CW: graphic images, graphic description

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Lizzie Borden took an axe, and gave her mother forty whacks; when she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one

Lizzie Borden was arrested and tried for the murder of her parents Andrew and Abby Borden on August 4, 1892. She was acquitted in 1893 and their case was never solved.

Lizzie Borden was born on July 19, 1860, In Fall River, Massachusetts, to Andrew and Sarah Borden. Lizzie had an older sister, Emma Borden. In March 1863, Sarah died of uterine congestion and spinal disease. Three years later Andrew got remarried to Abby Gray. The family was well off, Andrew was a real estate developer and was able to provide for his wife and two daughters. Lizzie and Emma did not have a good relationship with Abby, they would address her as “Mrs. Borden” and feared that Abby was only married to their father for his money.

On August 4, 1892, Lizzie found her father bludgeoned to death in the parlor where he had been sleeping and alerted the maid. Andrew was found lying in a pool of blood and his face had nearly been split in two. Lizzie and the maid searched the house for Abby, which led them to find her murdered as well in an upstairs bedroom. Abby’s face had been beaten beyond recognition. The police were called and they immediately suspected Lizzie as the murderer. However, she was not taken into custody at that time. Between the time of the murders and her arrest, Lizzie had burned a dress that she claimed was stained with paint. The prosecutors suggested that the dress was actually stained with blood and had been burned to destroy evidence of the crime.

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Lizzie was indicted on December 2, 1892, and her trial began in June 1893. Lizzie did not take the stand and her testimony was not admitted into evidence. The testimonies provided by others were inconclusive and on June 20, 1893, Lizzie was acquitted of the murders. Lizzie continued to live in Fall River until her death on June 1, 1927. Emma would die a little over a week later on June 10, 1927

No one has been charged with these crimes.