The latest installment of Netflix's Monster series will delve into the story of Lizzie Borden, who was acquitted of the brutal axe murders of her father and stepmother in 1892. The case remains one of history's most enduring murder mysteries.
The Murders and the Trial
On a hot August day in 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were hacked to death in their home in Fall River, Massachusetts. Andrew was found on the sofa, while Abby was discovered upstairs, having been killed 90 minutes earlier with 19 axe blows. Lizzie, Andrew's 32-year-old daughter, claimed she was in the barn eating pears at the time, despite being on the property.
Lizzie became the prime suspect and the only person charged. Historian Cara Robertson, author of The Trial of Lizzie Borden, notes that the murders were so violent they were considered 'male-coded,' making it hard to believe a respectable woman could commit such a crime.
A Dysfunctional Family
Investigators uncovered an unhappy home life. Lizzie and her sister Emma refused to speak to their stepmother, calling her 'Mrs Borden.' The family ate separately and led separate lives. There was also conflict over money, as Andrew was stingy with his daughters despite his wealth.
Evidence included a bucket of bloody rags in the basement and Lizzie's attempt to buy prussic acid, a deadly poison, the day before the murders. She had no alibi.
Privileges in Prison and Trial
While awaiting trial, Lizzie received special treatment, including a well-appointed jail cell, meals from a local restaurant, and a pet cat named Daisy. During the trial, she dressed well and brought fresh flowers daily. The intense media coverage made her a famous figure.
After two weeks, she was acquitted, but public opinion was divided. Working-class people believed she got away with murder, while others sympathized with her.
Life After Acquittal
Lizzie used her inheritance to buy a grand house and lived a life of leisure, which alienated the townspeople. She was ostracized and died at 66 from pneumonia. Her story lives on in a nursery rhyme that implies her guilt, and her home is now an Airbnb where visitors recreate the murder scene.
The Monster series, starring Ella Beatty and Charlie Hunnam, explores this case, adding Lizzie to the ranks of infamous figures like Jeffrey Dahmer and the Menendez brothers.
