Who’s who in Netflix’s Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story

The fourth season (2026) of Monster, Netflix’s true-crime anthology series, focuses on one of the most infamous murder suspects in American history: Lizzie Borden. In 1892 her father and stepmother, Andrew and Abby Borden, were brutally killed with a hatchet. She was arrested for the murders, and her trial the following year made headlines across the country. Lizzie was ultimately acquitted, but questions remain about her innocence. We take a closer look at Lizzie and the other real people whose stories are portrayed in the series.

Lizzie Borden

• In full: Lizzie Andrew Borden
• Born: July 19, 1860
• Died: June 1, 1927
• Played by: Ella Beatty

Lizzie Borden was a respected member of the community in Fall River, Massachusetts. She was active in the church and various charities. At the time of her father and stepmother’s murders, she was 32 years old and still living in the family home. By most accounts she was close with her father, even as they argued over his frugality. However, she had a more contentious relationship with her stepmother, especially after Andrew Borden helped Abby Borden’s sister buy property. Although the circumstantial case against Lizzie was strong, a lack of physical evidence ultimately helped win her an acquittal.

Despite the verdict Lizzie was ostracized by the people of Fall River. Nevertheless, she and her elder sister, Emma, continued to live there, soon buying a mansion called Maplecroft. In 1904 Lizzie struck up a close friendship with actress Nance O’Neil, who was performing with a touring theater company in Boston. The following year the two sisters had a falling out, and Emma left Maplecroft. Some speculated that Emma disapproved of O’Neil. Lizzie’s friendship with the actress effectively ended after O’Neil left to continue the tour. Lizzie died in 1927 at the age of 66. The cause of death was pneumonia, which she contracted after gallbladder surgery.

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Andrew Borden

• In full: Andrew Jackson Borden
• Born: 1822
• Died: August 4, 1892
• Played by: Charlie Hunnam

Andrew Jackson Borden was born into a family of modest means. He initially worked as a cabinetmaker and undertaker. In his 20s Andrew raised enough money to open a furniture business with William M. Almy. In the ensuing years Andrew amassed a small fortune. Although he was involved in various ventures—and was president of a local bank—much of his money came from real estate investments. An austere man, Andrew was described as having “rigid ideas.” His frugality was well known and perhaps gave rise to an unfounded rumor that, while an undertaker, he had cut the feet off corpses so they could fit into smaller and cheaper coffins. At the time of his death he was worth more than $8 million in today’s money.

In 1845 Andrew married Sarah Morse. The couple later had three daughters: Emma, Alice, and Lizzie. Alice died in 1858, and Sarah passed away five years later. In 1865 Andrew, who was about 42, married 37-year-old Abby Gray. Despite Andrew’s wealth, the family lived modestly. Their house was in a less-affluent neighborhood in Fall River, and it lacked modern amenities. While the home had a flushable water closet in the basement, the family used chamber pots in the bedrooms. Money was a source of contention between Andrew and his two daughters.

Andrew was napping on a couch in the family home when he was struck up to 11 times with a hatchet. He was 69 years old.

Abby Borden

• In full: Abby Durfee Gray Borden
• Born: 1828
• Died: August 4, 1892
• Played by: Rebecca Hall

Abby Durfee Gray was born in 1828. Her marriage to Andrew Borden in 1865 surprised some observers. At age 37, Abby was considered a spinster, and her social class was well below that of her husband. Her father was said to be a peddler or a tinsmith. Some suggested it was a marriage of convenience. The union improved Abby’s financial circumstances, and Andrew needed someone to take care of the family home and to help with Emma and Lizzie.

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Abby’s relationship with the children was strained. Emma never accepted Abby as her mother and only referred to her by her first name. And although Bridget Sullivan, the family maid, said that “everything was pleasant” between Lizzie and Abby, others noted that Lizzie spoke critically of her stepmother. A neighbor described Abby as a “kindly hearted, lovable woman, who tried, but ineffectually, to win the love of the stepdaughters.” A possible source of dispute was Andrew’s handling of his money. Emma and Lizzie were said to be worried about their inheritance, especially after Andrew helped Abby’s sister purchase the Gray family home. It was reportedly about this time that Lizzie stopped calling Abby “Mother” and began referring to her as “Mrs. Borden.”

Abby was cleaning the upstairs guest room when she was struck as many as 19 times with a hatchet. She was 64 years old.

Emma Borden

• In full: Emma Lenora Borden
• Born: March 1, 1851
• Died: June 10, 1927
• Played by: Billie Lourd

Emma Borden was the eldest daughter born to Andrew and Sarah Borden. She was 12 years old when her mother died in 1863. Before Sarah died, she reportedly made Emma promise to look after Lizzie. The two sisters were close, and Emma was said to be a mother figure to Lizzie. Emma still lived in the family home. However, on the day of the murders, she was about 15 miles (24 km) away in Fairhaven, visiting friends. Although some claimed that she was concerned about her inheritance, there is no evidence that she was in Fall River at the time of the murders.

Emma testified on Lizzie’s behalf during the murder trial and publicly maintained that her sister was innocent. Just weeks after Lizzie was acquitted, the sisters bought a mansion called Maplecroft. They lived there together until 1905, when Emma left following a disagreement. The dispute was reportedly over Emma’s disapproval of her sister’s friendship with actress Nance O’Neil. The sisters never reconciled. They died nine days apart in 1927.

Bridget Sullivan

• Byname: Maggie Sullivan
• Born: 1866/67 or 1869
• Died: March 1948
• Played by: Vicky Krieps

Bridget Sullivan was born in Ireland and immigrated to the United States about 1886. She worked in Rhode Island and Pennsylvania before moving to Fall River in 1889. She had been working as a live-in maid for the Borden family for almost three years when the murders occurred. She was outside cleaning windows when Abby Borden was believed to have been killed, an account corroborated by Lizzie Borden and neighbors. At the time of Andrew Borden’s murder, however, she was in her attic room. Bridget had no clear motive, and there was no direct evidence linking her to the murders. Some later speculated that Sullivan and Lizzie Borden were in a romantic relationship that was discovered by Abby Borden. However, there is nothing to support that claim.

Sullivan later moved to Anaconda, Montana, where she married John Sullivan. She died in 1948.

John Morse

• In full: John Vinnicum Morse
• Born: July 5, 1833
• Died: March 1, 1912
• Played by: Joey Pollari

John Morse was the brother of Lizzie and Emma Borden’s mother, Sarah, and was reportedly close to their father. He had lived out west for a number of years before returning to New England. Morse arrived at the Borden house a day before the murders, and on the morning of August 4, 1892, he left shortly after breakfast and walked to his nephew’s home. After discovering that he was not home, John visited with his niece and left about 11:20 am. Although his surprise visit raised questions—not least because he brought no luggage—witnesses confirmed his whereabouts during the murders.

Nance O’Neil

• Original name: Gertrude Lamson
• Born: 1874
• Died: February 7, 1965
• Played by: Jessica Barden

O’Neil was born Gertrude Lamson and grew up in California. She made her professional acting debut in San Francisco in 1893. Adopting the stage name Nance O’Neil, she later toured the country and appeared on Broadway. She became known for her portrayals of tragic characters and often drew comparisons to legendary French actress Sarah Bernhardt. O’Neil earned arguably the best reviews of her career in 1920 for her performance in The Passion Flower. She also appeared in a number of Shakespearean plays and was cast in the title role in Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler.

While on tour in Boston in 1904, O’Neil met Lizzie Borden. The two women developed a close relationship. Borden entertained O’Neil and other actors at her Maplecroft mansion in Fall River. In addition, there were reports that Borden provided financial assistance to O’Neil. Some later speculated that their relationship was romantic, though the claim was never substantiated. In 1905 Lizzie and Emma had a falling out, and Emma left Maplecroft. Some believe the dispute was caused by Emma’s disapproval of O’Neil. Lizzie and O’Neil also drifted apart as the actress continued touring with her theater company.

In 1916 O’Neil married actor and frequent costar Alfred Hickman. She died in 1965 at the age of 90.