Lizzie Borden was tried in 1893 for the 1892 axe murders of her father, Andrew Borden, and stepmother, Abby Borden, in Fall River, Massachusetts. She was acquitted by an all-male jury after a brief deliberation, and the murders were never officially solved.
Now, more than 130 years later, the case is back in the global spotlight with Netflix’s Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story. The series is a dramatized retelling of the events that continue to polarize true crime enthusiasts and historians alike.
The Borden case is a perfect storm for public fascination: a gruesome double-murder, a respectable female suspect, a sensational trial, and a verdict that left more questions than answers.
Who Was Lizzie Borden and What Is the Real Story?
Who
Lizzie Andrew Borden (1860-1927), an American woman acquitted of the 1892 axe murders of her father and stepmother.
What
Tried and acquitted for the violent August 4, 1892, murders in Fall River, MA. The case remains unsolved and a cultural touchstone.
Why
The case is a blend of shocking violence, class tension, a quick acquittal, and an enduring rhyme.
Where
Fall River, Massachusetts, USA. The Borden House (92 Second Street) is now a bed & breakfast and museum.
Key Insights
- The rhyme is not historically accurate; she died of natural causes, not murder.
- Media adaptations, like the 2024 Netflix series, continue to shape public perception, often diverging from historical records.
- The case remains an officially unsolved true crime mystery due to her acquittal, despite the trial’s outcome.
- The Borden House serves as a unique piece of true-crime tourism, merging historical preservation with morbid curiosity.
- The famous rhyme is a later piece of folklore that helped cement Lizzie Borden’s notoriety in American popular culture.
- The prosecution lacked the murder weapon, and a suspicious pharmacy visit was ruled inadmissible, leaving the case circumstantial.
- The jury’s acquittal reflected both evidentiary weakness and the social assumptions of the time.
Lizzie Borden: Fast Facts
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | July 19, 1860 |
| Died | June 1, 1927 (age 66) |
| Accused Of | Murdering her father and stepmother with an axe on August 4, 1892 |
| Verdict | Acquitted on June 20, 1893 |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes (pneumonia) |
| Case Status | Officially unsolved, no one else charged |
What Happened During Lizzie Borden’s Trial and Was She Guilty?
Lizzie Borden was arrested on August 11, 1892, about a week after the killings. Her trial ran from June 5 to June 20, 1893 in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The jury returned not guilty after roughly 40 minutes to 90 minutes of deliberation, depending on the account.
The case became famous partly because of the contrast between the brutality of the killings and the image of Lizzie as a respectable, upper-class woman. Prosecutors and the public considered her a sensational suspect, while the defense emphasized weak circumstantial evidence.
The Evidence Problem
BBC’s coverage says the prosecution lacked the murder weapon, and a suspicious pharmacy visit was ruled inadmissible, leaving the case circumstantial. Biography and other sources also say the jury’s acquittal reflected both evidentiary weakness and the social assumptions of the time.
The prosecution’s case was built on opportunity and motive, but without the weapon or forensic links, the evidence remained entirely circumstantial. The defense exploited the uncertainty of the timeline, suggesting that the murders could not have been committed by Lizzie given the estimated times of death.
The Rhyme and Cultural Folklore
The famous rhyme is part of the cultural history surrounding the case:
“Lizzie Borden took an axe,
And gave her mother forty whacks,
When she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one.”
That rhyme is not a factual account of the trial; it is a later piece of folklore that helped cement Lizzie Borden’s notoriety in American popular culture. The rhyme is invoked as a well-known popular afterlife of the murders rather than evidence from the case itself.
How Did Lizzie Borden Die?
Lizzie Borden died on June 1, 1927, at the age of 66. The cause of death was pneumonia, classified as natural causes. She had been living a quiet, reclusive life in Fall River with her sister, largely shunned by society after the trial.
Contrary to the popular rhyme, she did not die from an axe blow or at the hands of an attacker. The illness was a natural end to a life that had been defined by a trial that never truly concluded in the public eye.
Despite being acquitted, Lizzie lived under a cloud of suspicion. She left her entire estate to the Animal Rescue League, a final act that some saw as a statement of innocence and others as a rebuke of those who had doubted her.
What Is the Origin and Meaning of the Lizzie Borden Rhyme?
The rhyme is a primary cultural artifact that has cemented the case in American memory. It is factually inaccurate, yet it remains the most recognizable representation of the case, often overriding the historical record in popular consciousness.
The poem likely originated after the trial, evolving as part of the folklore that grew up around the sensational case. It is a classic example of how true crime narratives can be shaped as much by cultural storytelling as by actual events.
What Is the ‘Monster: Lizzie Borden Story’ on Netflix, and Where Can I Watch It?
Netflix’s Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is marketed as a revisiting of the Borden murders and the trial. Some outlets frame it as a dramatization that may blend fact and fiction. The series is described as “gory” and focuses on the “shock,” with a narrative that explores a possible Oedipal complex as a motive—a concept that is not a historical fact.
The series enriches the narrative with the social and political context of the time. It is part of a long tradition of media adaptations, each putting its own spin on the case, from the 1975 film to numerous documentaries.
The series is a dramatization. While it is set against the backdrop of the real events, it takes creative liberties with character interiority and post-mortem speculation to fill in the gaps. It is important to distinguish between a dramatic narrative and a historical one, although both are valid cultural products.
Visit the Lizzie Borden House
The house where the murders occurred is located at 92 Second Street in Fall River, Massachusetts. It is now a historical house museum and bed & breakfast. Visitors can stay in the very rooms where the crime took place, combining historical preservation with morbid curiosity. For booking and tour information, visit the official site: The Lizzie Borden House.
Timeline of the Case
- July 19, 1860 – Lizzie Andrew Borden is born in Fall River, Massachusetts.
- August 4, 1892 – Andrew Borden (father) and Abby Borden (stepmother) are found murdered with an axe. Lizzie is a suspect.
- September 5, 1892 – Lizzie Borden is formally charged with the murders.
- June 5-20, 1893 – The trial of Lizzie Borden is held in New Bedford, MA. She is found not guilty.
- 1893-1927 – Lizzie lives a quiet, reclusive life in Fall River with her sister. She is largely shunned by society.
- June 1, 1927 – Lizzie Borden dies of pneumonia.
- 2024 – The Netflix series ‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’ is released, bringing the case back into the global spotlight.
What We Know and What Remains Unclear
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| The date and location of the murders (Aug 4, 1892 at 92 Second St). | Did Lizzie Borden get away with murder? The evidence was circumstantial, and she was acquitted. The question remains a topic of debate. |
| Lizzie Borden was arrested and stood trial for the murders. | Could the father have been killed after the stepmother? The times of death were estimated, but the defense exploited the uncertainty. |
| She was acquitted by the jury. | What was the true motive? Various theories exist (inheritance, resentment, mental illness), but none were proven in court. |
| She died from natural causes in 1927. | Was there an intruder? The door was locked, and windows were closed, but the defense questioned the timeline. |
Historical Significance and Cultural Impact
The Borden case remains historically significant because it combines elements of class, gender, violence, and unresolved mystery. It is a timeless true crime story that has inspired books, films, and a famous house-turned-museum.
The case also highlights the social assumptions of the 19th century. The fact that a woman from a respectable family could be accused of such a crime challenged societal norms, making the trial as much about gender roles as it was about the evidence.
Similarly, the case has had a lasting impact on true crime media. It established a template for sensational trials that capture the public imagination, a theme that continues with the Netflix series. For more on how the case relates to other famous true crime stories, see our coverage of Nicola Bulley – Full Timeline, Inquest Verdict and Impact.
Sources and Quotes
Britannica describes Lizzie Borden as “an American woman suspected of murdering her stepmother and father in 1892; her trial became a national sensation in the United States.” This encyclopedic definition captures the core of the historical record.
“Trapped in a cruel Victorian-era household, Lizzie Borden kills her parents in a gory ax murder that shocks the nation.” – Netflix
The Netflix description highlights the modern fictionalized framing from the streaming platform, emphasizing the ‘gory’ tone that has become synonymous with the case.
For those who wish to dive deeper into the legal proceedings, the The Trial of Lizzie Borden – Famous Trials website offers original trial transcripts and legal context. This resource is invaluable for distinguishing fact from fiction in the case. For related reading on other cultural figures and unsolved cases, see our analysis of Brittany Murphy – Cause of Death, Movies, and Conspiracy Theories.
Summary
Lizzie Borden remains a figure of endless fascination because the case against her was never proven, and the case has never been officially closed. The 2024 Netflix series brings this 132-year-old mystery back to the forefront, reminding us that some stories never truly end. For those interested in the deeper impact of such cases, the Lizzie Borden | Britannica entry provides a wealth of historical context.
FAQ
Was Lizzie Borden guilty or innocent?
Lizzie Borden was acquitted in a court of law but remains guilty in the court of public opinion. Since she was found not guilty, the case was never reopened.
Did Lizzie Borden get away with murder?
Yes, legally she ‘got away with murder’ as she was found not guilty. However, due to the ‘double jeopardy’ law, she could never be tried again for the same crimes, even if new evidence emerged.
How old was Lizzie Borden when she died?
Lizzie Borden was 66 years old when she died on June 1, 1927.
Is the Lizzie Borden case a mystery that has ever been solved?
No, the case remains officially unsolved. Because Lizzie Borden was acquitted, the investigation was closed. The case is considered a cold case and a famous mystery.
Where is the Lizzie Borden House?
The house is located at 92 Second Street in Fall River, Massachusetts. It is now a historical house museum and bed and breakfast.
How did Lizzie Borden die?
Lizzie Borden died of pneumonia on June 1, 1927. She was 66 years old. Despite popular belief, she was not murdered; she died of natural causes.
What is the real story behind the Lizzie Borden rhyme?
The rhyme is a later piece of folklore, not a factual account. It was written after the trial and has no basis in the actual evidence, which remains circumstantial to this day.
Who is in the cast of ‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’?
The cast includes Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden, alongside other actors portraying the Borden family and key figures from the case. The series is a dramatization and should be viewed as such.
What was the motive for the Lizzie Borden murders?
The motive was never proven in court. Various theories exist, including inheritance, resentment, and mental illness, but none were established with certainty during the trial.
Is ‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’ a documentary or a drama?
It is a drama series. The show is a dramatized retelling that blends fact and fiction. While it is set against historical events, it takes creative liberties for narrative effect.
Oliver Bennett is Managing Editor at ShowbizUK.co.uk, responsible for daily editorial planning, the publishing schedule, newsroom workflow, article commissioning and final editorial preparation.