How the Ghost of Lizzie Borden Loomed Over a 1980 Texas Courtroom

Netflix recently released a new series about a historical axe murder involving Lizzie Borden, but did you know Texas was also the scene of an axe murder that has made its way to the screen multiple times? Like the famous rhyme about Lizzie Borden, the Texas murder also involved 41 strikes from an axe.

The 1980 Wylie, Texas Axe Murder

In June 1980, the suburban community of Wylie, Texas became the focal point of a shocking homicide investigation. Candace "Candy" Montgomery, a 30-year-old mother and active church member, was accused of killing her close friend, middle school teacher Betty Gore. The victim suffered 41 strikes from a wood-splitting axe inside her home. The case quickly drew national scrutiny due to the brutal nature of the crime.

Community Ties

The Montgomery and Gore families were active members of the Methodist Church of Lucas after the Montgomery family relocated to Collin County in the late 1970s. Candy, married to electrical engineer Pat Montgomery, formed a close friendship with Betty Gore. The problems began after Montgomery entered into an extramarital affair with Betty's husband, Allan Gore.

The Crime Scene

On June 13, 1980, while Allan was away on a business trip, he grew concerned after failing to reach his wife by telephone. He contacted neighbors to check on the residence. Neighbors discovered Betty's body alongside her uninjured infant daughter, who had been left unattended in her crib for 13 hours.

Self-Defense Strategy

The trial took place over eight days at the historic Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas, with District Judge Tom Ryan presiding. Defense attorneys Don Crowder and Robert Udashen represented Montgomery, mounting a defense centered entirely on self-defense. Montgomery admitted to the brutal murder, but claimed Gore attacked her with the axe. Montgomery testified that she was forced to disarm Gore and use the weapon to protect her own life.

The Prosecution's Case

The prosecution, led by District Attorney Tom O'Connell, countered that the 41 axe strikes demonstrated disproportionate force and argued that Montgomery had opportunities to retreat safely from the residence. Following three hours of deliberation on October 30, 1980, the 12-person jury delivered a verdict of not guilty.

Cultural Legacy

The case subsequently inspired numerous media adaptations.

1984 Book: Evidence of Love: A True Story of Passion and Death in the Suburbs, authored by journalists John Bloom and Jim Atkinson.

1990 Television Movie: A Killing in a Small Town, starring Barbara Hershey, who won an Emmy and Golden Globe for her performance.

2022 Limited Series: Candy, starring Jessica Biel in the title role.

2023 Miniseries: Love & Death, featuring Elizabeth Olsen as Montgomery.

Lizzie Borden

On August 4, 1892, wealthy businessman Andrew Borden and his second wife, Abby, were brutally bludgeoned to death with an axe-like weapon inside their home in Fall River, Massachusetts. Suspicion quickly centered on Andrew's 32-year-old unmarried daughter, Lizzie, who was present in the house during the murders and provided inconsistent statements to investigators regarding her whereabouts.

Possible Motive

Internal family friction over real estate, financial allocations, and stepmother-daughter resentment fueled prosecutors' claims that Lizzie possessed clear motivation to eliminate her parents. Following a high-profile legal proceeding in June 1893, a jury rendered a non-guilty verdict due to circumstantial evidence, missing murder weapons, and an absence of blood-stained clothing. Unlike the fictitious children's rhyme, Lizzie's stepmother was struck 19 times, while her father was struck 11.

The Aftermath of the Trial

Lizzie faced social isolation within her home community for the remainder of her life. She inherited a significant portion of her father's multi-hundred-thousand-dollar estate alongside her sister, Emma, allowing them to purchase an expensive home in the affluent Highlands district. Lizzie resided in Fall River until her passing from pneumonia in June 1927.