Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers - Where is John Tanner now? Details from the true-crime docufilm, explored

Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers is the latest true crime documentary film from Netflix. It premiered on the streaming platform on October 30, 2025. The film is directed by Emily Turner. Here is the official synopsis as per IMDb is:

Aileen Wuornos killed 7 men while working as a prostitute in Florida (1989-90), claiming self-defense against rape.

It focuses on serial killer Aileen Wuornos and her trial that took place in 1992. It features state attorney John Tanner from Florida, who had condemned her actions. Let us explore more about the film and where Tanner might be right now.

Who was John Tanner as featured in Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers?

A still of John Tanner from the documentary | Image via Netflix

John Tanner was a Florida state attorney as featured in Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers. Starting his career as a private defense attorney, Tanner had also served as a prayer minister. During this time, he had met serial killer Ted Bundy in prison. In the year 1988, he was appointed as Florida's state attorney.

Then came 1992, when Aileen Wuornos' trial was going on. Ahead of his re-election, Tanner started demanding the harshest punishment for her actions and her previous profession as an escort. Despite his efforts, Tanner lost the 1992 election.

After that, he started working as a trial lawyer and subsequently became a state attorney in 1996. In 2005, his daughter Lisa was arrested and reportedly received ill-treatment inside the prison. Tanner's investigation led to him being ousted from the office three years later. After that, he practised privately till 2013 and also served on the board of Daytona State College.

In current times, Tanner is said to have turned 85 and lives in Florida with his wife, Marsha. The couple has two daughters. One of them is Lisa Tanner, who has remained in public life. Due to his declining health, Tanner has stopped practising. Besides Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers, Tanner has also appeared in television shows like Very Scary People and Twisted.

Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers focuses on Aileen Wuornos, who worked as a street prostitute in Florida. For one year (1989-1990) she k*lled and robbed seven of her male clients. She was sentenced to death for these crimes and was executed in 2002. Throughout the documentary, Wuornos maintains that she committed those crimes in self-defence as those men tried to force themselves on her.

The documentary features interviews with several people, including Jasmine Hirst, Arlene Pralle, Steve Binegar, Walter Gino Antonio, Dawn Botkins, Steve Glazer and Judy Hardy among others.

Prior to this documentary, her life had been documented in several books. Two documentaries were also made on her life: Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer and Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer. In 2003, Charlize Theron portrayed the serial killer in Patty Jenkins' film Monster. The film was a critical and commercial success.

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