Lewis Gratz Fell was a wealthy businessman and yacht club president who married Aileen Wuornos, one of the most notorious serial killers in American history, in 1976. Their marriage lasted only nine weeks, during which Aileen assaulted Lewis with his own cane and was arrested for various crimes. Lewis managed to escape from Aileen’s clutches and annulled their marriage, but he died in 2000 from complications of a stroke. This article will explore the life and death of Lewis Gratz Fell, and how he became involved with Aileen Wuornos.
Contents
Who Was Lewis Gratz Fell?
Lewis Gratz Fell was born on June 28, 1907, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Robert Gratz Fell and Florence Biddle Addams. He had a privileged upbringing and attended prestigious schools. He married Katherine Reeves Royce in 1928, with whom he had a daughter, but they divorced in 1932. He then married Elizabeth S. Carpenter, but they also divorced.
Lewis moved to Florida, where he became the president of a local yacht club and a successful investor. He enjoyed a lavish lifestyle and mingled with the high society of Florida. He was also fond of boating and sailing, and ran boat tours for the rich and famous.
How Did Lewis Gratz Fell Meet Aileen Wuornos?
Aileen Wuornos was a troubled young woman who had a history of prostitution, theft, and violence. She was born on February 29, 1956, in Rochester, Michigan, to Diane Wuornos and Leo Pittman. She never knew her father, who was a convicted child molester and committed suicide in prison. Her mother abandoned her and her brother when they were young, and they were raised by their abusive grandparents.
Aileen became pregnant at 14 and gave birth to a son, who was put up for adoption. She dropped out of school and ran away from home. She hitchhiked across the country, working as a prostitute and committing petty crimes. She was arrested several times for assault, robbery, forgery, and driving under the influence.
In 1976, Aileen met Lewis Gratz Fell at a bar in Florida. Lewis was 69 years old at the time, while Aileen was 20. They were attracted to each other for different reasons: Lewis wanted a young and beautiful wife to show off to his friends, while Aileen wanted money and security. They married shortly after their first meeting, and their wedding announcement was published in the local newspaper’s society pages.
What Happened During Their Marriage?
Their marriage was doomed from the start. Aileen continued her wild and criminal behavior, which embarrassed Lewis and tarnished his reputation. She frequented bars and got into fights with other patrons. She was arrested for assault after she threw a cue ball at a bartender’s head. She also threatened to kill Lewis several times.
One day, Aileen grabbed Lewis’s cane and hit him with it. Lewis managed to get away from her and filed for a restraining order against her. He also annulled their marriage on July 21, 1976, after only nine weeks of being together.
How Did Lewis Gratz Fell Die?
Lewis Gratz Fell lived for another 24 years after his divorce from Aileen Wuornos. He never spoke of his time with her again, and tried to forget the whole ordeal. He remained active in his business and social circles until his health declined.
He suffered a stroke several months before his death, but he was reportedly recovering well. However, he suddenly took a turn for the worse and died on January 6, 2000, at the age of 92. The cause of his death was due to complications from the stroke.
What Happened to Aileen Wuornos?
Aileen Wuornos went on to become one of the most infamous serial killers in American history. She killed seven men between 1989 and 1990, mostly truck drivers and hitchhikers whom she picked up along highways in Florida. She claimed that she acted in self-defense after they tried to rape her or harm her.
She was arrested in 1991 after one of her victims’ belongings were found in her possession. She confessed to the murders and received six death sentences. She spent ten years on death row, during which she gave several interviews to the media and changed her story several times.
She was executed by lethal injection on October 9, 2002, at the age of 46. Her last words were “I’d just like to say I’m sailing with the rock, and I’ll be back like Independence Day with Jesus June 6th. Like the movie big mothership and all, I’ll be back.”
Conclusion
Lewis Gratz Fell cause of death was a tragic end to a life that had been marked by success and wealth. He had the misfortune of marrying Aileen Wuornos, a woman who would later become a notorious serial killer. Their marriage was short-lived and violent, and Lewis escaped from her before she could harm him further. He died in 2000 from complications of a stroke, while Aileen was executed in 2002 for her crimes.
