Ryan Murphy’s Monster anthology is turning to one of America’s most famous true crime cases with Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, which premieres Sept. 17 on Netflix, according to E! News. The season stars Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden, with Charlie Hunnam and Rebecca Hall playing Andrew and Abby Borden.
The series explores the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden, who were found dead in their Fall River, Massachusetts, home on Aug. 4, 1892. Lizzie Borden, who lived in the house with her father, stepmother and sister Emma, was later acquitted in the killings.
According to E! News, Lizzie was described in different ways by those who knew her, with some calling her calm and direct and others saying she was difficult. The story also highlights the long-running public fascination with the case, including the famous rhyme about Lizzie taking an axe.
The article recounts that Andrew was found dead on the sofa and Abby was later discovered upstairs with severe head injuries. Police found multiple hatchets and axes in the home, and Lizzie was arrested after giving testimony that conflicted with earlier statements, though her lawyers argued there was no direct evidence tying her to the crime.
At trial in 1893, the jury found Lizzie not guilty after less than two hours of deliberation. Even after the verdict, the case remained a source of speculation, rumor and lasting true crime lore.
