1 3-2 Final Project Milestone One Dianne Morrison Southern New Hampshire University PSY 310: Criminal Psychology Professor Mark Perez January 28, 2024
2 3-2 Final Project Milestone One Summary Aileen Carol Wuornos was born in Rochester, Michigan, to Leo Dale Pittman and Diane Wuornos on February 29, 1956. From the beginning of life, Aileen was dealt serious issues due to the family she was born to. Her father, Leo, was a convicted child molester and committed suicide while in prison. Aileen's mother, Diane, abandoned her and her brother Keith when Aileen was about six months old. Later that year, Aileen's grandparents, Lauri and Britta Wuornos, legally adopted the children (Bankston, 2023). Until Aileen was about 11 years old, her and Keith believed their grandparents were her actual parents (Jenkins, 2023). From being abandoned by her mother (who she believed was an older sibling) to experiencing sadistic abuse at the hands of Lauri, Aileen seemed to be set up for a life of trouble. By eleven years old, Aileen started trading sexual activities for cigarettes and money (Arrigo & Griffen, 2004). She also said that Lauri had sexually abused her and Keith from a young age, and Aileen became pregnant at the age of 14. There are speculations that Keith may have even been the baby's father. After being placed in a home for unwed mothers, Aileen gave birth to her only child, a boy, who was given up for adoption. It was then that Aileen dropped out of school and began a life of prostitution to make a living, hitchhiking her way across the country until she reached Florida. During this time, her grandmother passed away, and within five more years, Aileen's brother, Keith, died from cancer. If her grandfather, Lauri wasn't blaming her for their deaths, Aileen was blaming herself (Arrigo & Griffen, 2004). Aileen was soon frequenting bars, and married a man who was 50 years older than her when she was just 20. This marriage lasted for about one month, when he divorced her after he claimed to be a victim of domestic assault at the hands of Aileen (Arrigo & Griffen, 2004). After
3 her divorce, Aileen started to get into more trouble with the law. She was arrested for crimes from forgery to driving under the influence to armed robbery and auto theft (Jenkins, 2023). At one point, Aileen lived with her aunt and uncle, particularly arguing and threatening her uncle and other men. Aileen soon moved out and began a transient lifestyle with her girlfriend, Tyria. During her relationship with Tyria, Aileen killed seven men, claiming she murdered them in self-defense (Chesler, 1993). She acted as a hitchhiking prostitute, and when a man would pick her up, she would murder them and leave them in their vehicle somewhere along Interstate 75 in Florida. By this, she earned herself the nickname "The Florida Highway Killer". Initial Hypothesis Aileen Wuornos experienced a life of traumatic and severe physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. Her young life was