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People are evidently obsessed with dead serial killers’ and sex offenders’ personal effects. Items that once belonged to Florida’s notorious female serial killer, Aileen Wuornos, are flying off virtual shelves. Just days after the True Crime Collective launched its Wuornos collection on its website, nearly all of the items have sold for thousands of dollars. If you were hoping to snag something for your own collection, a few of the serial killer’s things remain for sale.
True Crime Collective owners Jordan and Maren (who requested that they be identified by their first names only) acquired the collection from a former forensic psychologist, who had purchased the items from Wuornos’ best friend, Dawn Botkins, over the course of 20 years. Wuornos, who killed seven men between 1989 and 1990 while working as a sex worker along Florida highways, sent numerous items to Botkins prior to her execution in October 2022.
The items listed on the website include the crucifix Wuornos wore during her trial and execution, handwritten letters addressed to Botkins, drawings, Wuornos’ prison Bible, her prison radio, her robe from Volusia County Correctional Facility, where she was held while awaiting trial, the flip-flops she wore to the execution chamber, her prison bandana, and the last Polaroid that was taken of her prior to her execution. The L.A. Gear sneakers that Wuornos wore during her arrest were also part of the haul, but Jordan and Maren decided to keep them for their own collection.
Jordan tells New Times that the site received significant traction once the Wuornos sale launched last Thursday, November 13. A “nationally-recognized museum in the United States” purchased most of the items, Jordan says, though he declined to name the institution until the sale is finalized.
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“It’s going to be on display for the world to see. We had reached out to a couple different museums along the way and never really heard anything back until these guys reached out to us,” Jordan tells New Times. “We’re excited about where the majority of the stuff is going. That’s where we feel it belongs.”
Items that once belonged to infamous killers like John Wayne Gacy and David Berkowitz, AKA the “Son of Sam,” typically sell faster than others, Jordan notes. While Wuornos’ items haven’t been particularly popular on the market, he says he and his wife decided to take the risk, given the significance of these items and the renewed interest in Wuornos’ case following the release of Netflix’s new documentary, Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers.
“It was a huge risk for us to make this kind of purchase, Jordan tells New Times. “In all of the years that we’ve been doing this, we have never made a purchase this big.”
Sold!
Personal Crucifix: $12,000
“Aileen was extremely religious, especially after being convicted of serial murder,” the website reads.
Wuornos wore this necklace throughout her trial.
True Crime Collective photo
Blue and White Death Row Flip-Flops: $10,000
“This listing is for Aileen Wuornos’ flip-flops issued to her while on death watch, less than a week before her execution date,” the website reads. “Only certain articles of clothing are allowed while on death watch, including footwear with no laces. She spent a total of six days on death watch leading up to her October 9, 2002, execution. She wore these flip-flops on her walk from the holding cell to the death chamber.”
Wuornos wore these flip-flops on her final days in prison.
True Crime Collective photo
Volusia County Correctional Facility Robe: $10,000
“The robe includes her name and inmate ID tag on the back collar. This robe was sent to Aileen’s best friend, Dawn Botkins, shortly before Aileen was sentenced to death,” the website states.
Wuornos wore this robe during her stay at the Volusia County Correctional Facility.
True Crime Collective photo
Prison Bible: $8,000
“This Bible spent over a decade with Aileen Wuornos during her time on Florida’s death row,” the listing reads. “There are hundreds of handwritten notes, entries, and highlights throughout the Bible. She’s signed her entire name in it multiple times as well, including on the inside cover where she wrote, ‘Belongs to Aileen Carol Wuornos, and don’t you forget it.'”
Last Photo Ever Taken of Wuornos: $6,000
“This is the last Polaroid ever taken of Aileen Wuornos on the night of October 8, 2002, during her last visit with Dawn Botkins,” the listing says. “The Polaroid has the date handwritten on it by Aileen.”
This is the last known photo ever taken of Wuornos.
True Crime Collective photo
Death Row Handheld Prison Radio: $2,000
“Her name and inmate ID number have been scratched into the plastic on the radio,” the listing reads.
Wuornos’ prison radio and used headphones
True Crime Collective photo
Four-Page Signed Letter: $1,000
“In this letter, Aileen goes into detail about the murder of Charles Humphreys, who [sic] she killed on September 11, 1990,” the website states.
Three-Page Signed Letter with Artwork: $1,000
Aileen Wuornos’ handwritten letters and drawings from behind bars
True Crime Collective photo
Five-Page Signed Letter with Artwork: $1,000
A letter addressed to Wuornos’ best friend Dawn Botkins
True Crime Collective photo
Four-Page Signed Letter: $750
“This letter was sent to her best friend Dawn while Aileen was on death row,” the listing reads. “In this letter, Aileen talks about Dawn’s health issues (M.S.) and gives her advice on how to be healthy in dealing with her condition.”
Four-Page Signed Letter: $600
3 Signed Letters: $500 each
No Takers (Yet)
Handwritten Bible Scriptures: $8,500
“This collection is 160 pages in length, and includes multiple signatures from Wuornos as well,” the listing states. “It took her over a year to complete this collection of her favorite scriptures.”
