Early Life
Born February 29th, 1956, to Diane Wuornos and Leo Arthur Pittman. Her parents divorced just a few months before her birth. Aileen experienced horrifying turmoil during her childhood: Her father killed himself while serving time for child molestation and her mother abandoned Aileen and her older brother Keith, leaving them to be raised by their grandparents. Her grandmother was an alleged alcoholic and her grandfather was a terrifying, violent force.
Wuornos would later state that she was sexually abused by her grandfather and had relations with her brother. She was pregnant by her early teens, and the baby was given up for adoption. During her adolescence, Wuornos was forced out of her home to live in the woods.
Wuornos would later state that she was sexually abused by her grandfather and had relations with her brother. She was pregnant by her early teens, and the baby was given up for adoption. During her adolescence, Wuornos was forced out of her home to live in the woods.
Later Years
In 1976, Wuornos hitchhiked to Florida there she met 69-year-old yacht club president Lewis Gratz Fell. They were married that same year, and their announcement of the marriage was printed in the local newspaper. However, Wuornos continued to involve herself in fights at the local bar and eventually she went to jail for assault. She also hit Fell with his own cane, leading him to get a restraining order against her. She went back to Michigan where, on July 14, 1976, she was arrested in Antrim County, and charged with assault and disturbing the peace for throwing a cue ball at a bartender's head. On July 17, her brother died of esophageal cancer and Wuornos received $10,000 from his life insurance. Wuornos and Fell annulled their marriage after nine weeks.