Did Lizzie Borden Kill Her Parents? - Facts-Chology

PART 1 - The Murders of Andrew and Abby Borden

Lizzie Borden is Born

On July 19th, 1860 Sarah and Andrew Borden welcomed Lizzie Andrew Borden, their 3rd daughter into their home. After having lost their second daughter to hydrocephalus several years earlier the two were elated to bring Lizzie into the family. But just three years later Sarah Borden tragically passed away from a spinal disease. Before passing she made Emma, her first daughter, promise to watch over Lizzie.

Three years after her death Andrew Borden married Abby Gray at the detests of Lizzie who was said to believe Abby only married into the family for money. Andrew had become successful over his career amassing an estate worth over $9 million in today’s money.

Despite this, Andrew was described as frugal and a penny pincher leading to many in the neighborhood disliking him and arguments rising between him and his daughters.

For the most part, the Bordens stayed out of the limelight and apparently away from each other as Lizzie and Emma often took vacations to distance themselves from their father and stepmother. Though the live-in maid Bridget Maggie Sullivan would later testify she didn’t believe there to be any malice between the four.

On August 4th, 1892 that belief would be put to the test.

August 4th, 1892

The morning of the murders the family was getting over a case of food poisoning from several days earlier but at around 6 am Andrew, Abby, and Maggie all had breakfast together with Lizzie still asleep upstairs and Emma out of town with friends. The home had also welcomed a guest, John Morse, Lizzie’s maternal uncle who had stayed overnight and joined Andrew in the sitting room to discuss business.

Between 9 am and 10:30 am Andrew left the house for a walk, John Morse left to visit other family members, and the rest began their chores for the day. Abby was upstairs cleaning the room but told Lizzie she would be leaving shortly to visit a sick friend, Maggie went out to wash the windows, and Lizzie started ironing.

At around 10:30 am Andrew returned and decided to take a nap in the living room. Maggie who was still not feeling well went upstairs to take a nap in her room as well. Lizzie then went out to the barn to find several sinkers and lines for an upcoming fishing trip spending, according to her, at most 20 minutes in the barn.