The notorious case of Lizzie Borden has captivated the world for over a century. Born in Fall River, Massachusetts in 1860, Lizzie Borden became the prime suspect in the brutal axe murders of her father, Andrew Borden, and stepmother, Abby Borden, in 1892. The case garnered national attention due to its gruesome nature and the peculiar circumstances surrounding it. On the morning of August 4, 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were found brutally slain in their home. Lizzie, who was 32 years old at the time, claimed to have been in the house during the murders but denied any involvement. The police, however, quickly became suspicious of her contradictory statements and behavior.
Another bit of conjecture about Lizzie Borden has to do with her sexuality, a theory that becomes a central point in Lizzie. Whether Borden actually had an affair with Bridget Sullivan is unclear; some have supposed Abby Borden caught the two together, leading Lizzie Borden to kill her. Others have said Andrew Borden was the one who caught them.
On the other hand, Borden was an infamous figure and an unmarried woman something that could have subjected any woman of the time to extra judgment and no definite evidence one way or the other exists. Although no blood-stained clothing was found as evidence, it was reported that Lizzie tore apart and burned a blue dress in the kitchen stove a few days following the murder because it was covered in baseboard paint.
The police, however, quickly became suspicious of her contradictory statements and behavior. The investigation into the Borden murders uncovered several disturbing details. Lizzie had a strained relationship with her father and stepmother, which raised suspicions from the start.
Lizzie Borden
Lizzie Borden, born July 19, 1860, was tried in court for the murder of her stepmother, Abby Borden, and father, Andrew Borden. Although she was acquitted, no other person was accused and she remains infamous for their murders. The murders occurred on August 4, 1892, in Fall River, Massachusetts. Her father’s body was discovered on the couch in the living room and her stepmother’s body was found in the upstairs bedroom. Lizzie claimed to have discovered the body of her father about 30 minutes after he came home from his morning errands. Shortly after, the maid, Bridget Sullivan, found the body of Lizzie’s stepmother. Both victims were killed by crushing blows to the head by a hatchet.
It was said that Lizzie did not get along well with her stepmother, and that they had a falling out years before the murder occurred. Lizzie and her sister, Emma Borden, were also known to have conflicts with their father. They disagreed with his decisions regarding the division of their family’s property. Her father was also responsible for killing her pigeons that were housed in the family barn. Just before the murders occurred, the entire family fell ill. Since Mr. Borden was not a well-liked man in town, Mrs. Borden believed foul play was involved. Although Mrs. Borden believed they had been poisoned, it was discovered that they ingested contaminated meat and contracted food poisoning. The contents of their stomach were investigated for toxins following death; however, no conclusions were achieved.
Lizzie was then arrested on August 11, 1892. She was indicted by a grand jury; however, the trial didn’t begin until June 1893. The hatchet was discovered by the Fall River police; however, it appeared to have been cleaned of any evidence. A downfall for the prosecution occurred when the Fall River police didn’t properly execute collection of the newly discovered forensic fingerprint evidence. Therefore, no potential prints were lifted from the murder weapon. Although no blood-stained clothing was found as evidence, it was reported that Lizzie tore apart and burned a blue dress in the kitchen stove a few days following the murder because it was covered in baseboard paint. Based on the lack of evidence and a few excluded testimonies, Lizzie Borden was acquitted for the murder of her father and stepmother.
Following the trial, Lizzie and her sister Emma resided together in a home for the next few years. However, Lizzie and her sister slowly grew apart and eventually went their separate ways. Once she and her sister separated, she was no longer referred to as Lizzie Borden, but as Lizbeth A. Borden. The last year of Lizzie’s life was spent ill. When she finally passed, the announcement was not made public and only a few attended her burial. There are many different suggestive theories to determine if Lizzie committed the murders or not. Stories range from the maid committing the murders to Lizzie suffering from fugue state seizures.
Much of Lizzie is based on unsubstantiated rumors about Lizzie Borden, which have only grown since she was acquitted. Here’s what’s real — and what’s fictional — in the movie.
Additionally, Lizzie had been seen burning a dress, which led to speculation that she was attempting to destroy evidence. The murder weapon, an axe, was discovered in the basement of the Borden residence. While Lizzie was eventually arrested and charged with the murders, the trial resulted in her acquittal due to lack of evidence. The case of Lizzie Borden is often remembered for its sensationalism and the resulting media frenzy. Newspaper headlines portrayed her as a cold-blooded killer, perpetuating an image that has endured to this day. The ambiguity surrounding the case has led to numerous theories and speculation about what truly happened that fateful day in 1892. Despite her acquittal, Lizzie Borden was never able to escape the shadow of suspicion. She continued to live in Fall River, but became an outcast in the community. Lizzie passed away in 1927, leaving behind a legacy that has been immortalized in books, films, and even nursery rhymes. The case of Lizzie Borden remains one of the most infamous unsolved murder mysteries in American history. Whether she was guilty or innocent, the enigma of her involvement in the murders continues to fascinate and intrigue people around the world..
Reviews for "The Borden Family Murders: Examining Possible Motives"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "The vyrse of lizzue borden." The plot was confusing and the characters were one-dimensional. It felt like the author was trying too hard to be edgy and unique, but it just came off as forced. I couldn't connect with any of the characters and found myself bored throughout most of the book. Overall, it was a letdown and I wouldn't recommend it.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I found "The vyrse of lizzue borden" to be incredibly tedious and hard to follow. The writing style was convoluted and made it difficult to understand what was happening. The jumps between different time periods and perspectives were confusing and disrupted the flow of the story. I also didn't care for the way the author portrayed Lizzue Borden; it felt like they were trying to make her into a sympathetic character, but it fell flat for me. I was really looking forward to this book, but unfortunately, it just didn't live up to my expectations.
3. Michael - 2 stars - "The vyrse of lizzue borden" had an interesting premise, but it fell short in execution. The pacing was slow and there were long stretches where nothing significant happened. The main character lacked depth and I didn't feel invested in her story. The ending also left me unsatisfied and wanting more closure. Overall, it was a forgettable read that didn't leave a lasting impression.
4. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "The vyrse of lizzue borden," but unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype. The writing was pretentious and overly embellished, making it hard to get into the story. The plot was confusing and the characters were uninteresting. I also found the use of verse throughout the book to be distracting and unnecessary. It felt like the author was trying to be avant-garde, but it just came across as gimmicky. Overall, it was a struggle to finish and I wouldn't recommend it to others.