The Lizzie Borden Story: Facts, Trial, and Unanswered Questions

Few murder cases still grip the American imagination the way the Lizzie Borden story does, more than 130 years after the hatchet fell. A wealthy father, a despised stepmother, and a daughter who walked free despite overwhelming suspicion—the Borden murder case of 1892 remains a legal and cultural puzzle. This guide walks through the real events, the trial that shocked the nation, and the unanswered questions that keep the case alive today.

Born: July 19, 1860, Fall River, Massachusetts ·
Died: June 1, 1927, Fall River, Massachusetts ·
Trial Verdict: Acquitted (June 20, 1893) ·
Victims: Father Andrew Borden and stepmother Abby Borden ·
Weapon Used: Hatchet or axe ·
Case Status: Unsolved

The table below summarizes key biographical and case details.

What is the real story behind Lizzie Borden?

The Borden murders: facts from the case

The morning of August 4, 1892 began like any other in the Borden household at 92 Second Street in Fall River, Massachusetts. By noon, both Andrew Borden, a 70-year-old wealthy banker and businessman, and his second wife Abby Durfee Borden, 64, lay dead from multiple hatchet blows. Lizzie Borden, Andrew’s 32-year-old unmarried daughter, discovered her father’s body on the couch in the sitting room around 11:10 a.m. and alerted the family’s maid, Bridget Sullivan (Wikipedia).

Abby Borden’s body was found upstairs about 90 minutes later, although medical evidence suggested she had been killed first. Autopsy reports compiled by the medical examiner revealed that Abby had suffered 19 separate hatchet blows to the head, while Andrew had received 10 blows (Britannica (American murder suspect biography)).

Who were the victims?

Andrew J. Borden had built his fortune through furniture manufacturing, real estate, and banking, becoming one of the wealthiest men in Fall River. Despite his wealth, he lived frugally and his frugal habits stirred resentment among his family members, including his daughters from his first marriage, Lizzie and her older sister Emma (National Geographic (premium history feature)). Abby Borden, Andrew’s second wife, had a strained relationship with Lizzie and Emma — the sisters reportedly referred to her as “Mrs. Borden” rather than “mother.”

Why did suspicion fall on Lizzie?

Several factors made Lizzie the prime suspect from the start. She was the only family member home at the time of the murders besides Bridget Sullivan. No signs of forced entry were found. Lizzie’s behavior after discovering her father’s body struck neighbors and police as unusual — she seemed composed rather than hysterical. Additionally, she had attempted to buy prussic acid (a poison) the day before the murders, according to a local pharmacist’s testimony (Encyclopedia.com (law journal archive)).

How was Lizzie Borden found innocent?

Legal strategies and the trial

The trial of Lizzie Borden opened on June 5, 1893 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, lasting just 13 days. Presiding judges Caleb Blodget, Justin Dewey, and Albert Mason oversaw proceedings in which the prosecution — led by District Attorney Hosea Knowlton and future U.S. Supreme Court Justice William H. Moody — presented its case (Encyclopedia.com (law journal archive)). The defense team, headed by former Massachusetts Governor George D. Robinson and Andrew Jennings, employed a two-pronged strategy: attack the credibility of the prosecution’s evidence and present Lizzie as a respectable, churchgoing woman incapable of such violence.

Key points the defense raised:

• The murder weapon — a hatchet head without a handle — was found in the basement but never conclusively linked to Lizzie (Britannica (Today in History))
• No bloodstained clothing belonging to Lizzie was produced in court
• Lizzie’s testimony included the claim that she was in the barn loft for about 20 minutes before finding her father’s body

Role of jury and social class

The all-male jury faced a choice between a conviction based on powerful circumstantial evidence and an acquittal based on the lack of direct proof. After receiving instructions from the judge that they must acquit if reasonable doubt existed, the jury deliberated. Contemporary newspaper accounts reported the jury reached a verdict in about 40 minutes on a single ballot, though later accounts suggest about an hour and a half (Wikipedia).

Lack of direct evidence

The prosecution attempted to argue that Lizzie had a motive — resentment over perceived inheritance issues and dislike of her stepmother — but the defense successfully painted Lizzie as a gentle, devout woman. Judge Josiah C. Blaisdell, during the preliminary hearing, remarked on the strength of circumstantial evidence, but the trial jury was instructed to apply the highest standard of proof (National Geographic (premium history feature)).

How many times did Lizzie hit her mother?

The injuries to Abby Borden

The question stems from the famous nursery rhyme, but the medical record is precise. Abby Borden suffered 19 hatchet blows, many delivered after she had already fallen to the floor. Andrew Borden received 10 blows, including one that nearly severed his head. The numbers are documented in the official autopsy reports introduced at trial (Encyclopedia.com (law journal archive)).

Discrepancies in witness accounts

The discrepancy between the actual number of blows and the rhyme’s claim of “41 whacks” illustrates how the case passed into folklore. The rhyme — “Lizzie Borden took an axe, gave her mother forty whacks; when she saw what she had done, gave her father forty-one” — took hold in popular culture despite being factually inaccurate. The real numbers are 19 and 10, both far lower than the doggerel suggests.

“The jury in Massachusetts declared Lizzie Borden not guilty of murder after just over an hour of deliberation.”
— Britannica (Today in History)

The catch: The rhyme reflects the public’s fascination with the case’s brutality, not the actual forensic evidence. The discrepancy itself became part of the cultural mythology, showing how a memorable but inaccurate story often outlives the truth.

What did Lizzie Borden suffer from?

Physical ailments reported by Lizzie

During her trial and in subsequent years, Lizzie complained of headaches, nervous exhaustion, and a range of vague physical symptoms. She consulted doctors regularly and sometimes spent extended periods in bed. No formal diagnosis of a mental illness from a licensed physician from that era has survived in the historical record (Britannica (American murder suspect biography)).

Mental health speculation

Some historians and medical writers have suggested Lizzie may have suffered from epilepsy, a condition poorly understood in the late 19th century. Others have proposed that she exhibited signs of a personality disorder, though these remain speculative diagnoses applied retroactively. The historical documentation simply does not support a definitive clinical assessment.

The trade-off: Without medical records, the question of what Lizzie Borden suffered from is likely to remain speculation. Her behavior after the trial — reclusive, financially comfortable but socially isolated — may have been driven as much by public ostracism as by any underlying condition.

Who was Lizzie Borden in love with?

Romantic life of Lizzie Borden

Lizzie Borden never married, a point that drew comment from her contemporaries. She lived with her older sister Emma for most of her life until a falling out in 1905 led Emma to move out. Throughout her post-trial years, Lizzie maintained close friendships with women, including several who were rumored to be romantic partners.

Relationship with Nance O’Neil

The most famous rumored relationship is with actress Nance O’Neil, whom Lizzie met around 1904. They spent considerable time together, and Lizzie reportedly threw extravagant parties in O’Neil’s honor. However, no documented evidence of a romantic or sexual relationship has been found in letters, diaries, or court records (Britannica (American murder suspect biography)).

The implication: In the absence of personal correspondence, the nature of Lizzie’s intimate relationships remains one of the case’s enduring unknowns. The rumors may reflect more about 19th-century societal norms regarding unmarried women than about Lizzie’s actual preferences.

How is Marilyn Monroe related to Lizzie Borden?

Genealogical link between the two women

Numerous tabloid articles and internet forums have claimed that Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson) was a descendant of Lizzie Borden, but no verifiable genealogical connection exists. Lizzie Borden had no children, and her sister Emma also never married or had children. The Borden family line from Andrew Borden ended with his two daughters (Wikipedia).

Debunking the rumor

The claim appears to be an urban legend possibly originating from the fact that both women are famous American historical figures whose lives have been heavily mythologized. Monroe was born in Los Angeles in 1926, while Lizzie died in Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1927. No documentation from any genealogical database or historical society supports the connection.

What this means: The Marilyn Monroe-Lizzie Borden link is a genealogical falsehood. Anyone searching for a familial tie will find only tabloid speculation and no evidence. Both figures stand alone in their respective historical contexts.

How did Lizzie Borden die?

Post-trial life

After the trial, Lizzie and Emma purchased a large Victorian home at 7 French Street in Fall River’s wealthier neighborhood, which they called “Maplecroft.” Lizzie lived there until her death, maintaining a quiet, reclusive existence. She gave generously to charities, including the Fall River Animal Rescue League, but remained socially isolated from the town’s elite, who never accepted her acquittal (Britannica (American murder suspect biography)).

Cause of death

Lizzie Borden died on June 1, 1927, at the age of 66. The cause of death listed on her death certificate was pneumonia following a brief illness. She was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Fall River, in the family plot alongside her father and stepmother — the very people she had been accused of murdering (Library of Congress (Chronicling America guide)).

For readers interested in other controversial historical figures, the Rudolf Hess: Latest Verified Information and Unanswered Questions article provides a similar deep dive into a case where legal proceedings left more questions than answers.

Timeline: Key dates in the Lizzie Borden case

• July 19, 1860: Lizzie Andrew Borden born in Fall River, Massachusetts.
• August 4, 1892: Andrew and Abby Borden murdered with a hatchet at 92 Second Street, Fall River.
• August 11, 1892: Lizzie Borden arrested and charged with the murders (Library of Congress (Chronicling America guide)).
• June 5, 1893: Trial begins in New Bedford, Massachusetts (Encyclopedia.com (law journal archive)).
• June 20, 1893: Jury acquits Lizzie Borden after one hour of deliberation (Britannica (Today in History)).
• June 1, 1927: Lizzie Borden dies of pneumonia in Fall River (Britannica (American murder suspect biography)).

Quotes from the trial and commentary

“The jury in Massachusetts declared Lizzie Borden not guilty of murder after just over an hour of deliberation.”
— Britannica (Today in History)

“The acquittal did not end public suspicion of Lizzie Borden.”
— Library of Congress (Chronicling America guide)

“Public opinion in the community quickly turned against Lizzie Borden even after the acquittal.”
— National Geographic (premium history feature)

The trial of Lizzie Borden remains one of the most notorious murder trials in American history, as described by Britannica. More than a century later, the case continues to fascinate because it refuses to deliver a satisfying resolution. The legal machinery worked as intended, but the verdict left a gap between what the law could prove and what the public believed.

For those drawn to the darker corners of history and the true-crime genre, the Robert Maxwell: Death, Fraud, and the Downfall of a Media Mogul article offers a similar blend of verified facts, unanswered questions, and enduring controversy.

For readers of historical crime, the choice is clear: either accept the legal verdict and confront the possibility that Lizzie Borden may have been innocent, or reject the acquittal and accept that an unsolved murder may never have its answer.

For those seeking a deeper dive into the evidence and courtroom drama, the real story of the axe murders offers a comprehensive account.

Frequently asked questions