Lizzie Borden | Biography

• By Priyanka Das
• Original : April 20, 2025

Who is Lizzie Borden?

Lizzie Borden was born on July 19, 1860, in Fall River, Massachusetts, to Andrew and Sarah Borden. After the early death of her mother, Andrew remarried Abby Durfee Gray, creating a strained family dynamic, particularly between Lizzie, her sister Emma, and their stepmother. Despite their father's wealth as a property developer and manufacturer, the Borden household was marked by frugality, which frustrated Lizzie. The tensions came to a peak on August 4, 1892, when Andrew and Abby were brutally murdered in their home, leading to Lizzie's arrest and trial for the double homicide.

The trial of Lizzie Borden became known as "the trial of the century," capturing the public's imagination due to its sensational details. Despite her inconsistent testimony and suspicious behavior, including burning a dress shortly after the murders, Lizzie was acquitted on June 20, 1893. Her trial highlighted societal perceptions of women, particularly when her legal defense played the gender card to argue against her capacity for such violence. Following her acquittal, Lizzie and Emma inherited their father's estate, but Lizzie struggled with her reputation in Fall River, often facing ostracism and speculation regarding her innocence. She died on June 1, 1927, with the murder case remaining officially unsolved.

Early Life and Education

Lizzie Andrew Borden was born on July 19, 1860, in Fall River, Massachusetts, to Andrew Borden and Sarah Anthony. Tragically, Sarah passed away shortly after Lizzie's birth, leaving Andrew a widower. When Lizzie was three years old, her father remarried Abby Durfee Gray, creating a blended family that would be defined by tension and strife. Raised in a household that valued frugality despite Andrew's financial success in manufacturing and real estate, Lizzie and her older sister, Emma, learned to navigate their complicated familial dynamics.

Lizzie attended public school in Fall River and was described as an intelligent and bright student with a keen interest in literature and the arts. However, her education was often overshadowed by the family's struggles and interpersonal conflicts, especially with their stepmother Abby. Despite this, Lizzie remained actively involved in her local Congregationalist Church, where she participated in charity work. This connection provided her some community engagement and social interaction. By the time of the infamous murders in 1892, Lizzie had become a well-known figure in her community, albeit mired in the problematic relationships that would later haunt her.

Murder of Andrew and Abby Borden

Lizzie Borden, an American woman born on July 19, 1860, became infamous as the prime suspect in the brutal murder of her father, Andrew Borden, and her stepmother, Abby Borden. On August 4, 1892, the bodies of the Bordens were discovered in their Fall River, Massachusetts home, marking the beginning of a sensational trial that captured the attention of the nation. Lizzie was immediately suspected due to her conflicting statements and peculiar behavior following the murders. The crime scene revealed that Andrew had been bludgeoned to death while sleeping on the couch, while Abby was attacked in an upstairs bedroom, leaving both victims severely mutilated.

Following a year-long investigation, Lizzie was indicted on charges of murder. Her trial commenced in June 1893 and lasted two weeks, becoming a media spectacle of the era. With a skilled defense team that highlighted the lack of physical evidence connecting her to the crime, Lizzie was acquitted of all charges on June 20, 1893. Despite her innocence in the eyes of the court, public opinion remained divided. Many in Fall River believed she had orchestrated the murders, leading to a life marked by social ostracism and isolation after the trial. Ultimately, the case remains one of America's most enduring unsolved mysteries.

Lizzie's Trial and Acquittal

Lizzie Borden was the center of a sensational murder trial in 1893, recognized as one of the most notorious legal cases in American history. On August 4, 1892, her father, Andrew Borden, and stepmother, Abby Borden, were brutally murdered in their Fall River, Massachusetts home. The gruesome nature of the killings and Lizzie’s subsequent arrest caught the attention of the media, turning the trial into a public spectacle. Despite her strained relationship with her stepmother and a notable motive linked to inheritance, the prosecution struggled to establish a concrete case against Lizzie, primarily due to the lack of solid forensic evidence at the time.

During the trial, which spanned two weeks, Lizzie Borden maintained her innocence, supported by a well-composed defense team that included a former governor. They highlighted the absence of definitive physical evidence linking her to the crime and appealed to the jurors by portraying her as a respectable woman incapable of such brutality. Lizzie did not testify in her defense, yet the jury returned a swift verdict of not guilty after only an hour of deliberation, leading to her acquittal and significant public debate regarding the true identity of the murderer. Lizzie’s freedom, however, marked the beginning of a life overshadowed by her past, as suspicions lingered throughout her later years.

Later Life and Isolation

Lizzie Borden, acquitted of her parents' brutal murders, attempted to lead a new life in Fall River after the trial. Alongside her sister Emma, she purchased Maplecroft, a grand 14-room home that symbolized the lifestyle she had long desired. Despite finding financial freedom and some semblance of comfort, Lizzie's reputation remained tainted. The town of Fall River continued to shun her, viewing her through the lens of suspicion and scandal. Children would mock her, and even those close to her began to distance themselves, ensuring that her past would never fully fade from public memory.

As time progressed, Lizzie's relationships fractured, notably with her sister Emma, who grew increasingly uncomfortable with Lizzie's social choices and friendships. In particular, Emma disapproved of Lizzie's close bond with Nance O'Neill, a theater actress, leading to a bitter rift that would never heal. This isolation deepened as Lizzie found herself embroiled in another scandal in 1897 when she was accused of shoplifting. Both sisters, once inseparable allies, drifted apart, culminating in Emma's departure from Maplecroft in 1905. Lizzie remained in the shadows of her former life, grappling with public disdain until her death in 1927.

Personal Life: Relationship with Sister Emma

Lizzie Borden shared a close bond with her older sister, Emma, throughout their formative years. Growing up in a strained household dynamic with their stepmother Abby, the sisters relied on each other for emotional support. They worked together to manage their father's rental properties and often attended church as a unit, reinforcing their familial solidarity. However, their relationship was tested after the infamous murders of their father and stepmother, and even more so after Lizzie's acquittal.

Following the trial, the sisters moved into a new home called Maplecroft, where they initially enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle. However, tensions soon began to surface, particularly as Lizzie's social life expanded. Emma became increasingly uncomfortable with Lizzie's friendships, particularly with actress Nance O'Neil, which led to significant friction between the sisters. Ultimately, in 1905, Emma moved out of Maplecroft, creating an irreversible rift that left the two sisters estranged for the rest of their lives. Their once steadfast bond dissolved, underscoring the lasting impact of the murder trial and the societal stigma surrounding Lizzie.

Net Worth and Earning: Inheritance

Lizzie Borden, after being acquitted of the notorious murders of her father Andrew Borden and stepmother Abby Borden in 1893, inherited a significant portion of her father’s estate. This estate, valued at the time at approximately $300,000, translates to over $8 million in today’s currency, providing her and her sister Emma with substantial financial security. The estate included various properties and assets, enabling the sisters to rise above their initial circumstances and purchase a large home on “The Hill,” a more affluent neighborhood in Fall River.

Despite their considerable wealth, Lizzie's reputation in the community suffered greatly due to the scandal surrounding the murders. Society treated her as an outcast, complicating her social standing and opportunities. Nonetheless, Lizzie attempted to maintain a lavish lifestyle with the wealth she inherited, hosting parties and socializing with a new circle of friends. While she enjoyed financial freedom, her isolation and public suspicion often overshadowed her newfound wealth, leaving her to navigate a life marked by both privilege and scandal.