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THE CHILLING TALE OF THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY KILLER: AILEEN WUORNOS'

A PSYCHOPATH OR VICTIM?

Article · November 2023

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TOPIC –“ THE CHILLING TALE OF THE FLORIDA
HIGHWAY KILLER: AILEEN WUORNOS' A
PSYCHOPATH OR VICTIM?”

1
Table of Contents:

Abstract ................................................................................................................................................................ 3

Keywords ............................................................................................................................................................. 3

Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................... 4

Methodology........................................................................................................................................................ 5

Findings and Discussions .................................................................................................................................. 6

1. Aileen Wuornos: Life History ................................................................................................................. 6

2. Facts of the Case........................................................................................................................................ 6

3. Trial .............................................................................................................................................................. 6

A. Prosecution’s Argument .......................................................................................................... 7

B. Défense’s Argument ................................................................................................................. 7

4. Judgement ................................................................................................................................................... 8

Psychological Aspects and its Analysis............................................................................................................ 9

1. Arguments in Favour of Executing Wuornos: The Prosecution ...................................................... 9

2. Arguments to Save Wuornos' Life: Defense's Perspective ................................................................ 9

3. Impact of Psychological Analysis in the Final Verdict ....................................................................... 9

4. Post-Trial Verdict ................................................................................................................................... 10

5. Execution ................................................................................................................................................. 10

Critical Analysis ................................................................................................................................................. 12

References .......................................................................................................................................................... 13

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Abstract

“To me, this world is nothing but evil, and my own evil just happened to come out the cause of the circumstances of
what I was doing.” - Aileen Wuornos.

The Aileen Wuornos case represents a narrative of tragedy, criminality, and challenging judicial
proceedings, and it stands as an important turning point in the intersection of psychology and
criminal law. This case study explores the complex relationships between Wuornos' life, her
crimes, trial, and death in order to reveal the underlying psychological factors that drove her
choices and their effects. Her story is steeped in a terrible brew of abuse and psychological
suffering, from a turbulent upbringing to a life of prostitution and violence. Her murderous
rampage in the late 1980s and early 1990s, which earned her the moniker "Florida Highway Killer,"
shocked the public and the court system and sparked discussions about the death sentence, how
to handle female offenders, and the complex relationship between mental illness and criminal
behaviour.

To support her claim that she has borderline and antisocial personality disorders, Wuornos'
psychiatric state takes front stage in the defence case. Questions about Wuornos' confession's
voluntariness and the difficulties of explaining how her mental state relates to the criminal
allegations against her are raised as the legal dispute develops. This study examines primary and
secondary sources, such as publications, journals, and newspapers, using a doctrinal research
technique to offer a thorough assessment of the case's complexities.

Lastly, this case study provides a profound understanding of the interplay between psychological,
sociological, and legal elements that influenced Aileen Wuornos' development from a
problematic history to a divisive character within the criminal justice system. It emphasises the
complexity of criminal behaviour, the moral dilemmas surrounding the death penalty, and the
long-lasting effects of one woman's actions on the legal system and society at large.

Keywords

Serial Killer, Florida Highway Killer, Borderline personality disorder, Antisocial personality
disorder, psychological evaluation, jury verdict, prostitution

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Introduction

The Aileen Wuornos case1 is remembered as a gripping and contentious moment in the history
of psychology and criminal law. The "Florida Highway Killer," Aileen Wuornos, became notorious
for her string of killings between 1989 and 1990. This case study explores the complex web of
circumstances, legal activities, psychological analyses, and cultural ramifications that surrounded
Wuornos' deeds, trial, and death.

A tapestry of tragedy, abuse, and psychological misery weaves together Wuornos' life tale. She
was raised in a turbulent environment and went to a life of prostitution and violence, justifying
her murderous acts by citing the need for self-defense. Her case triggered heated discussions on
the death penalty, how to handle female criminals, and how mental illness and criminal behavior
are related.

This research explores the investigations, trial, and verdict that resulted in her death sentence
while navigating the case's facts. It examines the prosecution's case closely, highlighting the
Williams Rule's application to the introduction of evidence and the difficulties Wuornos'
contradictory confessions present. From the defense's point of view, Wuornos' psychiatric
condition is clarified, highlighting her diagnosis of borderline and antisocial personality disorders.

In essence, this case study captures the complexity of the Aileen Wuornos case by exposing the
psychological, sociological, and legal nuances that influenced her transformation from a
problematic history to a fiercely divisive character in the criminal justice system. Insights on the
complexities of criminal behaviour, the difficulties of enforcing justice, and the long-lasting
effects of one woman's life and actions on the legal system and beyond are gained by analysing
the specifics of this case.

1 Wuornos v. State, 644 So. 2d 1000 (1994).

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Methodology

The paper was created by adopting a purely doctrinal methodology of research. This included
reliance on numerous primary and secondary sources of data such as articles, journals, newspaper
reports, and others.

The data was first collected, then segregated based on which section it belongs to, the authority of
the source, and lastly, the data was refined and compiled so as to arrive at the findings of the paper.

5
Findings and Discussions

1. Aileen Wuornos: Life History

On February 29, 1956, Aileen, nicknamed Lee, was born into a low-income household.
Rochester, Michigan, was where she was born. Aileen Carol Pittman was her real name at birth.
Aileen was an abused and traumatised young girl. Her adolescent mother Diane Wuornos
abandoned her when she was only six months old. Her grandfather, who reared her, was a
harsh, abusive alcoholic who beat her badly. When Aileen was 13 years old, her father, a
convicted rapist and child molester, committed suicide in prison. He was identified as having
schizophrenia. Her grandfather mistreated her in her early years in terms of mental, physical,
and emotional abuse. She was raped by her grandfather's buddy when she was 14 and became
pregnant as a result. In a residence for unmarried women, she gave birth to her child. Her child
later became available for adoption. Her grandfather ejected her from the house a few days
later. At age fifteen, she later began working as a prostitute. She was frequently tormented and
degraded by guys while working as a sex worker in Florida. She was violently beaten by some
males. She was powerless since prostitution was the only source of income she could find to
support herself. She became misandrist because of her social hardships. Lewis Gratz Fell and
she were wed in 1976. Lewis owned a nice yacht. Lewis turned down the marriage when Aileen
was detained following a fight. At a lesbian pub in Daytona, Florida, she met Tyria Moore, her
lesbian partner. Although they were deeply in love, when Aileen began murdering men, their
relationship began to deteriorate. Tyria was alarmed by Aileen's peculiar actions. She even gave
a trial testimony against Aileen in the courtroom.

2. Facts of the Case

The corpses of seven middle-aged Caucasian men were found in central Florida between late
1989 and late 1990. All of the victims had been robbed and fatally shot by the offender, who
then fled with their cars. One of the victims was Richard Mallory. These murders were
committed by Aileen Wuornos, a prostitute working the Florida roads. The Florida State Police
Department called her "The Florida Highway Killer" as a result of this. Aileen used a gun on
Florida's roadways to kill six men between the years of 1989 and 1990. By tracing Aileen's
fingerprints that were discovered in the vehicles belonging to the missing people, the Florida
State Police Department was able to find her. Aileen Wuornos was eventually found at a pub
in Port Orange, Florida.

3. Trial

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In Florida, the death sentence may be applied if a murderer is proven guilty in accordance with
the state's Penal Code. These situations include killing multiple people, killing several people
at once, killing someone for hire, and purposefully causing a death while performing specific
offences like kidnapping, burglary, robbery, or aggravated rape. These killings fall within the
definition of "capital murder." In capital cases, jurors are "death qualified," assessing their
willingness to consider factors for the death penalty. The government must prove guilt beyond
doubt, while the defendant can present evidence against the prosecution's case or prove
innocence without the burden of proof.

A. Prosecution’s Argument

1) Mainly relied on Aileen Wuornos' recorded confession to detectives during

interrogation.
2) Used evidence from other murder cases under Florida's Williams Rule, which
accepts evidence from collateral crimes for motive, intent, knowledge, modus
operandi, or lack of mistake.
3) Undermined Wuornos' original claims of self-defence for all 7 killings by exposing
contradictions in her tales over time.
4) Her earliest confession involved an argument with her first victim, Richard
Mallory, during a prostitution encounter. She said he was planning to rob and rape
her, which sparked a fight over her luggage, which included a revolver.
5) She offered conflicting accounts of events to her partner, Tyria Moore, suggesting
several possibilities concerning the murder.
6) She did not originally discuss Mallory's rape and looked more concerned with
protecting Moore throughout her confession.
7) During the confession, her demeanor appeared confident and unfazed, professing
willingness to take the punishment for the killings. he spoke easily with her
interrogators and constantly told her public defense to keep quiet. "I took a life, I'm
willing to give up my life since I murdered people..."I am deserving of death."

B. Défense’s Argument

1) According to the defence, Aileen Wuornos' taped confession was taken

involuntarily, which violated her due process rights. Despite being advised by a
public attorney to avoid giving lengthy statements, her friendship with Moore was

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 exploited by law enforcement, compromising her mental condition and awareness
of her rights.
2) The trial court rejected this defence position and refused to conceal the confession,
which had already been leaked to the media and influenced public opinion.
3) Later interviews with Wuornos detailed her self-defense argument. She narrated a
series of incidents involving Mallory, including an isolated spot, drink, marijuana,
and a prostitution attempt.
4) According to Wuornos' later version, Mallory raped her forcefully, resulting in a
struggle in which she retrieved her revolver and shot him in self-defense.
5) Wuornos testified against the advice of her attorneys, reaffirming her self-defense
claim but becoming upset during cross-examination. She often cited her Fifth
Amendment privilege against self-incrimination.
6) Wuornos' defence also emphasised that detectives and Moore spoke to the media
following her detention, raising questions regarding their incentives to inflate
events for personal advantage.

4. Judgement

Aileen Wuornos was convicted of six of the seven murders on January 27, 1992. For each
count, she was found guilty of first-degree murder. For each instance, the jury recommended
the death punishment, and the court accepted their recommendation. Due to the nature of the
crimes and Wuornos' reputation as a female serial killer, the case garnered a lot of media
interest. Following her conviction for the murder of Richard Mallory, Aileen Wuornos faced
a penalty trial before the same jury to determine whether she would be sentenced to death or
life in prison. In most states, the jury decides whether the case involves certain statutorily
specified "aggravating circumstances", or any "mitigating circumstances", and then whether the
aggravating circumstances outweigh the mitigating circumstances. On January 28, 1992, the
penalty phase of Aileen Wuornos' trial began. Furthermore, she went on to appeal his decision
to a higher court and even called in for clemency, all of which were rejected.

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Psychological Aspects and its Analysis

1. Arguments in Favour of Executing Wuornos: The Prosecution

1) State's expert psychologist, Dr. Bernard, stated Wuornos had borderline and antisocial
personality disorders. He acknowledged her mental disturbance during the crime but
believed it wasn't extreme.
2) Dr. Bernard recognized non-statutory mitigating factors, like Wuornos' mental issues,
alcoholism, and environmental factors.
3) Witnesses from Wuornos' childhood, Lori Grody and Barry Wuornos, testified about
family dynamics, including discipline and a criminal-type father.

2. Arguments to Save Wuornos' Life: Defense's Perspective

1) During the penalty phase, defence gave some background information about
Wuornos. Before Aileen was born, her parents divorced; her father had a history of
mental illness, criminal activity, and jail suicide. Aileen suffered facial burns as a result
of starting fires while growing up with abusive grandparents.
2) A low-normal range IQ of 81, difficulties in school, hearing loss, vision problems, and
these issues were identified. She was raped, had a teen pregnancy, and was adopted
against her will.
3) After being designated as a court-appointed ward, Aileen started prostitution, abusing
drugs, and abandoning her studies. Her trauma was exacerbated by the deaths of her
sibling and her grandfather.
4) She had a borderline personality disorder, which caused severe mental instability at the
time of the crime, according to defense psychologists.
5) They emphasized her disordered confessions, cognitive deterioration, and incapacity
to comply with the law.
6) Her defense painted her as a mistreated woman who snapped at her abusers. Wuornos
was referred to as a "damaged, primitive child" by defense attorney Jenkins, who pleaded
with the jurors to spare her life.

3. Impact of Psychological Analysis in the Final Verdict

The jury unanimously recommended the death penalty with a 12-0 vote after considering
Aileen Wuornos' case. They identified five factors that made the case more serious and only
one aspect that lessened its severity.

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 The five factors that aggravated the case were as follows:
1) Wuornos had a prior conviction for a felony involving violence or the threat of it.
2) The murder occurred during a robbery.
3) The killing was done to evade arrest.
4) The murder was extremely heinous, atrocious, or cruel.
5) The murder was cold, calculated, and premeditated.
The trial jury recognized one factor that might have made the situation less severe: That she
was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Despite her psychological struggles, the
jury determined that Wuornos was aware of the difference between right and wrong.
Additionally, the judge acknowledged some other aspects that might have mitigated the
circumstances but were not “specifically outlined in the law:
1) Wuornos had antisocial and borderline personality disorders.
2) She may have experienced childhood abuse.
3) Her biological father and grandfather died by suicide.
4) Her grandmother struggled with alcoholism.
5) Her mother abandoned her when she was a baby.”
The judge followed the jury's recommendation and sentenced Aileen Wuornos to death by
electrocution on January 31, 1992.

4. Post-Trial Verdict

In regard of her appeal, the Florida Supreme Court upheld Wuornos' conviction and sentence
on November 16, 1994. She then filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the US Supreme
Court to appeal this decision. On April 17, 1995, her request was nonetheless turned down.
Throughout the period following her conviction, Wuornos' behavior deteriorated. She fired
numerous legal counsel before giving up on her appeals in 2001. Concerns regarding her
competency to be executed were expressed by certain solicitors to the Florida Supreme Court.
Wuornos also filed lengthy and fragmented motions with the courts at this time, citing
maltreatment by jail guards. State and federal appeal courts carefully examined all of Wuornos'
claims before dismissing them.

5. Execution

Aileen Wuornos was put to death at Florida State Prison by lethal injection on October 9,
2002. "I'd just like to say I'm sailing with the rock, and I'll be back like Independence Day, with Jesus June

10
6. Like the movie, big mother ship and all, I'll be back" she stated in her closing remarks. I. At 9:47
a.m., Wuornos' death was confirmed.

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Critical Analysis

The analysis of the Aileen Wuornos case highlights the complex interaction between
psychological variables, criminal behavior, and the criminal justice system. The troubled
existence of Wuornos, marked by trauma, abuse, and mental health problems, serves as a clear
example of how early experiences can influence the emergence of personality disorders and
criminal propensities. The importance of mental health assessments in comprehending criminal
behavior is highlighted by the diagnosis of borderline and antisocial personality disorders. The
defense's claim that these conditions have diminished capacity raises important issues regarding
the influence of mental health on guilt and the following legal repercussions. Additionally, the
idea of "extreme mental or emotional disturbance" as a mitigating circumstance questions how
criminal intent is often assessed and muddles the distinction between personal responsibility and
mitigating circumstances.

In a larger sense, her case underlines the difficulties in addressing mental health issues within the
framework of the criminal court system. It calls for a nuanced approach to rehabilitation and
treatment for criminals dealing with serious mental problems, raises ethical questions about the
death sentence, and encourages us to think about how psychological examinations can influence
sentencing decisions. The case's ramifications go beyond the particular party involved; they
present a chance to reexamine cultural assumptions about criminal behavior and gender
dynamics. The media's portrayal of Wuornos as both a criminal and a victim highlights the
influence of the media on public perceptions and emphasizes how difficult it is to administer
justice in the face of sensationalism.

Therefore, this case is a heartbreaking reminder that the legal system must consider the
complexity of mental health when making decisions in criminal cases. The case poses important
issues about the morality of the death penalty, the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs for
people with personality disorders, and the definition of criminal intent as it relates to
psychological anguish. The case of Wuornos compels us to consider how to strike a delicate
balance between responsibility and compassion, justice and fairness, while also recognizing the
long-lasting influence of psychological factors on the criminal justice system.

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 References

1. AILEEN WUORNOS, DEAR DAWN: AILEEN WUORNOS IN HER OWN WORDS (Soft Skull Press
2012).

2. N.A., Wuornos v. State, JUSTIA (Sept. 22, 1994), https://law.justia.com/cases/florida/supreme-

court/1994/79484-0.html

3. Bruce A. Arrigo, Ayanna Griffin, Serial murder and the case of Aileen Wuornos: attachment theory,
psychopathy, and predatory aggression, WILEY ONLINE LIBRARY (Jun. 15, 2004),
https://doi.org/10.1002/bsl.583.

4. N.A., Theoretical Analysis of Motivations for Aileen Wuornos as a Serial Killer, PSYCHOLOGY
WRITING, (Dec. 1, 2022) https://psychologywriting.com/theoretical-analysis-of-motivations-
for-aileen-wuornos-as-a-serial-killer/ .

5. FRANCES J. ARMSTRONG, WHAT AILEEN DID: THE WORLD'S MOST EVIL FEMALE SERIAL
KILLER AILEEN WUORNOS: TRUE CRIME STORIES (Independent Publisher 2017)

6. N.A., Case Study of Aileen Wuornos | The First Female Serial Killer in History, LEGUM (Apr. 14,
2021), https://lawlegum.com/first-female-serial-killer-aileen-wuornos-case-study/.

7. Shao Shen Ling, Criminal Profile Paper: Aileen Wuornos, RESEARCH GATE (Sept. 2016)
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308524005_Criminal_Profile_Paper_Aileen_Wu
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8. N.A., The Case of Aileen Wuornos - The Facts, CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT IN CONTEXT (2013),
https://capitalpunishmentincontext.org/cases/wuornos.

9. N.A., The Case of Aileen Wuornos - The Trial, CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT IN CONTEXT (2013),
https://capitalpunishmentincontext.org/cases/wuornos.

10. Phyllis Chesler, Profiling a Unique Female Serial Killer: Aileen Wuornos' Life of Violence, 10 DIGNITY:
A JRL. OF ANLYS. OF EXPLOIT. AND VIOL. 3 (May 2021),
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1279&context=dignity.

11. N.A., Five Famous Cases Cracked by Forensic Psychologists, ONLINE PSYCHOLOGY DEGREES (2011),
https://www.online-psychology-degrees.org/list-articles/five-famous-cases-cracked-by-
forensic-psychologists/.

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