In this episode, we explore the tragic life of Aileen Wuornos, who became one of America’s most infamous female serial killers. Born in 1956 in Michigan, Aileen's early life was plagued by neglect and abuse. Her father, a convicted child molester, was absent, and her mother abandoned her and her brother with their abusive grandparents.

Enduring severe physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, Aileen turned to sex work by age 11. Her teenage years were turbulent, marked by running away, detention, and a teenage pregnancy. As an adult, her life continued in a downward spiral of petty crimes and imprisonment.

In 1989, Aileen’s crimes escalated when she began murdering men who hired her as a sex worker, claiming self-defense against sexual assault. She killed seven men over the next year, leading to a nationwide manhunt and her arrest in 1991.

During her trials, Aileen insisted on her innocence, citing self-defense. Despite her claims, she was found guilty and sentenced to death. Her mental health issues and abusive past were noted, but she was executed by lethal injection on October 9, 2002.

This episode delves into Aileen’s life, examining the abuse and neglect that shaped her, and questions how different interventions might have changed her fate.