Lizzie Borden was acquitted in 1893 after being tried for the murders of her father, Andrew Borden, and stepmother, Abby Borden. Netflix’s Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story dramatizes the case, but the historical trial turned on the evidence presented to the jury rather than a definitive answer to who committed the murders.
What was Lizzie Borden charged with?
Lizzie was charged with the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden after the August 1892 killings in Fall River, Massachusetts. The prosecution sought to connect her to the deaths through circumstantial evidence and testimony.
What evidence did the jury consider?
The trial included testimony about Lizzie’s movements, statements and behavior, along with evidence surrounding the household and the investigation. Some evidence was disputed, and the prosecution did not establish a direct, conclusive chain proving Lizzie was the killer.
What did the jury decide?
The jury found Lizzie not guilty. That acquittal is a central historical fact and is also depicted in Netflix’s series.
Does an acquittal prove Lizzie was innocent?
No. An acquittal means the prosecution did not establish guilt to the required legal standard. It does not independently establish who committed the murders. The Borden case therefore remains historically unresolved.
How accurate is Monster?
The series uses real trial and investigation details but also invents or rearranges relationships, motives and events. Netflix’s own explainer notes that the show changes elements of the historical record, including how certain evidence and relationships are portrayed.
Quick answer
Lizzie Borden was acquitted because the prosecution did not persuade the jury to find her guilty of the murders beyond the required legal standard. The acquittal did not identify another killer, so the historical case remains unsolved.
Fact-check note
This article separates the legal outcome from later theories about guilt. Lizzie Borden was acquitted in 1893; claims that she was definitively responsible for the murders remain disputed.
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