From Cosmopolitan · Megan Wallace · · 3m
Lizzie Borden: Netflix's fiction vs. real history
Netflix's Monster dramatizes the 1892 murders, but the real case remains unsolved and far more ambiguous than the show suggests.
In brief
Netflix's Monster dramatizes the 1892 murders, but the real case remains unsolved and far more ambiguous than the show suggests. Lizzie Borden was acquitted of murdering her parents in 1892, and while she remains a suspect, there's no proof she did it. Netflix's version adds fictional elements like an affair with her…
The 1892 Borden murders
In Fall River, Massachusetts, wealthy businessman Andrew Borden, 70, and his second wife Abby, 64, were killed in their home. Abby was struck 18 times with a hatchet; Andrew was killed 90 minutes later while napping.
Lizzie was the main suspect
Andrew's 32-year-old daughter Lizzie lived in the home and was one of only two people present besides the victims. The other was maid Bridget Sullivan. All doors were locked, making escape impossible.
Evidence pointed to Lizzie
A pharmacy clerk claimed Lizzie bought poison the day before. During questioning, she gave inconsistent statements. A family physician reported that Andrew, Abby, and Bridget had stomach issues beforehand, with Abby suspecting poisoning.
But she was acquitted
A jury deliberated for just one hour before acquitting Lizzie. The crime remains unsolved. Many at the time struggled to believe a woman could commit such violence, which likely influenced the verdict.
The dress burning incident
Lizzie's friend Alice Russell testified that she saw Lizzie burn a dress in broad daylight in front of two witnesses. The dress allegedly matched what Lizzie wore on the day of the murders.
It was a hatchet, not an axe
The murder weapon was technically a hatchet, a smaller one-handed tool, not a full axe. This detail matters for understanding the crime, though it doesn't change the basic facts.
The maid affair is fiction
Netflix depicts Lizzie and maid Bridget Sullivan as lovers. This follows a 1984 novel and 2018 film, but there's no historical evidence for it. Lizzie even called Bridget by the wrong name, suggesting they weren't close.
Sister Emma was real but different
Lizzie's sister Emma, played by Billie Lourd in the show, was a real 42-year-old unmarried woman who lived at home. She supported Lizzie at trial but notably never claimed her sister was innocent.
Abuse storyline is invented
Netflix suggests Lizzie's violence stemmed from childhood abuse. There's no evidence for this. The only clear motive was inheritance: Lizzie and Emma would gain money from their parents' deaths.
No connection to other killers
The show links Lizzie to serial killers Aileen Wuornos and Countess Elizabeth Bathory. There's no historical connection between these women beyond speculation about violent instincts.
In short
Lizzie Borden was acquitted of murdering her parents in 1892, and while she remains a suspect, there's no proof she did it. Netflix's version adds fictional elements like an affair with her maid and childhood abuse that have no historical basis.
