Aileen Wuornos - Criminal Research Task

Aileen Wuornos 1956-2002

Criminal Behaviour Research Task

Index

Criminal Acts

Introduction

Characteristics

Explanations?

Treatment?

Introduction

Aileen Carol Wuornos was born in Rochester, Michigan, on the 29th February 1956. Aileen was the second child of two teenage parents, Diane Wuornos and Leo Pitmann, who separated before she was born. Aileen's father was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape and later hung himself in his prison cell. Aileen's mother was unable to provide for her and her older brother and was taken into the care of her grandparents. Aileen would confess that she was sexually assaulted by he grandfather and would have sexual relations with her older brother, Keith.

Part 2

Adulthood

When Aileen was 20 years old she tried to hitch hike to florida where she married 69 year old Lewis Fell, upon moving in with Lewis Aileen began getting into trouble with the local law enforcement. It was announced that Aileen started to abuse Lewis, where he claimed she beat him with a cane. Eventually, Lewis filed for a restraining order and an annulment, after 9 months of marriage to Aileen, and she was forced to move back to Michigan.

Aileen's Crimes:

In May 1974, Aileen went under the alias 'Sandra Kretsch' and was jailed in Colorado for diorderly conduct (Order Disruption), drunk driving and firing a .22 pistol from a moving vechile. Aileen was arrested for assault (Interpersonal Violence General) and distubing the peace when she hurled a pool ball at a bartender. For this, along with outstanding charges of driving without a license, she was fined $105.While Aileen was in Florida on the 20th May 1981, she was arrested in Edgeworth for armed robbery (Property Predatory Crime) of a conveince store and was released in June 1983. Over the following years she faced numerous charges that included: passing forged cheques (Property Fraudulent Crime) , car theft and number of driving offences (Mundance Crime). There had been many times where the police found a firearm in Aileen's car.

Part 2

Aileen's Killings

• On the 30th November 1989, a car that belonged to a 51 year old Richard Mallory was found abandoned, by the 13th December, the body had been fully recovered fully dressed and was found in woods north-west of Daytona Beach. Richard had been shot 3 times with a .22 pistol.

• On 1st June 1990, 43 year old David Spears had been found naked after being reported missing since May 19th. His body was found in woodland, 40 miles north of Tampa. David had been shot 6 times with a .22 calibre weapon.

• The corpse of 60 year old Walter Antonio, who was a trucker and a reserve police officer from Marritt Island, was discovered near the north-west coast on November 19. Walter's clothes were later found in a neighbouring county and his car was located on the 24th November. Walter had been shot 3 times in the back and once in the head, and his police badge, nightstick, handcuffs and flashlight had been stolen.

Aileen's Criminal Characteristics:

Aileen had numerous criminal characteristics that included: 1. Rationalisation = whereby the crinminal tries to rationalise thier behaviour by directing the blame. This can be seen in Aileens case because she justifed her actions as being self defence after the men susposedly assaulted her. 2. Family Dsyfuntion = this is the lack of family support. Aileen lacked attachment with her parents, and consequently failed to develop trust and respect for others. 3. Impusitvy = meaning the individual is unable to control their desires and actions. This characteristic can be clearly seen in Aileen's crimes of being risk-taking and impulsive, especially her acts of prostitution. 4. Lack of Empathy = where individuals rarely show remorse for their actions and empathy towards others. Aileen assumed no responsibilty or remorse for having killed 7 men.

Explanations for Aileen's Criminal Behaviour.

Biological Explanations:

• Inherited Criminality =Aileen's father was a pyschopath and many psychologists believe psychopathic triats can be inherited and genetically predisposed of the offspring of a psychopath. This could include: poor behavioural control, lack of empathy and remorse.
• Aileen's mother was an alcoholic. There is a possibility that Aileen may have suffered from central nervous system damage due to prenatal alcohol exposure, which might of contributed to Aileen's aggressive personality and nature. Such damage to a newborn can lead to disorders like lack of impulse control and difficuilty to communicate and understand others.

Part 2

Exp[anations for Aileen's Criminal Behaviour

Individual Difference Explanations: 1. Esyneck's Criminal Personality = Aileen committed crimes to gain financial support (egocentrism), she was aggressive and failed to establish close relationships (anti-social) with anyone apart from Tyria. Social Psychological Explanations:1. Differential Association Theory = Aileen was sexually assualted at a young age, this may have caused her to live a life of crime and lead to prostitution. She dropped out of school after her grandmother had died which overall led to her being alienated by her peers. Due to "Aileen's childhood may hold the key to many reasons she behaved in such a violent, reckless, remorseless manner" (Adam 2009).

This is Aileen and Tyria

Did Aileen Undergo Any Treatment?

Aileen was never able to recieve any treatment for her traumatic experiences. This was due to Aileen receiving 3 death sentences for murders she confessed to (the killing of Spears, Burress and Humphreys). Aileen consistenly proclaimed her innocnece and lodging appeals, she remained on Death Row in Florida for 10 years before going to the electric chair on the 9th October 2002 at 9.47am