Here’s who the uncle in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story was, and what Netflix makes up

In Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story on Netflix, Lizzie has a creepy uncle called John. The character is very mysterious, and the real-life equivalent has been the focus of many theories over the last century or so. Some people have speculated that he could be responsible for the deaths of Andrew and Abby, not Lizzie.

Here’s an in-depth look at who John in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story actually is, and what Netflix gets right (or wrong) about the real person.

Wait, so who actually is John Monster: The Lizzie Borden story?

The actor Joey Pollari portrays John Morse in Netflix’s Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.

The real John Vinnicum Morse was born in Fall River in 1833. So, he’s supposedly 59 years old by the time when the Netflix show takes place. He had seven siblings (or possible more). Sarah (Lizzie Borden’s mother) was 10 years older than him. The family seems to have moved away from Fall River in the 1850s.

No, he wasn’t a butcher

The Netflix show depicts John as a butcher, who aims to open his own shop. There’s a creepy scene in which John shows Andrew his knife collection, and they bond over naming weapons.

John’s actual career wasn’t exactly that. The 1870s census says John “works on farm” in Indian Creek Township, Iowa. He seems to have traded with animals.

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He did really visit the family right before the murders

John having dinner with the Bordens
(Image via Netflix)

John arrived around lunchtime on 3rd August. He had breakfast with both Lizzie’s parents on 4th August, then set out early in the morning to visit other relatives who lived nearby. The family members confirmed his alibi. John testified that he returned to the Bordens’ house at around lunchtime, after the murders too place. Apparently, he didn’t notice the crowds forming around the house, but picked pears in the garden before going inside.

There’s no evidence he was having an affair with Lizzie’s stepmother

In the Netflix show, John has an affair with Abby, figures out Lizzie killed her, then lies for her. There’s no historical evidence to prove John actually did any of this. The real John did live in Illinois and Iowa for most of his life, which is rather far from Fall River (and Abby).

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Featured image credit: Netflix