Monster Season 4: Who was Lizzie Borden and what do we know about her crimes? Details explored 

Charlie Hunnam is all set to pass the baton to Ella Beatty, who will portray Lizzie Borden in Ryan Murphy's Monster Season 4. Netflix has greenlit the next chilling chapter of Murphy's true-crime anthology series, which will feature the story of the infamous Massachusetts woman who was accused of murdering her parents in 1892.

Murphy's Monster recently released the very successful third season titled The Ed Gein Story, where Hunnam portrayed the infamous titular serial killer. In a full circle moment, Hunnam will also appear in the upcoming Lizzie Borden chapter, but as Andrew Borden, Lizzie's father and her alleged victim, who was murdered in 1892.

Ella Beatty's run as Lizzie Borden in Monster Season 4 will be unlike the previous three chapters as the Massachusetts woman was never found guilty of the double axe murders of her father and step-mother. However, she remains a controversial figure in pop culture, especially because of her public trial, now considered a landmark in the history of American legal proceedings.

In addition to Hunnam and Beatty, Monster Season 4 will also star Vicky Krieps as the Borden's maid Sullivan, Rebecca Hall as Lizzie's stepmother Abby, Billie Lourd as Lizzie's sister Emma and Jessica Barde as Lizzie's friend Nance O’Neill.

More on this in our story.

Monster Season 4: Who was Lizzie Borden?

Ryan Murphy is shining a spotlight on an infamous woman in Monster Season 4, the upcoming chapter of his critically acclaimed true crime anthology docu-series. Unlike her Monster predecessor, Lizzie Borden was never found guilty of her crimes, but she remains a popular and perverse hot topic in American pop culture. Like Ed Gein, Ryan Murphy is likely fascinated with the controversial story of this Massachusetts woman whose crimes were never proven in court.

Lizzie Borden, the subject of Monster Season 4, was born on July 19, 1860, in Fall River, Massachusetts, to Andrew Jackson Borden and Sarah Borden. She had two siblings, Alice and Emma, but Alice tragically passed away from hydrocephalus when she was just 22 months old. Lizzie's mother passed away in 1863, following which Andrew Borden remarried Abby Durfee Gray three years later. While the Bordens lived in an affluent neighbourhood like Fall River, they were famous for their frugality. Despite being wealthy, their house lacked basic amenities.

Monster Season 4 subject Lizzie Borden had a religious upbringing and she duly participated in church activities. Moreover, she had even volunteered to teach Sunday school to the children of recent immigrants and was also involved in charities and movements like the Christian Endeavor Society and the Women's Christian Temperance Union.

Monster Season 4: Exploring Lizzie Borden's alleged crimes

In the weeks before Abby and Andrew's murders, the Borden household was dealing with property-related issues. Ever since Andrew had gifted several real estate to Abby's family members, his daughters were unhappy and demanded their share in the property. After Borden was acquitted, there was a lot of speculation around Borden's property dispute and how it might have contributed to the dual murders.

On August 4, 1892, the day Andrew and Abby were found murdered in their homes, Lizzie was home with their 25-year-old live-in maid, Bridget Sullivan. Abby was found face down, lying lifelessly upstairs. Forensic investigation confirmed that Abby was struck on the side of her head from the front, following which, she suffered neck and forehead contusions. An additional 17 hatchet hits finally killed her. On the other hand, Andrew was found dead on the couch, struck 10 or 11 times with a hatchet-like weapon. His eyes were split cleanly in two and his wounds were still bleeding when Lizzie Borden found him dead.

Despite Lizzie Borden's constarsting statements and her strained relationship with Andrew and Abby, she was acquitted by the jury on June 20, 1893, following a highly publicized trial in court.

While the Monster Season 4 subject was declared not guilty, she continues to remain a suspicious and controversial figure in pop culture, who has inspired various theatre plays, films and folk rhymes in Fall River.

Almost a century after Lizzie Borden's death (1927), her story will come to life in Netflix's Monster Season 4.

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Also Read: Monster: The Ed Gein Story - Why was Richard Speck called Birdman?

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