Did Lizzie Borden Get Away With Murder
September 22, 2026
165
01:08:50

Did Lizzie Borden Get Away With Murder

In 1892, two people were hacked to death in a respectable Massachusetts home, and the only real suspect walked free after a trial that still divides opinion. Kyle and Adam dig into the evidence, the myths, the rhyme that got the numbers wrong, and the house where you can spend the night in the room where it happened.

In a respectable Massachusetts household in 1892, two people were hacked to death in broad daylight, and nobody in the house heard a thing.

This episode traces the Borden family from Andrew's rise from nothing to a $10-million-in-today's-money fortune he refused to spend, through the locked doors, the pigeon massacre, and the property dispute that split the household in two. Then: the morning of August 4th, the two-hour gap between the murders, the botched police investigation, the burnt dress, and the trial that put actual human skulls in front of a jury.

Lizzie Borden walked free. Whether that was justice or a masterclass in reasonable doubt is still argued over more than 130 years later — and we give you the evidence to decide for yourself, including how you can go and spend the night in the room where it happened.

Topics Included

  • Andrew Borden's fortune, and his refusal to spend a cent of it on his own family
  • The 1891 house robbery and the household's growing paranoia and distrust
  • The pigeon massacre and the Ferry Street property dispute that split the family in two
  • The morning of August 4, 1892, and the unexplained two-hour gap between the murders
  • The Fall River police's botched investigation and their first, wrongful suspect
  • Lizzie's shifting testimony, the burnt dress, and the poison purchase ruled inadmissible
  • The 1893 trial, the skulls brought into court, and the fast acquittal
  • What happened to Lizzie, Emma and Bridget Sullivan afterwards — and what you can actually do at the house today

Resources and Further Reading

Host & Show Info

Community & Calls to Action

Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favourite takeaway.


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.