Who Was Aileen Wuornos’ Husband Lewis Fell? Inside Their Short Marriage
Aileen Wuornos’ name has long been synonymous with infamy. Known as one of America’s most notorious female serial killers, her story has been told in documentaries, books, and films. Yet one surprising fact often shocks people learning about her life: she was once married. The man who briefly became Aileen Wuornos’ husband was Lewis Gratz Fell, a wealthy Florida businessman nearly fifty years her senior. Their marriage, though short-lived, offers a rare glimpse into a side of Wuornos’ life that few know—a brief moment when she seemed to have a chance at normalcy before everything unraveled.
Who Was Aileen Wuornos?
Before examining her marriage to Lewis Fell, it’s important to understand who Aileen Wuornos was and what led her to such an infamous path. Born on February 29, 1956, in Rochester, Michigan, Aileen Carol Pittman (later Wuornos) had one of the most tragic childhoods imaginable. Her father, a convicted child molester, was imprisoned when she was born and later took his own life. Her mother abandoned Aileen and her brother Keith when Aileen was just a toddler, leaving them to be raised by their grandparents.
Her childhood was marked by neglect, abuse, and instability. By her early teens, Aileen was living on the streets, engaging in prostitution to survive. Expelled from school and eventually cast out of her home, she hitchhiked across the country, surviving through petty crime and sex work.
Her transient lifestyle eventually brought her to Florida, where she spent much of her adult life moving between cheap motels, bars, and highways. Before becoming known as a serial killer, Aileen Wuornos was a drifter—tough, angry, and desperate for love, stability, and belonging.
Who Was Lewis Gratz Fell?
Lewis Gratz Fell was everything Aileen was not. He was a wealthy, well-established businessman, respected in his community and known for his social standing. Born in 1907, Fell was more than four decades older than Wuornos. By the time they met in the mid-1970s, he was a 69-year-old president of a local yacht club in Florida.
Fell was well connected, comfortable, and financially secure—a man who represented the stability Aileen had never known. Those who knew him described him as polite, disciplined, and highly regarded in his circle. His life of privilege stood in stark contrast to the chaos and poverty that had defined Aileen’s existence.
How Aileen Wuornos and Lewis Fell Met
The story of how Aileen Wuornos met Lewis Fell sounds like something out of a strange novel. In 1976, Aileen was living in Florida, drifting between bars and small towns. During this period, she met Fell, likely at a local tavern or social gathering spot where she often sought company and quick money.
Despite their vastly different worlds, Fell was reportedly charmed by the young woman’s energy and rough-edged charisma. Their relationship moved quickly, and within weeks, they decided to get married. On May 20, 1976, Aileen and Lewis tied the knot in Florida, with their wedding announcement even making the local newspaper.
To the outside world, it seemed like a Cinderella story—a troubled young woman finding stability with a wealthy, older man. But beneath the surface, trouble was brewing.
The Marriage: From Excitement to Chaos
At first, Aileen seemed to enjoy the benefits of her new lifestyle. For the first time, she had money, a home, and security. But Aileen’s volatile temper and lifelong pattern of self-destruction soon began to surface.
Within weeks, reports emerged of violent altercations between Aileen and local residents. She was arrested for disorderly conduct after a bar fight and accused of hitting a man with her cane. She also reportedly threatened Fell and began squandering his money.
Witnesses later described Aileen as restless and aggressive, unable to adjust to the calm life of luxury she had stumbled into. Her unpredictable behavior quickly became too much for Fell, who began to fear for his safety.
The Downfall of Their Marriage
Aileen Wuornos’ marriage to Lewis Fell fell apart almost as quickly as it began. After just nine weeks, Fell sought an annulment. The turning point came when Aileen was arrested for assaulting him and other individuals in public. She reportedly attacked Fell with his own cane during one of their heated arguments.
Following the incident, Fell obtained a restraining order against her to protect himself. The annulment was finalized later that year, officially ending their marriage.
While Fell retreated from public life after the ordeal, Aileen returned to her old habits—drifting, drinking, and engaging in sex work to survive.
What Happened to Lewis Fell Afterward
After the annulment, Lewis Gratz Fell returned to his quiet life in Florida. He remained largely out of the public eye, declining to speak about his brief marriage to Wuornos. Friends say he was deeply embarrassed by the episode and preferred not to discuss it.
Fell continued his business and community activities, maintaining a reputation as a respectable figure until his death in 2000, at the age of 92. Despite being connected to one of the most infamous women in American history, he lived the rest of his life peacefully and away from media attention.
Aileen Wuornos’ Life After Lewis Fell
For Aileen Wuornos, the end of her marriage marked yet another failed attempt at stability. After separating from Fell, she returned to her transient lifestyle. Over the next decade, her life spiraled further into violence, poverty, and despair.
By the late 1980s, Aileen began committing a series of murders across Florida, targeting men she encountered while working as a sex worker. Between 1989 and 1990, she killed seven men, claiming it was in self-defense after they attempted to assault her. Authorities, however, saw a pattern of premeditated violence and theft.
Aileen was arrested in 1991, convicted in 1992, and sentenced to death. She was executed by lethal injection in 2002 at the age of 46.
The Legacy of Her Marriage to Lewis Fell
The brief union between Aileen Wuornos and Lewis Fell remains one of the most unusual chapters in her life. To some, it represents a fleeting glimpse of what could have been—a chance at stability and redemption that slipped away. To others, it highlights how deeply entrenched her psychological trauma and instability were, making it nearly impossible for her to sustain normal relationships.
Their relationship has been referenced in several documentaries and biographies about Wuornos. In the 2003 Oscar-winning film Monster, which starred Charlize Theron as Wuornos, the marriage is briefly mentioned as part of her turbulent backstory, though not explored in detail.
In hindsight, the marriage illustrates the paradox of Aileen Wuornos’ life: a woman desperate for love and acceptance, yet incapable of finding peace even when offered security.
Featured Image Source: crimeandinvestigation.co.uk
