Aileen Wuornos: Life In Hitchhiking Across America That Turn Her Life Around

Aileen Wuornos' Biography Born on February 29, 1956, Aileen Wuornos' life began as tragically as it ended. Her biological mother, Diane Wuornos, was a teenager at the time of Aileen's birth and her biological father, Leo Dale Pittman, was considered to be a schizophrenic and was a convicted child molester. Luckily, Aileen never knew her father as he was already in prison by the time she was born, but this does not diminish the fact that she had his genes. Aileen also had an older brother, Keith. Shortly before Aileen turned four years old, her mother abandoned her and her brother (Aileen Wuornos, wikipedia.com, 2012). Therefore, Aileen did not have a significant relationship with her biological mother or father. Aileen's maternal grandparents, Lauri and Britta Wuornos, legally adopted the children and raised them as their own. Unfortunately, this family dynamic was no better for Aileen. Aileen's grandfather, Lauri, was both physically and sexually abusive, while her grandmother, Britta, was an alcoholic. She was in another family that had a significant emotional toll. By age 11, Aileen was sexually active. Much of her sexual activities were in exchange for items such as cigarettes, drugs, and food. Aileen also claimed that she engaged in sexual activity with her brother at a young age. It was about this time that Aileen learned that Lauri and Britta were actually her maternal grandparents, furthering the confusion and emotional distress. At age 14, Aileen became pregnant; allegedly by a friend of her grandfather (although Aileen claimed her brother was the father). The child was given up for adoption. Shortly after the birth of her baby, Aileen dropped out of school and her grandmother, Britta, died of liver failure. Soon after, Aileen's grandfather kicked her out of the house (Aileen Wuornos, wikipedia.com, 2012). After being abandoned yet again, Aileen began her life of crime. First, she turned to prostitution and lived in the woods near