Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer

Aileen Wuornos was a prostitute who in the space of one year between November 1989 to November 1990 killed seven men, she claimed at first in self defence. This 1993 documentary by Nick Broomfield does touch on the actual crimes but it's the connection of two characters to Wuornos and the case that are the main focus. Arlene Pralle befriended and subsequently adopted Wuornos after she had been jailed, the adoption was apparently so as Pralle would have greater visitation and contact rights as a guardian. Steve Glazer was hired by Pralle to be Wuornos lawyer after the trial for the first murder.

Broomfield in the documentary is trying to get an interview with Aileen Wuornos and both Pralle and Glazer are acting as intermediaries, all the while looking for huge fees. It's this selling of the story that's highlighted and we find Pralle and Glazer are not the only ones with something to sell. Police involved in the crime are allegedly working with a studio to sell their side of the story to be made into a feature film on Americas first female serial killer.

Ten years after this documentary Nick Broomfield made a follow up documentary and actress Charlize Theron won the academy award for best actress playing Aileen Wuornos in the film Monster.