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'Monster' True Story, Lizzie Borden Was Acquitted In The 1892 Murders, What Did The Evidence Show?
The upcoming entry of the 'Monster' anthology series will focus on Lizzie Borden, who was arrested after her parents were found dead.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleNetflix’s Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is the fourth chapter of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s crime anthology series. Arriving September 17, 2026, it re-examines one of America’s most notorious unsolved cases: the 1892 axe murders of Andrew and Abby Borden in Fall River.
Ella Beatty stars as 'Lizzie,' the 32-year-old Sunday school teacher tried and acquitted. For the first time, Monster centers on a woman, framing Lizzie’s story as one of repression, power, and revenge inside a cruel household. The trailer for the upcoming show is out now, and netizens have been eager to know more about who Lizzie Borden was and the case she was linked to.
Lizzie Borden lost her mother at a very young age
Lizzie Borden was born on July 19, 1860, in Fall River, Massachusetts. Her mother, Sarah, died when Lizzie was very young. Two years later, her father, Andrew Jackson Borden, married Abby Durfee Gray, who helped raise Lizzie and her older sister Emma. By 1892, Lizzie was 32, and Emma was 42. Both sisters were unmarried and lived with their father and stepmother in a house at 92 Second Street.
Andrew Borden was a wealthy businessman who was the owner of a property. Andrew was also the president of a bank and served on several boards. He was known in town for being well-off but also very careful with money. Lizzie was active in her community. She taught Sunday school, took part in women’s church groups, and served on the board of Fall River Hospital.
On the morning of August 4, 1892, Abby Borden was found dead in an upstairs guest room. She had been struck multiple times. Later that same morning, Andrew Borden was found dead on a couch downstairs. He had also been struck multiple times. The weapon was believed to be a hatchet or axe. A broken hatchet was later found in the basement of the house.
Lizzie became the main suspect in Abby and Andrew's murder case. The day after the funerals, a neighbor told police that they saw Lizzie burning a dress on the kitchen stove. Police arrested her and charged her with the murders. The case drew national attention because of the violent nature of the crime and Lizzie’s background as a church-going woman from a respected family.
The trial began in June 1893 in New Bedford. The prosecution’s case relied on circumstantial evidence. There was no direct physical evidence linking Lizzie to the murders, and no clear motive was proven in court. After about one hour of deliberation, the jury found Lizzie Borden not guilty on all charges. No other person was ever charged.
Lizzie Borden was 66 years old at the time of her death
After the trial, Lizzie Borden and Emma Borden moved out of the Second Street house. They bought a large 13-room Victorian home they named Maplecroft. Lizzie changed how she was known socially and sometimes used the name Lizbeth Borden.
In 1904, Lizzie met actress Nance O’Neil. The two became close friends and spent a lot of time together. This friendship sparked gossip in the Fall River society, following which Emma moved out of Maplecroft. Lizzie was living alone for some time. However, Emma returned later.
While Lizzie maintained a distance from the spotlight, she was involved in local charity work. She was described by neighbors as private and kept to herself. She never married and had no children. She lived the rest of her life in Fall River.
Lizzie Borden died on June 1, 1927, at the age of 66 from pneumonia. Her sister Emma died nine days later. They were buried together in Oak Grove Cemetery in Fall River, along with their parents, Andrew, Abby, and Lizzie’s mother Sarah. Because Lizzie was acquitted and no one else was charged for the crime, the murders remain officially unsolved.
What are your thoughts about the upcoming Netflix series focusing on Lizzie Borden’s story? Let us know.
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