Who is Jasmine Hirst in Netflix’s true crime doc Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers?

by

In Netflix’s new documentary, Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers, filmmaker Jasmine Hirst explains she simply felt she had to write to serial killer Aileen Wuornos.

Emily Turner’s film takes a fresh look at the case of Aileen Wuornos, a woman who was convicted of killing seven men in Florida between 1989 and 1990. She received the death penalty for six first-degree murder convictions and was executed by lethal injection on October 9, 2002.

The documentary, released on October 30th, features previously unreleased footage from a 1997 interview with Aileen Wuornos, conducted by Hirst. It also includes her interviews with Dateline correspondent Michele Gillen and new audio recordings of conversations with key people involved in her case.

What to Read Next

In Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers, director Nic Turner broke with tradition in true-crime documentaries. Instead of featuring on-camera interviews with those central to the Aileen Wuornos case, the film relies solely on voiceovers from these individuals.

Turner told Netflix she had two main reasons for her approach. She hoped to get more honest reactions from the commentators – who might have felt self-conscious with a camera present – and she wanted viewers to see the case unfold as it did in the original media coverage.

What is Netflix documentary Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers about?

Aileen Wuornos was born in Michigan in 1956 and led a difficult life marked by abuse and self-harm. She struggled with homelessness and earned money through sex work and minor offenses.

Between 1989 and 1990, she fatally shot and robbed seven men, arguing she acted in self-defense against either rape or attempted assault. She was arrested in January 1991 and sentenced to death the next year, largely due to the impactful testimony of her former partner, Tyria Moore, which helped secure her conviction.

Wuornos was given the lethal injection in 2002 after spending more than ten years in death row.

Soon after Aileen Wuornos was executed, her life story became the basis for the 2003 film Monster. Charlize Theron won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Wuornos, and the case has also been covered in multiple true crime documentaries.

I just finished watching this Netflix doc by Turner, and it’s seriously messed up. It dives into the story of one of the few female serial killers, and honestly, the way the media covered her trial was wild. It really makes you think about how things are handled differently depending on who the criminal is.

Aileen Wuornos faced intense public attention during her trials and was often sensationalized in the media. Her allegations that her first victim, Richard Mallory, had sexually assaulted her were questioned and not believed by many.

In the documentary, journalist Gillen, who recently passed away, challenged prosecutor John Tanner. This happened after court records showing Mallory had previously attempted rape and received treatment for sexual offenses weren’t presented during the trial.

Jasmine Hirsch, an artist, was moved to contact Wuornos because of the severe sexual abuse Wuornos experienced as a child – she reported abuse by her grandfather and a rape by his friend that led to a pregnancy.

Who is Jasmine Hirsch in Netflix documentary Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers?

In 1993, Australian filmmaker and artist Jasmine Hirsch connected with the story of Aileen Wuornos after learning about her case.

A sexual assault survivor like Wuornos, Hirsch had been channelling her experiences in her art.

I was really moved when I heard her talk about how she started creating art focused on the incredibly difficult topic of sexual abuse against women and children. She explained that it wasn’t just a subject for her, it actually became the driving force behind everything she did – her whole artistic path, really.

Upon finding out about Wuornos, the Aussie filmmaker experienced “an instant recognition”.

“Something clicked and resonated,” she said, adding she “just felt compelled to write to her”.

For eight years, Aileen Wuornos and filmmaker Nick Hirsch exchanged letters. In 1997, Wuornos agreed to a frank interview with him. Hirsch remembered feeling incredibly nervous, worried he might ruin the opportunity.

Hirsch recalled being immediately captivated by Wuornos’s presence during their first meeting. She described Wuornos as having a surprisingly charismatic and powerful energy, almost like a celebrity.

Turner’s documentary revolves around an interview with Hirsch, which offers a valuable insight into Wuornos’s state of mind after accepting her destiny. Hirsch recalls feeling a sense of responsibility, worried that Wuornos might view the interview as hastening her execution.

In the interview, Wuornos insisted they were being truthful about the events and stated this was a first-time occurrence for them.

The prisoner expressed a desire to be truthful and, although she maintained that most of the deaths she caused were in self-defense, she confessed to intentionally killing Charles Edmund Carskaddon, stating it was a premeditated murder.

She explained that Aileen Wuornos, the person she truly was, wasn’t a serial killer. She believed her struggles with alcohol and mental health led her to commit those acts, but that wasn’t her true nature.

Once back in Australia, Hirsch couldn’t shake off Wuornos’s words.

“It didn’t matter to me at all that none of the men had raped her,” she said.

While those men may not have assaulted her directly, they represent a pattern of behavior by past abusers she didn’t resist, and evoke those experiences.

Starting in 2000, Aileen Wuornos and Roy Frank Hirsch exchanged letters less often. Hirsch remembers Wuornos clearly stating her desire to die.

It was really hard at first, since this person had been in my life for a long time. But eventually, I came to understand the situation.

In 2002, when Aileen Wuornos was executed, Hirsch went back to Florida. He spent time with Dawn Botkins, a close friend of Aileen’s who had been the last person to see her before her execution.

As of 2025, Florida remains one of 27 states in the US that still allows the death penalty. This year alone, 15 executions have been carried out there, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

Where is Jasmine Hirsch now?

Hirsch continues working as a filmmaker and photographer.

Before the release of the documentary Aileen: Queen of Serial Killers, the filmmaker shared photos with Aileen Wuornos and used social media to promote the film.

Wow, I can’t believe how popular the documentary’s become! It’s actually number one on Netflix in the UK, Ireland, Denmark, and Canada – it’s crazy! The filmmaker, Hirsch, put out a message thanking everyone for watching and all the support, which is awesome to see.

She shared on Instagram, along with a black-and-white photo of Wuornos, that she’s incredibly touched by the outpouring of heartfelt messages from around the world about how much the film is resonating with people. She said she’s truly overwhelmed by the support.

Thank you for reaching out and sharing your experiences with me. I’m deeply sorry to hear about the pain you’ve all gone through, and I’m truly touched by your willingness to share your stories. I never anticipated this situation, and your support means everything to me. Thank you so much.

Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers is streaming on Netflix.

If this story has been upsetting, support is available. You can find more information and help from Rape Crisis England and Wales on their website or by calling 0808 802 9999. In Scotland, you can contact Rape Crisis Scotland on 08088 01 03 02. Both organizations work to end sexual violence and misconduct.

If you’re in the US and need help, please reach out to RAINN, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673.

Read More

2025-11-05 13:52