Hulu has just posted Nick Broomfield‘s two documentaries on Aileen Wuornos.
The Selling of a Serial Killer (1992) was made two years after the seven murders off highway 75, Florida. Broomfield demonstrates the efforts by Wuornos’ lawyer (Steve, a hippie musician known as Dr. Legal), her sponsor and friend (Dawn) and the Florida Sheriff’s Department to cash in on her story.
Life and Death of a Serial Killer (2003) opens with a recap of the main characters and a reminder that the police chief and officers resigned following allegations they’d sold their stories to a Hollywood studio. It is illegal to profit from state work in such a way. Dawn and Steve were in on the deal too!
In Life and Death, Broomfield is subpoenaed to court to testify on Steve’s “seven joint ride” to the prison in which Aileen was held; he was on his way to deliver legal advice. Broomfield filmed the ride for his first documentary.
Aileen changes her stories time and time again. Details she discloses to Broomfield when she thinks the camera isn’t running she won’t repeat elsewhere. She sabotages her own defense. Eventually, Aileen wants to be executed and repeatedly attempts to maneouver proceedings to secure her death.
Broomfield’s conclusion is that Aileen is clearly insane. On the evidence of her last ever TV interview (below) it is hard to dispute.
24 hours before this interview Aileen passed a state psychological assessment that deemed her of sound mind.
Prison Photography 
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January 4, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Sean
To add to the pot, there is also the excellent film ‘Monster’: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster_(film)
January 6, 2010 at 12:23 pm
ciara leeming
the youtube clip won’t work in the uk unfortunately
monster is a brilliant film
January 8, 2010 at 11:55 am
petebrook
Happy new year Ciara.
Thanks for the info. I should’ve known really as I just spent three weeks in the UK …
Hmm.
January 30, 2010 at 1:40 pm
gonzo
Aileen Wuornos grew up in a tragic and emotional background. Incest and abuse on every level was a daily routine. At a very early age Aileen became pregnant and was forced to give up the child. She was then forced to leave home and survive on the street. Aileen then turned into the oldest profession in history. Prostitution. Alcohol and drugs became numbing agents for her behavior. Most of you out there pretty much know the story.
My major question is; how was her lover not guilty by association? Until this day I feel justice was not served. Anyone who followed the case closely would have truly seen Aileen was not in the right frame of mind to make the decision to allow herself to be put to death. How many out there feel her so called lover should have been charged with some sort of punishment?
September 22, 2010 at 9:39 pm
Gregory
I don’t believe Aileen should have been executed. When someone actively requests to be executed, should their mental state not be questioned? In a way, I feel sad for her. Not because she was killer, but because she was a mistreated individual all her life.
April 9, 2013 at 8:43 pm
Neil
When I was doing my undergrad work, I did a paper on Anti Social Personality Disorder. I found something very interesting.
Eileen was born as an illegitimate child, and at 6 months her mother gave her to Eileen’s grandparents to raise. Her Grandfather was very abusive and sexually molested her starting at the age of 6. By the time she was 14 she was pregnant herself. She chose at that time to runaway from her tormentors, and hit the street.
Oprah Winfrey was born as an illegitimate child. At 6 months her mother gave her to Oprah’s grandparents. Her Grandfather was very abusive and he molested Oprah from the age of 6 to 14. At 14 she became pregnant and ran away from her tormentors and started to live on the streets.
From her the dialog changes, but both of these women had almost identical childhoods.
So why is one in the grave, and the other a billionaire? Somewhere in their lives lies the secret to treating people with ASPD.
August 4, 2013 at 1:43 am
Edward Smith
It would be enough to sentence to life in prison. The court didn’t take into account how and why she has come out so far.