Image: Netflix
Netflix Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story It tells the story of her life, relationships, crimes and the subsequent “trial of the century” in which she was accused of murdering her parents in a brutal ax attack – but was later acquitted. How true is the story to real life? In this article, we cover the true story behind the Lizzie Borden case.
in The latest part from Ryan Murphy A monster Excerpts On Netflix, it follows the life of Lizzie Borden, who was accused of brutally murdering her father and stepmother with an ax in 1892. Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story It is the fourth novel in A monster Selections following coverage of previous seasons Jeffrey Dahmer, Lyle and Eric Menendezand Ed Gein. Like the others, this one takes creative liberties with chronicling the life of Lizzie Borden. It condenses the timeline, adds stories that never happened—or were only theorized in reality—and jumps to later serial killer stories, including Aileen Wuornos, another example of female fatal rage throughout history.
If you are finished Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story And you’re curious to know which elements of the series are true, exaggerated, or changed from the real-life situation, then you’ve come to the right place. Below we deduce fact from fiction.
Who was the real Lizzie Borden?
Lizzie Borden c. 1890 (age 29-30)
Lizzie Borden was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1860. In March 1863, when she was only two years old, she lost her biological mother, Sarah Anthony Borden. Three years later, her father, Andrew Borden, remarried, marrying Abby Durfee Gray in 1866. From then on, Lizzie had a very oppressive childhood: Abby Borden was uninterested in her. Her father was a wealthy businessman. Real estate developer, bank president, and textile mills manager. As the Netflix series focuses, he also had a job building boxes. He was known to be frugal and miserly despite his vast wealth, and was distant, often cold and nasty towards Lizzie, but still afforded her the luxury of living within his household. There is no concrete evidence that her parents were abusive.
Lizzie also had a sister, Emma Lenora Borden, nine years her senior. Emma also had a complicated relationship with her stepmother and experienced similarly strained relationships. She was out of town at the time of the murder, and therefore was not considered a suspect.
During the period surrounding the murders, the Borden family employed numerous servants. When the murders occurred, the maid on duty was 25-year-old Irish immigrant Bridget Sullivan, whom the sisters referred to as Maggie. She had been living with them for nearly three years. In the show, Abby calls her “Maggie” so she doesn’t have to learn a new name from the previous maid, but there is no evidence to support this. In addition to the name “Maggie” It was a popular title for an Irish maid in the late 19th century. Maggie was a key eyewitness in the case, as she was inside the house at the time of the murder.
After years of oppression from her stepmother and father, on August 4, 1892, when she was 32 years old, Lizzie Borden supposedly divorced. She was accused of brutally beating Andrew and Abby to death with an axe. She was arrested on 11 August 1892, and faced trial in June 1893. There was overwhelming evidence incriminating her, but she was supported by her sister Emma, who used inheritance money to help in her defence. On June 21, 1893, Lizzie Borden was found not guilty after a jury deliberated for 90 minutes.
Lizzie was acquitted, and returned to Fall River, where she and Emma bought a luxurious house called “Maplecroft”, to live a quiet life in isolation. She later changed her name to Lisbeth to distance herself from public scrutiny. The sisters separated in 1905 for unknown reasons, and never saw each other again. They died just days apart in 1927.
Lizzie Borden died on June 1, 1927. Emma Borden died on June 10, 1927.
Key moments in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story: What is fact and fiction?
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story. (L-R) Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden in Episode 401 of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2026
Below, we’ve listed some of the burning questions fans are asking after watching Monster: The Lizzie Borden StoryAnd whether these points are supported by historical fact.
Did Lizzy Borden kill her parents?
First of all, here’s the big question: Did Lizzie really kill her parents? The answer to this question comes down to interpretation, of course. Despite her historical acquittal, the series portrays her as guilty. In addition, the evidence against her is strongly incriminating; Her recollection of the event was very incoherent. Additionally, she burned a dress shortly after the murder, claiming it was old and torn.
There were other suspects involved in the case. Bridget Sullivan was a suspect as the only other person confirmed to have been on the property during the murders. Sister Emma Borden was quickly exonerated after being about 15 miles from the scene. The other main suspect is John V. Morse, Lizzie’s uncle, who visited the house the day before the murder. He was cleared of any wrongdoing thanks to a very strong alibi.
What is Aileen Wuornos’ relationship with Lizzie Borden?
American serial killer, Aileen Wuornos, killed seven men in Florida between 1989 and 1990. She was a street prostitute and would approach clients, rob them and kill them. Wuornos was sentenced to death in 2002 and killed by lethal injection.
in A monsterRyan Murphy portrays Wuornos as an example of someone who was focused on by Lizzie Borden; She visits her house and seems inspired by her actions. Like Borden, Wuornos lived in an oppressive environment. the A monster The series uses her story to explain how psychological conditions can have deadly consequences. There is no direct link between Lizzy Borden and Aileen Wuornos.
naturally, A monster He’s explored similar paths before. For example, Season 3 shows how Ed Gein’s works inspired Hollywood filmmakers to write films like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and mental patient.
Did Lizzie have an affair with the maid?
While the idea that Lizzie Borden had a romantic relationship with housemaid Bridget Sullivan has been theorized, there is no historical evidence to confirm that this was the case. The show’s depiction of the relationship is largely a fantasy fueled by dramatic licence. The theory gained particular traction after Evan Hunter’s 1984 speculative novel LizzieWhich depicted the two in a secret relationship.
Contrary to what we see on the show, there is also no historical evidence that Maggie was an accomplice in Andrew and Abby’s murder.
Did Lizzie’s mother kill her pigeons?
One of the major turning points in the series comes when Lizzie’s mother kills several of her pigeons inside the birdhouse, driven mad by their constant noise. The show inverts this real event. In fact, it was her father who killed the birds, considering them carriers of the disease.
Did Emma Borden support Lizzie in the trial?
When she first learned of the ax murders, Emma Borden blamed her sister. However, when the trial took place, she spoke passionately in support of Lizzie’s innocence. In fact, she turned to the family inheritance to help fund her sister’s defense.
Did Lizzy Borden have 200 pets?
After her acquittal, the series portrays Lizzie Borden as having many pets – stating at the dinner table that she has over 200. However, there is no historical evidence that she had that many pets, although she was known for supporting animal welfare, and left $30,000 to the Fall River Animal Rescue League in her will, according to her will. We are history.
Would Lizzy Borden ever hear the song about her?
One of the recurring tunes throughout the series is inspired by a famous rhyme about Lizzie Borden. The song’s lyrics are as follows: “Lizzy Borden took an axe, gave her mother forty whacks, and when she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one.”
In the final episodes of the season, Lizzy Borden hears kids singing the rhyme about her, but would she ever hear it in her lifetime? The answer is yes, she certainly heard that. The rhyme became synonymous with her trial in 1893. She likely heard it countless times before her death in 1927.
Did Lizzy Borden change her name?
Yes, after her acquittal in 1893, she changed her name to Lisbeth, likely in an attempt to distance herself from notoriety.
Sources/further reading
We have cited below all the articles and reports we used to collect this information.
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story It’s now streaming on Netflix.