Aileen Wuornos' life was marked by tragedy and dysfunction from the very beginning. Her parents, Diane Wuornos and Leo Dale Pittman, were both troubled individuals with a history of violence and drug abuse. Diane was a prostitute and Leo was an alcoholic. They met in the 1950s and had four children together, including Aileen.
Leo Pittman was a violent man who often beat his wife and children. He was also an alcoholic and drug addict. In 1960, he was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon and sentenced to five years in prison. While he was in prison, Diane divorced him and took the children to Michigan.
Aileen Wuornos' childhood was filled with abuse and neglect. She was often beaten by her mother and stepfather, and she was sexually abused by a family friend. She ran away from home several times, but she always ended up being returned. As she got older, Aileen began to engage in petty crime and prostitution.
aileen wuornos parents
Troubled individuals, history of violence and abuse.
- Diane Wuornos: prostitute, drug abuse.
- Leo Dale Pittman: alcoholic, violent.
- Leo Pittman: convicted of assault with deadly weapon.
- Aileen Wuornos: childhood abuse and neglect.
- Aileen Wuornos: petty crime and prostitution.
- Leo Pittman: died in prison, 1969.
- Diane Wuornos: died of cancer, 2002.
Aileen Wuornos' parents left a legacy of pain and dysfunction that would haunt her throughout her life.