Lizzie Borden: The Axe Murder That Still Haunts Fall River
On the morning of August 4, 1892, the quiet town of Fall River, Massachusetts, became the backdrop for one of the most infamous unsolved murders in American history. Andrew and Abby Borden were found brutally hacked to death in their own home, their skulls shattered by multiple blows from a hatchet. Suspicion quickly fell on Andrew’s youngest daughter, Lizzie Borden—a respectable, church-going woman whose name would become synonymous with cold-blooded murder.
The Murders That Shocked a Nation
Andrew Borden, a wealthy but frugal businessman, was found dead on the sitting room sofa, his face unrecognizable from the multiple blows inflicted upon him. Upstairs, his wife, Abby, lay sprawled on the floor of the guest bedroom, having suffered even more savage wounds. Blood spattered the walls and furniture—evidence of a brutal, rage-fueled attack. The murder weapon? A hatchet, discovered days later in the basement with its handle mysteriously missing.
A Suspicious Alibi and Bizarre Behavior
From the beginning, Lizzie’s behavior raised eyebrows. She claimed to have been in the barn while her father was murdered just feet away inside the house. Yet no signs of dust or disturbance were found in the barn, contradicting her statement. When questioned, Lizzie gave inconsistent answers, changing details about her whereabouts and the timeline of events. She also attempted to purchase prussic acid—a highly toxic poison—just days before the murders, allegedly to clean a seal-skin cape.
Adding to the intrigue, Lizzie burned a dress shortly after the crime, claiming it was stained with paint. But was it paint—or blood? Her odd actions only fueled suspicions, and in August 1892, she was arrested for the double murder of her father and stepmother.
The Trial of the Century
Lizzie Borden’s trial in June 1893 captivated the nation. The prosecution presented circumstantial evidence linking her to the crime, but with no eyewitnesses and no clear motive that could stand up in court, the defense was able to dismantle the case. The all-male jury deliberated for just 90 minutes before reaching a verdict—not guilty. Lizzie Borden walked free, but the court of public opinion remained divided.
Life After Acquittal
Despite her acquittal, Lizzie was ostracized by Fall River society. She remained in the town, moving into a grand home she named Maplecroft. Rumors and speculation followed her until her death in 1927, but she never spoke publicly about the murders. To this day, historians and true crime enthusiasts debate whether Lizzie got away with murder—or if the real killer was someone else entirely.
The Legend Lives On
The Borden house, now a museum and bed-and-breakfast, attracts thousands of visitors each year. Guests can even stay in the very rooms where the gruesome murders took place. The rhyme that haunts every true crime fan’s memory remains:
Lizzie Borden took an axe,
And gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one.
Though inaccurate—the actual number of wounds was 18 for Abby and 11 for Andrew—the macabre nursery rhyme immortalized Lizzie Borden in American folklore.
What Do You Think?
Was Lizzie Borden a cunning killer who outwitted the justice system, or was she the victim of a flawed investigation? Share your thoughts below!
#LizzieBorden #TrueCrime #UnsolvedMystery #MurderMystery #CrimeHistory #VictorianEra #ColdCase #HistoricCrimes #DarkHistory #TrueCrimeCommunity
sources used for this podcast:
Find a Grave. (n.d.). Sarah Anthony Borden memorial. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9570219/sarah_anthony-borden
Lizzie Andrew Borden Virtual Museum & Library. (n.d.). Emma Borden found. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://lizzieandrewborden.com/HatchetOnline/emma-borden-found.html
Secret History Tours. (n.d.). The Women’s Christian Temperance Union fought liquor with the Bible and with the ballot box. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://www.facebook.com/secrethistorytours/photos/the-womens-christian-temperance-union-fought-liquor-with-the-bible-and-with-the-/1552728568223728/?_rdr
Project Gutenberg. (n.d.). Chapter V. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/57939/pg57939-images.html#CHAPTER_V
Lizzie Andrew Borden Virtual Museum & Library. (n.d.). Lizzie Borden Virtual Museum & Library. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://lizzieandrewborden.com/
Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Lizzie Borden House. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizzie_Borden_House
History.com Editors. (n.d.). 9 things you may not know about Lizzie Borden. History. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://www.history.com/articles/9-things-you-may-not-know-about-lizzie-borden
Newspapers.com. (n.d.). Lizzie Borden. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://www.newspapers.com/image/603364342/?match=1&terms=Lizzie%20Borden
Newspapers.com. (n.d.). Lizzie Borden. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://www.newspapers.com/image/603364369/?match=1&terms=Lizzie%20Borden
Newspapers.com. (n.d.). Lizzie Borden. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://www.newspapers.com/image/603297504/?match=1&terms=Lizzie%20Borden
Historic Trial Transcripts. (n.d.). Lizzie Borden home floor plan. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://www.historictrialtranscripts.com/lizzie-borden-trial-transcripts/lizzie-borden-home-floor-plan
Lizzie Borden: Warps & Wefts. (2012, April 19). Bridget Sullivan. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://lizziebordenwarpsandwefts.com/2012/04/19/bridget-sullivan/
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. (n.d.). Lizzie Borden news article. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/LizzieBorden/news16.html
Lizzie Andrew Borden Virtual Museum & Library. (n.d.). The Hatchet Online. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://lizzieandrewborden.com/HatchetOnline/
Famous Trials. (n.d.). Lizzie Borden: Chronology. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://famous-trials.com/lizzieborden/1441-chronology
Novel Suspects. (n.d.). The Lizzie Borden House. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://www.novelsuspects.com/excerpts/the-lizzie-borden-house/#:~:text=The%20woman%20who%20owns%20the,historian%20Christopher%20Daley%20about%20Lizzie
The Herald News. (2015, May 15). Three dates we’re dying. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://www.heraldnews.com/story/lifestyle/2015/05/15/three-dates-we-re-dying/33734569007/
Fall River Historical Society. (n.d.). Lizzie Borden collections. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://fallriverhistorical.org/lizzie-borden-collections/
Find a Grave. (n.d.). Lizzie Borden memorial. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/115/lizzie-borden
Find a Grave. (n.d.). Borden family memorial. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/4155/borden
Find a Grave. (n.d.). Andrew Jackson Borden memorial. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/4154/andrew-jackson-borden
Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Lizzie Borden. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizzie_Borden
History.com Editors. (n.d.). 9 things you may not know about Lizzie Borden. History. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://www.history.com/articles/9-things-you-may-not-know-about-lizzie-borden
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. (n.d.). Lizzie Borden trial evidence. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/LizzieBorden/bordenevidence.html
Crime Library. (n.d.). Lizzie Borden case: Chapter 7. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://www.crimelibrary.org/notorious_murders/famous/borden/7.html
YouTube. (n.d.). Lizzie Borden documentary [Video]. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwC01uxI8AQ&t=409s
YouTube. (n.d.). Lizzie Borden trial analysis [Video]. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBbwWr0NWfE&t=513s
Newspapers.com. (n.d.). Lizzie Borden coverage. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from:
Films and TV Shows:
Burrows, J. (Director). (1988, May 4). Backseat Becky, Up Front (Season 6, Episode 25) [TV series episode]. In J. Charles & L. Brody (Producers), Cheers. NBC.
Fey, T., & Poehler, A. (Producers), & Moore, J. (Director). (2015). Sisters [Film]. Universal Pictures.
Bright, K. S., Kauffman, M., & Crane, D. (Producers), & Crane, D. (Writer). (1996, May 2). The One with Two Parties (Season 2, Episode 22) [TV series episode]. In Friends. NBC.
Gough, A., & Millar, M. (Creators), & Fresnadillo, J. (Director). (2022, November 23). Woe What a Night (Season 1, Episode 4) [TV series episode]. In Wednesday. Netflix.
Apatow, J., Bender, S., & Messick, D. (Producers), & McKay, A. (Director). (2004). Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy [Film]. DreamWorks Pictures.
Mandel, C. (Producer), & Moyle, A. (Director). (1995). Empire Records [Film]. Warner Bros.
Disney, W. (Producer), & Geronimi, C., Jackson, W., & Luske, H. (Directors). (1950). Cinderella [Film]. Walt Disney Productions.
Henning, P. (Creator), & Director's Name (if available). (1966, May 11). Granny Tones a Birdwatcher (Season 4, Episode 31) [TV series episode]. In The Beverly Hillbillies. CBS.
evan, T., Fellner, E., & O’Connor, D. (Producers), & Maguire, S. (Director). (2016). Bridget Jones's Baby [Film]. Universal Pictures.
Stark, R. (Producer), & Huston, J. (Director). (1982). Annie [Film]. Columbia Pictures.
Sherman-Palladino, A. (Creator), & Manners, K. (Director). (2004, May 11). Last Week Fights, This Week Tights (Season 4, Episode 21) [TV series episode]. In Gilmore Girls. The WB.
Pinkner, T., & Litvack, M. (Creators), & Director’s Name (if available). (2017, January 27). Asphyxiation & Aces (Season 2, Episode 12) [TV series episode]. In Rosewood. Fox.
Starzak, M., & Burton, R. (Directors). (2015). Shaun the Sheep Movie [Film]. StudioCanal, Aardman Animations.
Pope, F. Y. (Producer), & Perry, F. (Director). (1981). Mommie Dearest [Film]. Paramount Pictures.
Reubens, P. (Creator), & Levin, W. (Director). (1986, November 8). Beauty Makeover (Season 1, Episode 6) [TV series episode]. In Pee-wee's Playhouse. CBS.
Gordon, L., & Silver, J. (Producers), & McTiernan, J. (Director). (1995). Die Hard with a Vengeance [Film]. 20th Century Fox.
Zemeckis, R., Rapke, S., Starkey, J., & Kenan, G. (Producers), & Kenan, G. (Director). (2006). Monster House [Film]. Columbia Pictures.
MacFarlane, S. (Creator), & Callaghan, B. (Writer). (2011, November 6). Stewie Goes for a Drive (Season 10, Episode 4) [TV series episode]. In Family Guy. Fox.
CBS News. (2021, September 4). Lizzie Borden Took an Axe (Season 33, Episode 56) [TV series episode]. In 48 Hours. Paramount Plus. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/video/LajA6BSmjaZCCZTmYZEwOkxKWzdt68LD/
DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
All information contained in this audio podcast or video presentation is provided for entertainment purposes only. The authors leave any and all conclusions to individual members of the audience. The author offers no statements of fact beyond those available through diligent private research or through information freely available in the public record. To the extent that pending or settled criminal matters or crime or possible crimes, are discussed in this audio podcast or video presentation. All parties or defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. To the extent that any pending or settled civil matters are discussed in this video presentation, all parties or defendants are presumed not liable unless proven liable in a court of law. Copyright for material incorporated and presented under Fair Use is retained by the original author or copyright holder where applicable. Our cases are researched using open source and archive materials, and the subjects are real crimes and people. We strive to produce each episode with respect to the victims, their families and loved ones. At Hitched 2 Homicide we are committed to always discussing how victims lived, and not just how they died. All podcast information is gleaned from sources given. All opinions in the podcast are solely of Hitched 2 Homicide and are for entertainment purposes only.
Comentarios