Lizzie Borden Society Forum

Hello everyone,

My name is Tari McNeil, and I am a doctoral student in the Department of Criminal Justice at Liberty University. I am completing my second year in this program. I am currently enrolled in a qualitative research studies course at Liberty University. I am also beginning my research for my doctoral dissertation, which is a qualitative research study that critically examines the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden in their Fall River, Massachusetts home on August 4, 1892.

My research statement for my doctoral dissertation topic is: "To provide an evidence-based review and analysis of relevant crime scene evidence, criminal event facts, and victimology supportive of an evidence-based behavioral analysis of the most likely suspect responsible for the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden in their Fall River, Massachusetts home on August 4, 1892."

I have developed the following preliminary open-ended research questions, and all are focused on five questions typically addressed in homicide investigations: (1) Who was the most likely suspect responsible for the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden?, (2) What was the motive for the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden?, (3) How were the specific locations utilized in the Borden residence important to the perpetrator of the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden?, (4) How was the timing of both murders important to the perpetrator of the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden?, (5) Why were both Lizzie Borden and Bridget Sullivan both left unharmed by a supposedly unknown perpetrator responsible for the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden? The most important of the five research questions is the first one. Please note that I am currently reviewing these questions, and I may change them according to what I believe most accurately reflects the type of data that I need to collect and analyze in accordance with my research statement.

I have already reached out to several well-known subject matter experts and asked for their feedback on these research questions. I am awaiting a response from these experts.

I would really appreciate any feedback from academic researchers and subject matter experts regarding my research questions, and also regarding effective data coding strategies that they recommend be utilized in my qualitative research study. I would also be very interested in any research and data coding strategies that you might have used in your own research into the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden in their Fall River, Massachusetts home on August 4, 1892.

I would like to have any preliminary feedback, questions, and or concerns about my research questions, and guidance for data coding strategies, by Sunday, October 4, 2020. I realize that this is not a lot of time, but I would really appreciate anyone's input. I will monitor replies to my post continually from Saturday, October 3rd through Sunday, October 4th. I will review all feedback, and respond to you as soon as possible. If someone would like to provide feedback to me but cannot do this over this weekend, please respond anyway at your convenience. Your feedback will still be needed throughout my doctoral research process.

Thank You!

Tari McNeil

Hello Tari, welcome to the forum.

Wow, you are really asking a lot here in an extremely short period of time, but you already know that. Since I don't have any time to do any reseach in order to give you in-depth information, I can only give you short answers, to some of your questions.

(1) Who was the most likely suspect responsible for the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden?
Lizzie Borden.

(2) What was the motive for the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden?
I don’t know what the motive was, but I believe Abby was the intended target, and Andrew was killed because he would have known Lizzie killed his wife, and may have disinherited her.

(3) How were the specific locations utilized in the Borden residence important to the perpetrator of the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden?

(4) How was the timing of both murders important to the perpetrator of the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden?

(5) Why were both Lizzie Borden and Bridget Sullivan both left unharmed by a supposedly unknown perpetrator responsible for the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden?
You are assuming the perpetrator was an unknown intruder. I believe these murders were an inside job.

Judy,

Thank you for the welcome. Yes, I am asking for quite a bit of information in a short amount of time. Although I need some feedback from others for an upcoming course assignment, I will be working on my doctoral dissertation for awhile, so any input is welcome at any time.


Based on the criminal event facts, crime scene evidence, and victimology details that I have already examined and analyzed - I believe that Lizzie Borden is the most likely perpetrator of the murders. For the most part, I will have to keep my opinions to myself since I am still researching the murders and I have to objectively review and analyze all information before making any conclusive statements.

The order of death is important. Abby, Bridget, and Lizzie were alone in the house for at least several hours prior to Andrew's return. Lizzie and Abby did have strained relationship for quite some time. I still need to verify this info - but I believe that under Massachusetts estate law at the time that if Abby was killed first, all of her estate would have gone to Andrew. If Andrew died first, all of his estate would have gone to Abby. As far as I have been able to determine so far, Andrew did not have a will. This could mean that Abby was killed first in part because of relevant estate law at the time. Since Abby was killed first, all of Abby's estate went to Andrew, and when Andrew was killed - his entire estate went to Lizzie and Emma, Andrew's daughters. There has been some speculation that Andrew and John Morse - Andrew's first wife's brother - had discussed the necessity for Andrew drafting and filing a will. This might have created an emergent situation for Lizzie Borden if she killed Andrew and Abby, since a change in the will - if it named Abby as the primary beneficiary - would likely have substantially lessened Lizzie and Emma's inheritance, if not outright eliminated it.

I did not assume that the perpetrator was an unknown intruder. I questioned why Lizzie and Bridget would have both been left unharmed by a "supposedly" unknown intruder. Especially when one knows the specific blueprint of the house, its close proximity to Fall River's Central Business District, and the fact that none of the neighbors situated around the Borden property saw anything - and there is a lot more relevant info - this substantially increases the likelihood that the murders were committed by an unknown perpetrator.

I noticed that your bio said that you are a CNA - which I assume is a Certified Nursing Assistant. Could you give me some insight into your research into the Borden murders?

Thank you for responding to my post. I really appreciate it.

Tari

I'll follow Twins lead and provide my current POV with some quick answers. I have been studying this case for around 2 months, so these answers are not as vetted as many other forum members who have been on this case for years.....that said, it will be good to put thoughts 'on paper'.

Lizzie committed or orchestrated the murders. Most likely as a solo act, but still stewing on if she had help.

Motive was an overboard sense of entitlement, greed, narcissism and fear. Fear of losing what was rightfully hers. Entitlement in that she didn't deserve to wait until she was old to live as she was meant to. Greed and narcissism provided the impetus to act. Andrew was 69 years old. His father and grandfather both lived into their early eighties. So lizzie had no reason to believe she would live 'on the hill' and like the 'other' Borden sisters until she was in her mid-40's or later. It had become clear that Abby and charities would likely siphon $ away from Lizzie & Emma via the will that Andrew was considering writing. My take is that Charles Cook strongly implied that something was afoot on that front and knew Lizzie suspected. Cook told Hilliard, but then Hilliard opened his big mouth to the newspaper and Cook clammed up and chose the low road and denied everything to keep Lizzie as a life long client. MB pointed me in the right direction on what a greasy character Cook was.

Location of Abby's killing enabled the discovery of the body to be delayed due to low foot traffic to the 2nd story (front half of house).
Andrews death location was opportune.

Timing of Abby's killing occurred while Andrew was predictably out of the house for several hours (and Emma was out of town).
Timing of Andrews death was likely opportune.

Bridget was left unharmed by Lizzie (and potentially her helper) because that would have made Lizzie the sole survivor, an even more unbelievable likelihood than Lizzie being a co-survivor. Lizzie was very deliberate in her actions and killing Bridget was unnecessary as long as she didn't witness anything. Lizzie was left unharmed because she liked herself. (funny face emoji).

Welcome Tari. I sent you a private msg. I've written a novel that is with a publisher, but not yet published, so I have to keep certain answers private.

Quick Correction - In consideration of all available evidence that I have examined and analyzed so far -"this substantially DECREASES the likelihood that the murders were committed by an unknown perpetrator."

Everyone,

Very interesting feedback. Thank you.

I will post a more detailed post in the next few days.

The way I have always understood it is if Abby died first then Andrew died second all of the money of Andrews estate would go to the girls however if Andrew died first and then Abby died second all of the estate money would go to Abbys relatives....I also understand Abby did not have much of an estate...