aileen Wuornos - The Facts | Capital Punishment in Context ., 2003). In Aileen’s personal traits she focused on the unpleasant experiences and the future negativity. After the death of her brother, she was depressed since no one else genuinely cared about her. Therefore, this led to thoughts of suicide since, at one time, she shot herself in the stomach but she got the required treatment. Personal danger is exhibited by both her homicidal and suicidal acts. Through the acts, the antagonism by Aileen is exposed. Besides that, Wuornos was irritable and had persistent feelings of anger. Further, her functioning and personality traits were consistent hence showing borderline personality disorder. Therefore, all the traits listed above shows that Aileen Wuornos suffered from post traumatic stress disorder and a borderline personality disorder.

References

Arrigo, B. A., & Griffin, A. (2004). Serial murder and the case of Aileen Wuornos: attachment theory, psychopathy, and predatory aggression. Behavioral Sciences & the Law , 22 (3), 375-393. doi:10.1002/bsl.583

Doherty, T. (2004). Aileen Wuornos Superstar. Cineaste , 29 (3), 3-5.

Schilt, P. (2000). Media Whores and Perverse Media: Documentary Film Meets Tabloid TV in Nick Broomfield's Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer. Velvet Light Trap: A Critical Journal Of Film & Television , (45), 50.

The Case of Aileen Wuornos - The Facts | Capital Punishment in Context . (2003). Capitalpunishmentincontext.org . Retrieved 21 November 2016, from http://www.capitalpunishmentincontext.org/cases/wuornos 

Weatherby, G., Blanche, J., & Jones, R. (2008). The Value of Life: Female Killers & the Feminine Mystique. Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice Research and Foundation , 2 (1).