Lizzie Borden Inspiration? Wuornos Myth vs. Reality

Sarah Paulson stars as Aileen Wuornos in the Netflix series "Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story," which draws parallels between Wuornos and Lizzie Borden. The show posits Wuornos as a devoted fan of Borden and a student of her infamous case. However, the series takes creative liberties, depicting Wuornos visiting the Lizzie Borden House and experiencing visions of Borden's victims.

Historically, Aileen Wuornos was one of America's first prominent female serial killers. Born in 1956, her early life was fraught with abuse and hardship. She ran away from home at 15 and engaged in sex work to survive. Between 1989 and 1990, Wuornos murdered seven men, claiming self-defense against alleged assaults. She was arrested in January 1991 and sentenced to death in 1992 for the murder of Richard Mallory, ultimately being executed by lethal injection in 2002.

Crucially, there is no factual evidence to support the series' depiction of a connection between Wuornos and Lizzie Borden. No records or interviews suggest Wuornos admired Borden or ever visited the Borden House. Furthermore, Wuornos was incarcerated from 1991 until her execution in 2002, during which time the Borden House was converted into a bed and breakfast in 1996.