Lizzie Borden: The Mystery of the Axe Murders of Abby and Andrew Borden

Lizzie Borden is an infamous character in American history. She was charged with the brutal axe murder of her stepmother and father, and despite her acquittal, she has remained under cultural suspicion to this day.

Lizzie Borden's Early Life

Born July 19, 1860 in Fall River, Massachusetts, Lizzie Borden lost her mother Sarah to uterine congestion when she was only 3 years old. Lizzie's father, Andrew, cared for her and her older sister, Emma, until he married Abby Durfee 2 years later. Gossip flew that it was a marriage of convenience; others believe he genuinely cared for her.

Abby and the girls had a tense relationship. Lizzie and Emma saw their stepmother as an infringement on their inheritance. Once, annoyed by Abby's cat, Lizzie allegedly decapitated the animal.

Lizzie's Adult Life

By the time Lizzie was grown up, her father had amassed great wealth as an investor and commercial landlord, and was one of the richest men in Fall River. Despite their wealth, the family lived quite frugally in a small house near Andrew's business interests.

Lizzie's simple life of volunteer work and Sunday School teaching changed in 1892. A feud had been boiling between Lizzie and her parents regarding evidence from a break-in, which pointed to Lizzie as the culprit. Andrew allegedly retaliated by decapitating the pigeons Lizzie kept in the barn.

The Murder of Andrew and Abby Borden

On August 4, 1892, around 11:10 a.m., Lizzie claims she discovered the bloody body of her father sprawled on the sitting room sofa. Bridget Sullivan, the Borden maid, summoned the physician and police. A short time later, Abby Borden's body was also found, on the guestroom floor.

Upon initial examination, physician Dr. Bowen found that Andrew had been attacked from above and behind as he slept, most likely with a hatchet. He suffered 11 blows to the head, 4 of which crushed the skull and left his nose and eye severed.

Abby had been attacked from behind as she cleaned and received 18 blows to the head, 13 of them crushing the skull.

During the investigation, the police discovered that Lizzie and Bridget had been the only people in the house left alive. Emma was out of town visiting friends. Abby was believed to have been killed around 9:30 a.m., and Andrew around 11:00 a.m.

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