Aileen Carol Wuornos (born February 29, 1956) was executed in Florida after being convicted of the murders of seven men between 1989 and 1990. Arrested in 1991, Wuornos was tried and convicted in separate trials for multiple counts of murder; six of the convictions carried death sentences, and she was ultimately executed for one of the murders. Her case became one of the most widely publicized examples of a female serial killer in late 20th-century America and provoked sustained public discussion about capital punishment and the role of mental illness in criminal responsibility. Background and crimes Wuornos had a troubled childhood and early adulthood marked by abuse, instability, and brushes with the law. By the late 1980s she was living as a sex worker along Florida’s highways. Between 1989 and 1990, seven men who had picked up Wuornos were found dead; the victims had been shot. Investigators connected the shootings through ballistics and other evidence, and Wuornos became a suspect after one surviving potential victim identified her and subsequent inquiries tied her to several of the victims. Arrest, trials and convictions Wuornos was arrested in 1991. Prosecutors presented evidence linking her to the killings, and she gave statements and interviews during the investigation and trial processes. She pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in at least some proceedings, but juries in Florida convicted her of multiple counts of first-degree murder. She received death sentences in several cases; ultimately, Florida carried out a single execution for one conviction while the other sentences remained part of the public record and legal history surrounding her case. Mental health and controversy Wuornos’s mental health and the circumstances of her life were central to public debate. Defense attorneys and advocates described a history of severe abuse, trauma, and personality disorders, arguing these factors should have influenced sentencing. Critics countered that the brutality and number of killings warranted the harshest penalties available under Florida law. Media coverage of Wuornos was extensive and often sensational, with some commentators later criticizing how her case was portrayed and whether underlying factors—such as her mental state and history of victimization—received adequate consideration. Impact and legacy The Wuornos case had several enduring impacts. It intensified scrutiny of capital punishment practices, especially in cases involving defendants with serious mental-health issues or histories of abuse. The case also spurred discussions about the intersection of gender, crime and media portrayal—Wuornos’s actions and the ensuing coverage challenged typical narratives about female criminality. Her life and crimes have been the subject of documentaries, books and dramatizations, which have in turn generated further debate about the accuracy and ethics of dramatizing real violent crime. Legal and cultural aftereffects Legally, Wuornos’s trials and appeals added to ongoing conversation about death penalty procedures, competence to be executed, and how mental illness should be weighed in capital cases. Culturally, the story contributed to broader examinations of how society treats marginalized individuals—particularly women who are homeless, addicted, or engaged in sex work—and how those conditions can shape life trajectories and encounters with the criminal-justice system. Because aspects of Wuornos’s personal history and motives remain contested or evaluated differently by scholars, journalists and advocates, her case continues to be studied as an example of complex intersections among crime, trauma, gender and punishment.