Lizzie Borden True Story & Why She Was Acquitted Of Murdering Her Parents

Netflix’s Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story fictionalizes most of the true story, so here’s everything you need to know about what really happened. Ryan Murphy’s Monster series returns with its first-ever woman accused killer, Lizzie Borden. According to Smithsonian Magazine, Andrew and Abby Borden were murdered in their home with an axe on August 4, 1892, about ninety minutes apart. Abby Borden received 19 blows. Meanwhile, Andrew was struck 10 or 11 times, leaving his face unrecognizable. The murder shocked folks because it happened in broad daylight on a busy street.

Andrew’s daughter, Lizzie, was accused and went to trial, quickly being acquitted. Like past seasons of Monster, the season is more fiction than fact, using salacious rumors to create a false narrative. As someone very familiar with the Lizzie Borden case, I can attest that it was a wreck.

Almost everything up until episode 6 of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is fabricated, woven together by salacious rumors with no factual basis and just complete lies. No evidence shows Lizzie Borden and Bridget Sullivan’s relationship ever turned friendly, let alone romantic. Andrew Borden cutting off the feet of dead bodies was an unsubstantiated rumor. There’s zero proof Lizzie kept doves, which makes Abby killing them impossible. The only mention of birds in the inquest is Andrew Borden bringing dead birds home.

Even episodes 6 through 8 include blatant lies. There’s no proof Emma accused Lizzie of being a murderer or a lesbian. Plus, Lizzie Borden never fought for women’s voting rights. It’s more effective to ask, “What is true?” about Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, not “What is false?” If you want the truth, here’s everything you need to know about the Lizzie Borden murder accusations, the trial, and her acquittal.

Lizzie Borden Was The Prime Suspect In The Axe Murders Of Her Father & Stepmother

Just two days after Andrew and Abby Borden were murdered, the mayor accused Lizzie of the murders, labeling her as a suspect. The warrant was issued just two days later. Before arresting her, the police did an inquest, in which Lizzie famously contradicted her story, which Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story actually got correct. On August 11, the day the inquest ended, Lizzie was arrested for the crime. The reason she became the prime suspect is clear.

The Timeline Of The Lizzie Borden Trial & Acquittal
August 4, 1892	Abby and Andrew Borden are murdered with an axe
August 6, 1892	Abby and Andrew Borden are buried
August 6, 1892	The mayor accuses Lizzie of being involved
August 8, 1892	A warrant is issued for Lizzie Borden
August 9-11, 1892	The inquest occurs
August 11, 1892	Lizzie Borden is arrested for the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden
August 12, 1892	Lizzie Borden is arraigned and pleads “not guilty”
August 25-September 1, 1892	The preliminary hearing occurs
December 2. 1892	Lizzie Borden is indicted by the grand jury
June 5-20, 1893	The Lizzie Borden trial occurs
June 20, 1892	Lizzie Borden is acquitted after just 90 minutes of deliberation
(information from the Lizzie Andrew Borden Virtual Museum & Library)

She is one of the only people with the motive, means, and opportunity—the three cornerstones investigators look for when determining the likelihood that a suspect committed a crime. Lizzie Borden didn’t have a good alibi for the time of the murders. Famous Trials breaks down fourteen of the biggest reasons to believe she’s guilty, covering plenty of suspicious behavior and evidence. This includes her burning the dress she wore the day of the crime, her trying to buy poison just a day before, and the odd statement the night before that she thought an enemy would try to kill her father soon.

Why Lizzie Borden Killed Her Parents – Possible Motives Explained

Andrew Borden and Abby Borden stand together in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story — harlie Hunnam as Andrew Borden and Rebecca Hall as Abby Borden in Netflix’s Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story

She is one of the only people with the motive, means, and opportunity—the three cornerstones investigators look for when determining the likelihood that a suspect committed a crime. Lizzie Borden didn’t have a good alibi for the time of the murders. Famous Trials breaks down fourteen of the biggest reasons to believe she’s guilty, covering plenty of suspicious behavior and evidence. This includes her trying to buy poison just a day before and the odd statement to the neighbor the night before that she thought an enemy would try to kill her father soon.

The book The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the Century (available to purchase here) outlines other evidence. The police found two hatchets, two axes, and a hatchet head in the basement, though they couldn’t prove any of them had been used in the crime. As shown in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Trial, she also burned a dress covered in red. The house also had rags with blood. Unfortunately, forensics was seen as a niche approach used in other countries and didn’t become admissible in court in the US until 1911.

Why Lizzie Borden Was Acquitted Of Murder

Lizzie Borden sits and clasps her hands together in Monster: the Lizzie Borden Story episode 3 — Netflix’s Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story

The explanation for Lizzie Borden’s acquittal comes down to three main factors. The biggest one, which is referenced in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, is latent sexism. Nobody believed that a woman could commit such a brutal act. Multiple quotes came out to confirm this belief. Another big factor is that they didn’t allow many of Lizzie’s statements from the inquest into the trial, so the jurors couldn’t hear how many times she contradicted herself and how damning some of the statements were.

Finally, most of the evidence presented at trial, as outlined in The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the Century, was circumstantial. They had a lot of it, but it was circumstantial. Plus, they couldn’t prove the axe from the basement was the murder weapon, and a murder weapon is generally needed to convict. There wasn’t enough proof that Lizzie committed the act beyond a reasonable doubt.

What Happened To Lizzie Borden & Her Sister After The Murder Trial

Lizzie Borden and Emma Borden sew in episode 2 of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story — Netflix’s Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story

After the murder trial, Lizzie Borden and her sister inherited a fortune, which they used to buy a mansion called Maplecroft in Fall River, Massachusetts. They continued to live their lives without ever marrying. Lizzie changed her name to Lizbeth A. Borden to escape the stigma of her name. While she wasn’t extremely social, she did have a group of close friends.

As for Emma and Lizzie’s relationship, they lived together until something happened that caused a rift in 1905, according to The Herald News. Unlike what’s shown in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, there’s no evidence it had anything to do with Lizzie’s sexuality or guilt about murdering their parents. What’s more, in a 1913 interview, Emma Borden spoke about the murders and still defended her sister. However, she did state that the living conditions at Maplecroft were “absolutely unbearable.” The two never reconciled.

Lizzie Borden never interacted with Bridget Sullivan. She didn’t fight for women’s voting rights. All of that was made up. However, she did meet and befriend Nance O’Neil in 1905, much later than depicted in the Netflix show. She entertained plenty of theater friends during their short-lived friendship.

Other Possible Suspects Connected To The Lizzie Borden Case

John Morse stands by the door looking upset in episode 3 of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story — Netflix’s Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story

If Lizzie Borden didn’t kill her father and stepmother, then who did? Many other suspects were brought up as possibilities, but you’ll notice a trend. Lizzie Borden wasn’t even the first one arrested, and Vanity Fair listed the other suspects suggested by the police or biographers. Most had reliable alibis that prevented them from committing the crime.

Almost immediately after the crime, the police first arrested three Portuguese immigrants, including a farmhand, Antonio Auriel, who had an airtight alibi. However, there was immense xenophobia towards the immigrant community. Another Portuguese suspect was Jose Correa de Mello, a man arrested for killing the young woman Bertha Manchester, who was misrepresented in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Murders. However, he wasn’t in the country on the day of the crime.

Police also looked at people much closer to the family. The maid, Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan, was seen as a possible killer because she was home at the time of the murders. However, there wasn’t any evidence that she could’ve been involved. Emma Borden was a possibility because she had even more reason to resent Andrew and Abby. Unlike Lizzie, she actually knew her mother was parentified after her death. However, Emma Borden was in a town 15 miles away on the day of the marriage.

Another suspect was John V. Morse, the brother of Andrew’s late wife. He was known as a grifter, and he had breakfast with Andrew and Abby the morning of the crimes. He may have had a suspiciously detailed alibi, but it was supported by the folks he was visiting and a horse-and-carriage conductor (via the Lizzie Borden Encyclopedia).

Two other possibilities were posited but are basically just myths at this point. In 1991, Lizzie Borden: The Legend, the Truth, and the Final Chapter by Arnold R. Brown suggested a son born out of wedlock, William Borden, committed the crimes, but there’s no proof of his existence, let alone him murdering them. Finally, Lizzie’s defense, no joke, suggested Jack the Ripper killed them. Ultimately, it seems incredibly likely that Lizzie Borden committed the crime, even if it didn’t happen in the way depicted in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.