On August 4, 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were found killed with a hatchet in their home, with Lizzie present.
On the morning of August 4, 1892, Fall River was shaken by the heinous murders of Andrew Jackson Borden and his wife, Abby Borden. Discovered by Lizzie, who was present in the house, the victims had been brutally hacked with a hatchet, particularly around their heads. Despite the horror and immediate community scandal, initial suspicions did not fall solely on Lizzie. However, the locked doors, lack of forced entry, and Lizzie’s contradictory statements soon turned the investigation towards her.
This incident would propel Lizzie into the limelight and underscore her as a figure of mystery and suspicion in American crime history. The crime was considered particularly shocking due to the nature and extent of the violence, sparking wide media coverage and public speculation about familial relationships, jealousy, and possible psychological motives. This day laid the groundwork for one of the most notorious legal cases in the United States, eternally binding Lizzie Borden’s name to the concept of parricide.