11 Things ‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’ Got Right & Wrong About the Real-Life Figure
More than 130 years after Andrew and Abby Borden were brutally murdered in their Fall River, Massachusetts, home, people are still asking the same question: Did Lizzie Borden really do it?
Netflix’s Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story certainly has a few thoughts on the matter. The latest installment of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan‘s true-crime anthology stars Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden and takes plenty of liberties with the infamous case, imagining what might have happened behind closed doors in the Borden household. That includes Lizzie’s relationships with her father Andrew Borden (Charlie Hunnam), her stepmother Abby Borden (Rebecca Hall), her older sister Emma Borden (Billie Lourd), and the family’s live-in maid, Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan (Vicky Krieps).
But just how much of what unfolds in the eight-episode series actually happened? From Lizzie and Maggie’s romantic relationship to Andrew’s affair and Abby’s cruelty, the show mixes documented history, long-running theories, and plenty of fiction.
So, what’s true, what’s false, and what remains a mystery? We’re breaking down some of the biggest moments in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story and comparing them with what is actually known about the Borden case. Warning: Spoilers ahead for Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, Now Streaming, Netflix
Did Lizzie really kill her parents?
UNKNOWN: Legally speaking, Lizzie Borden did not kill her father and stepmother. She was tried for their murders and acquitted by a jury in June 1893. But the question of whether she actually committed the crimes remains one of history’s most enduring mysteries, with suspicion continuing to surround Borden more than 130 years later.
Lizzie Borden never confessed to the murders.
Was Lizzie's stepmother Abby Borden really that bad?
MOSTLY FALSE: In the series, Abby is seen going above and beyond when it comes to wicked stepmothers. She calls Lizzie names, throws boiling soup in the face of a maid, kills all of Lizzie’s beloved doves, and just is a generally a horrid monster.
While it was stated in several historical references that Abby and Lizzie had a tumultuous relationship, at best, there is no historical evidence that Abby Borden abused her maids or her stepdaughters, Lizzie and Emma. Historical records show that the relationship between Lizzie and her stepmother Abby was tense and emotionally distant, driven largely by resentment over finances and property, but it did not involve physical abuse toward anyone else in the household, as far as evidence shows.
Were Bridget Sullivan and Lizzie Borden lovers who planned the murders together?
FALSE: In Episode 2, Abby and Lizzie first kiss in the dove house, then throughout the series, their love continues to grow as they plot together to kill Lizzie’s parents. This isn’t the first story to explore such a theory, as Evan Hunter’s 1984 novel Lizzie and the 2018 film Lizzie, starring Kristen Stewart and Chloe Sevigny, also visit the idea of the two as lovers. However, there is no historical evidence to suggest the real Sullivan was a lesbian or that her relationship with Lizzie was anything more than servant and employer.
Did Andrew ever have inappropriate relations with Maggie?
FALSE: In the second episode, “Strong Kitty,” Maggie and Andrew embark on a sexual relationship that results in her pregnancy. There is no historical evidence to suggest that Andrew Borden had inappropriate or sexual relations with the family’s maid, Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan.
Was there a first murder attempt on Abby and Andrew by Lizzie and Abby?
FALSE, WITH A SLICE OF TRUTH: There was no proven first murder attempt, but during the trial, prosecutors alleged that Lizzie Borden tried to poison Abby and Andrew with prussic acid the day before the August 4, 1892 murders. Medical and historical records attribute this to severe food poisoning from a heat-spoiled meal, not a deliberate poisoning attempt. In the series, the doctor also attributes it to food poisoning, saying it is “quite dangerous to eat oysters in May.” In Episode 6, the swordfish stew is used as part of Lizzie’s alibi.
Did Abby and Andrew have a deeply unhappy marriage?
UNKNOWN: Historically, there is no concrete evidence that Andrew and Abby Borden had an unhappy marriage, though their household was filled with extreme tension. Their union began as a practical arrangement after the death of Andrew’s first wife (only two years after his wife’s death, not when Lizzie was two, as the show states), and any issues in the marriage were said to have stemmed from Abby’s relationship with Lizzie and Emma. At the trial, their family doctor said their relationship was “cordial.”
Was Aileen Wuornos a massive Lizzie Borden fan who stayed in her house?
FALSE: Lizzie Borden did not inspire Aileen Wuornos in real life nor did she stay at the house with her girlfriend Shelby. In Episode 6, Aileen (Sarah Paulson) and her girlfriend Shelby (Jessie Lee) travel to Fall River to stay at the house in Lizzie’s bedroom. At the time, the house was not a bed and breakfast, nor is there any evidence that the real Wuornos was a fan of Borden’s work.
But good news for true crime fans! The historic Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, Massachusetts, has operated as a bed and breakfast and museum since 1996. Guests can book rooms or suites to stay overnight at the site of the infamous 1892 murders. Wuornos was caught in 1991 and could not have stayed at the house during the time it was a b’n’b.
Lizzie's uncle John Morse was a prime suspect in the murders before Lizzie?
TRUE: For a brief moment, Lizzie’s uncle John Morse (Joey Pollari) was considered a suspect. Morse was the brother of Andrew’s first wife and Lizzie’s mother, Sarah. He was visiting the Bordens on the day of their deaths and was one of the last people to see his brother-in-law and his wife alive. However, at the time, he provided what many considered an airtight alibi. Recently, many true crime enthusiasts look to his occupation as a butcher, he need for funds, and his sudden appearance in the Borden household as suspicious.
Did actress Nance O'Neil dine with the Borden family?
TRUE: In Episode 3, “Whack Job!,” actress Nance O’Neil (Jessica Barden) is a picky eater who dines at with the Borden family. According to Britannica, O’Neil did dine with Lizzie Borden, but the dinner took place at Lizzie’s other house at Maplecroft, rather than the infamous 2nd Street murder house. Lizzie had long moved out of the original Borden family residence by the time she befriended O’Neil in 1904. Historical accounts state that O’Neil and her entire theatrical company dined at Lizzie’s table during their visits. In the series, Nance dies at both locations.
Did Lizzie and Maggie kill Bertha Manchester?
FALSE: In Episode 3, “Whack Job,” Lizzie and Maggie are seen killing Abby’s curmudgeonly friend Bertha Manchester (Linda Reiter). In real life, 22-year-old Bertha Manchester was murdered with an axe in her home in Fall River just days before Lizzie Borden’s trial. It should be noted that Lizzie was locked in jail at the time. A day laborer named Jose Correa de Mello was arrested for Manchester’s murder, and he later confessed to killing her during a botched robbery. The two crimes were unrelated.
Was Lizzie's statement to the police really filled with bizarre, inane statements?
TRUE AND FALSE: In Episode 6, Lizzie’s police statement is introduced with the words “Taken from the Transcript,” but many of the specific comments featured in the scene are difficult to verify through legitimate historical sources. The series has Lizzie rambling about bad swordfish and mutton stew, dusting to calm her stomach, a sale on calico, ironing handkerchiefs, and reading Harper’s Magazine.
What is documented is that Lizzie gave investigators surprisingly mundane — and sometimes inconsistent — details about her activities around the time of the murders. She claimed she had been in the barn looking for fishing equipment and eating pears, and said she believed Abby had left the house after receiving a note about a sick friend.
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services