Where is Aileen Wuornos’ adoptive mother now? Details explored from Netflix’s Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers

The subect of the Netflix documentary Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers, Aileen Wuornos, was a hitchhiking pr*stitute who, in 1990, confessed to killing seven men in Florida between 1989 and 1990. She said the acts were in self-defense against assaults, but she received six death sentences and was executed by lethal injection in 2002 at age 46.

Arlene Pralle, a born-again Christian, did the very unusual thing of adopting the 35-year-old Wuornos in 1991. As of November 2025, Arlene Pralle leads a quiet, retired life in Florida with her husband, Robert. Advanced in years, the couple contends with failing health: Robert recently suffered a stroke and is still in rehabilitation, while Arlene runs a small cat boarding business and occasionally posts about daily life on social media.

She has made no public comments about the Netflix documentary, which mentions her briefly but centers more on Wuornos' own words. Viewers can stream Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers, released on October 30, 2025, exclusively on Netflix.

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Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers- Aileen Wuornos's peculiar adoption

Arlene Pralle was a devout Christian (Image via Unsplash/ @ Debby Hudson)

While Aileen Wuornos was awaiting trial for the killings in early 1991, horse breeder and devout Christian Arlene Pralle first saw Wuornos in a newspaper photo. Pralle had long dreamed of becoming a mother, but she was unable to have biological children. She recalled,

"I saw her picture in the newspaper and I got butterflies."

Despite the severe accusations, Pralle felt that God was calling her to help save Wuornos' soul. While imprisoned, Pralle wrote Wuornos a letter that said,

"I don't care if you’re guilty or innocent, but I want to be your friend."

This led to nightly phone calls and weekly visits, creating an unexpected bond. Robert Pralle, Arlene's husband, was initially dubious but eventually saw Wuornos' integrity and sincerity.

The 35-year-old Wuornos was legally adopted by the couple in November 1991, a rare event that garnered extensive media coverage. Pralle emphasized Wuornos' compassionate nature and saw it as a divinely mandated friendship:

"She has a heart of gold, and even after all she's been through, she's given so much to me."

Pralle insisted the adoption was motivated by true compassion and a desire for family, despite rumors of ulterior motives such as money or publicity, as per Mirror UK.

Pralle avoided talking about the crimes during their time together, and the proceedings took place in the midst of Wuornos' well-publicized case. Instead, she concentrated on providing emotional support, which made Wuornos feel appreciated for the first time. Aileen Wuornos, who later voiced worries about the Pralle family's farm finances, felt more secure on death row as a result of this adoption.

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Support on death row: Pralle's role in Wuornos' final years

Arlene Pralle adopted Aileen Wuornos at the age of 35 (Image via Unsplash/ @ Deleece Cook)

But one constant during Aileen Wuornos's decade on Florida's death row was Arlene Pralle, who provided an emotional anchor in a sea of isolation and appeals. Adoptive mom Pralle continued making regular visits after the 1991 adoption, treating Aileen Wuornos like family, despite the grim setting.

Pralle said Aileen Wuornos was never inherently violent but a victim of circumstance, often lauding her generosity toward others. In return, Wuornos valued such support, revealing personal concerns for the well-being of Pralle rather than her own fate. The two avoided discussing any details of her case and spoke about everyday things to establish some sort of normalcy, according to Cosmopolitan.

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Relocation and reflection: Pralle's life after Wuornos' execution

Aileen Wuornos was executed in 2002 (Image via Unsplash/ @ Michael Förtsch)

After Aileen Wuornos's execution on October 9, 2002, Arlene Pralle and her husband, Robert, moved to Alabama, looking for refuge from the overwhelming publicity. They were enveloped in a close-knit church community. Given this quiet setting, Pralle was able to mourn largely in private while at the same time reinforcing her faith-based support system.

She even reflected later that the adoption, although it ended in tragedy, had been a positive period in her life and had given meaning to it. The Pralles retired in Alabama, devoting their time to retirement pursuits such as church activities. Health concerns brought them back to Florida around 2010, at the behest of doctors who were concerned about Pralle's allergies, as per Mirror UK.

Her story is hinged on silent strength, one that fits into the overlooked caregivers that the documentary covers in Wuornos' life. The period of transition shows how individuals linked to highly publicized cases often rebuild in obscurity, balancing their public memory with private recovery. Pralle's road from adoptive parent to retiree speaks volumes about the long shadows cast by such events.

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Health struggles and daily life: Arlene Pralle's present in Florida

In 2025, Arlene Pralle lives in Florida with Robert, enjoying retirement in the midst of continuing health challenges. The older couple navigates everyday life with social connections still strong in place. Pralle runs a small cat boarding and breeding business out of her home, as apparent through her Instagram posts showcasing feline friends and farm moments.

One posting from September 2025 showed her missing Alabama: "I miss Alabama SO much!" This longing suggests some of the emotional complexity of their various moves, as per Cosmopolitan.

Recent months have brought challenges. Robert underwent cataract surgery early in the year, followed by Pralle's bout with pneumonia. In summer 2025, Robert had a stroke and entered rehabilitation for physical therapy.

There have been no more health disclosures since then, making their situation stable but uncertain, according to Cosmopolitan.

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

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