Jul 8, 2026 · 1 hr 29 min · 20 segments
Today I'm revisiting one of the most infamous cases in American true crime; a woman the press called the Damsel of Death. Between 1989 and 1990, seven men were found dead along the highways of central…
Megan AldaHost
Born Eileen Carol Pittman on February 29th, 1956 in Rochester, Michigan, she was sometimes known as Lee among friends.
Diane had married Eileen's father, Leo Pittman, at only 14 years old while he was 18.
So it's not hard to imagine that the significant age difference and their youth likely set the stage for a very troubled relationship.
Just one year into their marriage, Diane gave birth to Eileen's older brother, Keith.
By the time Eileen came along two years later, Diane had already filed for divorce.
When Eileen was almost four years old, in January 1960, Diane abandoned both of her children, leaving Eileen and Keith in the care of her parents, Lori and Britta Wuornos.
Was Diane's decision to give up her kids a small act of mercy, an acknowledgement that she couldn't care for them? It's really hard to say.
I'll walk you through her story, but it's important to remember many of the details remain unsubstantiated.
According to Eileen, her grandparents kept their true identity a secret from both her and Keith, raising them to believe Lori and Britta were their adoptive parents rather than their maternal grandparents.
Lori, by Eileen's account, was an abusive figure who not only beat her but also inflicted sexual abuse.
Born Eileen Carol Pittman on February 29th, 1956 in Rochester, Michigan, she was sometimes known as Lee among friends.
Diane had married Eileen's father, Leo Pittman, at only 14 years old while he was 18.
So it's not hard to imagine that the significant age difference and their youth likely set the stage for a very troubled relationship.
Just one year into their marriage, Diane gave birth to Eileen's older brother, Keith.
By the time Eileen came along two years later, Diane had already filed for divorce.
When Eileen was almost four years old, in January 1960, Diane abandoned both of her children, leaving Eileen and Keith in the care of her parents, Lori and Britta Wuornos.
Was Diane's decision to give up her kids a small act of mercy, an acknowledgement that she couldn't care for them? It's really hard to say.
I'll walk you through her story, but it's important to remember many of the details remain unsubstantiated.
According to Eileen, her grandparents kept their true identity a secret from both her and Keith, raising them to believe Lori and Britta were their adoptive parents rather than their maternal grandparents.
Lori, by Eileen's account, was an abusive figure who not only beat her but also inflicted sexual abuse.
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