Six details about Lizzie Borden’s life after her acquittal that Netflix’s Monster missed

Netflix’s Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story spends loads of time on Lizzie Borden’s family, the 1892 murders and her trial, but there’s actually quite a lot about her real life after her acquittal that the series leaves out.

After Lizzie was acquitted in 1893, she inherited money, moved into a huge new house and tried to build a life away from the Borden family home. 

So, here are six details about Lizzie Borden’s real life after her trial and acquittal that Monster doesn’t really show.

1. Lizzie travelled loads after her trial

After Lizzie was acquitted in 1893, she did not just stay at home and disappear from public life. She travelled to places including Boston and New York, where she went to the theatre, shopped and socialised. Her interest in theatre eventually became a huge part of her life and led to her friendship with actress Nance O’Neil.

2. Lizzie was accused of shoplifting a few years later

In 1897, a Providence jeweller accused Lizzie of taking two painted porcelain pieces from his shop. One of the missing pieces was later brought back to the shop by a woman who said Lizzie had given it to her, and police reportedly found the other piece at Lizzie’s home.

Lizzie insisted that she had paid for them. An arrest warrant was issued, but it was never served, and the jeweller eventually dropped the matter.

3. Lizzie became close to actress Nance O’Neil

Lizzie became increasingly interested in theatre after her acquittal and eventually became friends with actress Nance O’Neil around 1904. Although Netflix’s Monster does show Lizzie’s closeness with the actress, the timeline of their relationship is completely wrong.

Lizzie started hosting lavish parties at Maplecroft for Nance and members of her theatre circle. She also reportedly helped Nance financially when the actress was struggling with debt. It was a very different side of Lizzie’s life from the quiet image often associated with her.

4. Lizzie and Emma had a huge falling-out

Lizzie and Emma lived together at Maplecroft for more than a decade after the trial, but their relationship eventually broke down. Emma moved out in 1905, and the sisters never reconciled.

Reports linked the disagreement to Lizzie’s parties and her friendship with Nance, although the exact reason for the split was never confirmed. Years later, Emma refused to explain exactly what had happened. She said, “The happenings in the French Street house that caused me to leave, I must refuse to talk about. I did not go until conditions became absolutely unbearable.”

 The sisters were estranged for the rest of their lives.

5. Lizzie had gallbladder surgery before she died

Monster also skips over the final years of Lizzie’s life. In 1926, Lizzie underwent surgery to have her gallbladder removed. Her health then continued to decline, and she died only months later.

6. Lizzie died at Maplecroft in 1927

Lizzie died at home on June 1, 1927, aged 66, more than 30 years after she was acquitted of murdering her father and stepmother. Reports differ over the details of her final illness. Some reports said Lizzie had pneumonia for about a week before her death, while her death record listed myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, as the cause of death.

Lizzie was buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Fall River alongside her father and stepmother. Emma died nine days later and was eventually buried in the same family plot.

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