A storeowner in Palm Harbor, Florida named Richard Mallory took a ride with Wuornos on November 30, 1989 and became her first victum. Most of the victims were found dead in a storage unit Wournos had rented. She was eventually caught when she and a friend drove off a road in a victim's car. During the time of the trial, she was adopted by a woman and her husband after the woman had a dream in which she was told to take care of Ms. Wuornos. Despite her help, in 1996, her US Supreme Court appeal against the (death) sentence was denied.
Her life is portrayed in the 2004 movie Monster.