Netflix’s newest true crime release has once again brought back the chilling tale of Aileen Wuornos. But this time, it also shines a light on someone who’s often remained in the shadows: her girlfriend, Tyria Moore. Viewers of ‘Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers‘ have been left wondering what became of the woman who once shared Wuornos’ life and later played a critical role in her downfall.
Tyria Moore: The Woman Who Stood Beside A Killer
Before the murders and media attention, Tyria Moore was simply a motel maid in Florida who fell in love with a woman living on society’s edge. She and Wuornos met in 1986 at a South Daytona gay bar called Zodiac, when Wuornos was 30 and Moore was in her mid-20s. Their spark was instant, and within weeks, they had moved in together. Wuornos’ life before Moore had been filled with hardships.
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Born in Michigan, she endured a traumatic childhood and was raped at 15, leading to a pregnancy that ended with her baby being given up for adoption. Soon after, she was kicked out of her home and forced to rely on prostitution to survive. In 1976, she hitchhiked to Florida and married 69-year-old yacht club president Lewis Gratz Fell, reportedly “for security.”
However, the marriage lasted only a month before it was annulled, which pushed her back into sex work to make ends meet. In Netflix’s new documentary, Wuornos can be heard saying she loved Moore “so bad” that Moore was the reason she carried a gun. She explained that she only wanted to make sure she made it home alive each night, just so she could spend another day breathing beside her.
Over time, Moore quit her motel job and relied entirely on Wuornos’ income. And, Wuornos once told investigators that every dollar she earned on the streets was for Moore. She admitted she had no choice but to keep hustling if they wanted to pay their bills. But the pressure of maintaining that life weighed heavily on her.
Aileen’s Confession That Changed Everything
Wuornos claimed Moore expected more comfort, better clothes, and a nicer apartment, while she herself was barely making $300 every two weeks. She told authorities the constant strain of dealing with men and staying up late “wore her out.” Situations became so strained that Wuornos killed her first known victim while still in a relationship with Moore.
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Not long after, she reportedly told Moore what she had done, but Moore did not react. As more men disappeared, Moore began to suspect her girlfriend’s involvement. She eventually ended the relationship in 1990 and returned to her parents’ home. As investigators linked Wuornos to multiple murders, they discovered that witnesses had seen two women. While one woman resembled Wuornos, another was driving a missing man’s car.
The police recorded their phone calls, in which Wuornos told Moore she would never let her go to jail. She said she loved her and was willing to confess to everything if it meant protecting her. Those taped conversations became the turning point in the case and ultimately secured Wuornos’ confession.
Moore later took the stand at trial and described the night Wuornos first mentioned killing someone. Throughout the trial, Moore maintained that she had nothing to do with the murders. In fact, she cooperated with the police only to prove her innocence.
When the trial ended in 1992, the case catapulted Tyria Moore into unwanted fame. Since then, Moore has disappeared from public life. She made no appearances during the production of the 2003 film Monster, which depicted Wuornos’ life. Despite the renewed attention, Moore declined to comment or participate in any way.
