3-2 Final Project Milestone One 1 Sara Whittaker Southern New Hampshire University PSY-310 Criminal Psychology Dr. Timothy Franklin November 12, 2023
3-2 Final Project Milestone One 2 Summary Aileen Wuornos was a serial killer who killed from late 1989 to late 1990. She was born in Rochester, Michigan on February 29th, 1956. Her parents are Diane and Leo Dal Pittman. She was the youngest child and had an older brother Keith. Her father was convicted of molestation as a child and killed himself a few years later. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Her mother left her and her brother in January 1960 when she was nearly four years old. According to a childhood friend, her grandfather beat her, and both of her grandparents were alcoholics (J.P., 2006). At the age of 11, Aileen reportedly began exchanging sexual favors in exchange for money, alcohol, cigarettes, and food. It is also alleged that she engaged in sexual activity with her brother. According to Wuornos, her alcoholic grandfather had sexually assaulted her as a child, and that when he would punish her, he would make her undress. At the age of 14, Aileen had her only child, a son who was allegedly the result of rape. It is believed that the father of the child was an elderly friend of her grandfather's. The child was placed for adoption. Shortly after the birth of the son, her family removed her from the home and she began to live in the woods behind the house or to travel internationally, often under false identities. Aileen also attempted suicide six times from the age of 14 to 22. Wuornos' criminal record began on May 27th, 1974, when she was 18 years old. She was arrested for DUI, disorderly conduct and shooting a.22 pistol out of a moving vehicle in Colorado (J.P., 2006). Her next arrest was July 14th, 1976, for assault and disturbing the peace. On May 20th, 1981, at the age of 22, she was again arrested for armed robbery at a convenience store in Edgewater, Florida. After her arrest in 1981, Aileen continued to be arrested on numerous occasions. Most of these arrests were for violent offenses. Aileen shot her first man on
3-2 Final Project Milestone One 3 November 30th, 1989. She shot her second man on November 19th, 1990. During this time, Aileen shot 7 men (J.P., 2006). Initial Hypothesis Aileen may have been motivated to commit these crimes by her upbringing and the trauma experienced by her family. Her mother did not take an active role in her life, leaving her and her brother to be abused by caregivers when she was young. Her father was absent from her life due to his imprisonment and suicide shortly after her birth, leaving her without a father. She had an older brother, Keith, who passed away on 17 July 1976 due to esophageal carcinoma. It is believed that following her brother's death, Aileen developed a hostility towards men, which was already present prior to