Ryan Murphy's Monster Returns with a New Lizzie Borden Series on Netflix

Ryan Murphy’s anthology series Monster is adding a season that centers on the 1892 Lizzie Borden murders in Fall River, Massachusetts. The story follows the brutal bludgeoning of Andrew Borden and his wife Abby, both struck repeatedly with an axe, and the subsequent investigation that led to Lizzie’s arrest and eventual acquittal. The case has inspired numerous retellings, including a 1975 one outlet movie, a 2014 Lifetime film, a 2018 feature, and various documentaries and podcasts.

Despite decades of speculation, the killings remain unsolved and public opinion has shifted over time. The new Netflix season, releasing Thursday, marks at least the fourth narrative version of the saga. It continues the long-standing fascination with one of America’s earliest true-crime mysteries.