The Lizzie Borden House Hauntings

The Infamous Murders of 1892

On August 4, 1892, in Fall River, Massachusetts, a gruesome double murder shocked the quiet industrial town. Andrew Borden, a wealthy but frugal businessman, and his second wife, Abby Borden, were found brutally hacked to death in their home at 92 Second Street. Andrew, 70, was discovered on a sofa in the parlor, his face nearly cleaved in two by 11 axe blows. Abby, 64, was found upstairs in a guest bedroom, struck 19 times in the head and back with a hatchet. The ferocity of the attacks suggested a deeply personal motive, and suspicion quickly fell on Andrew’s 32-year-old daughter, Lizzie Borden.

Lizzie, who lived with her father, stepmother, and older sister Emma, claimed to have been in the barn behind the house during the murders, returning to find her father dead. The household’s maid, Bridget Sullivan, was resting upstairs and heard nothing unusual. The timeline was tight: the murders occurred between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., with Abby killed first, likely around 9:30 a.m., and Andrew around 11:00 a.m. Despite a lack of physical evidence—no bloody clothing, no clear murder weapon (a hatchet was found but not conclusively linked)—Lizzie was arrested and charged with the murders.

The trial in 1893 became a national sensation. Lizzie’s calm demeanor and the era’s reluctance to believe a woman capable of such violence worked in her favor. The prosecution’s case relied on circumstantial evidence: Lizzie’s strained relationship with her stepmother, her attempt to buy prussic acid (a poison) days before, and her burning of a dress shortly after the murders. However, inconsistencies in witness testimonies and the absence of definitive proof led to her acquittal after a 10-day trial. Lizzie and Emma inherited their father’s estate, moved to a new home in Fall River, and lived quietly, though Lizzie remained a pariah in the community until her death in 1927.

The murders remain unsolved, with theories pointing to Lizzie, a disgruntled employee, an intruder, or even Emma as potential culprits. The lack of closure, combined with the brutality of the killings, set the stage for the house’s haunting reputation.

The House Becomes a Paranormal Hotspot

The Borden residence, a modest Greek Revival house, was sold after the murders and eventually transformed into a bed-and-breakfast and museum in 1996, capitalizing on its infamous history. Visitors flocked to the site, drawn by the Lizzie Borden legend and the growing reports of paranormal activity. The house, restored to its 1892 appearance, includes the parlor where Andrew was killed, the guest room where Abby died, and Lizzie’s bedroom, all preserved to evoke the era’s grim atmosphere.

Guests and staff began reporting strange occurrences almost immediately after the house opened to the public. The paranormal activity centered on the idea that the spirits of Andrew, Abby, or others tied to the tragedy lingered, unable to find peace. The house’s reputation as one of America’s most haunted locations grew, attracting ghost hunters, paranormal investigators, and curious tourists willing to spend the night in the murder rooms.

Notable Paranormal Encounters

One of the most active witnesses to the house’s hauntings is Suzanne St. John, a long-time tour guide and paranormal enthusiast who has worked at the Lizzie Borden House for years. St. John has documented numerous eerie experiences, some of which have been corroborated by guests and investigators:

- Moving Objects: St. John reported seeing toys in the guest room—where Abby was murdered—rearrange themselves overnight. On one occasion, a small ball rolled across the floor without any apparent cause, stopping at her feet. Another time, a framed picture slid several inches across a table during a tour, startling guests.

- Disembodied Sounds: Guests frequently hear footsteps pacing in empty upstairs rooms, particularly near the guest bedroom and Lizzie’s room. Soft laughter, whispers, and cries have been reported, often attributed to the spirits of children, though no children were killed in the 1892 murders. Some speculate these could be residual energies from other tragedies in Fall River’s history.

- Apparitions: Shadowy figures have been seen in the parlor and upstairs hallways. One guest claimed to see a woman in Victorian-era clothing standing at the foot of their bed in the guest room, only for her to vanish when the lights were turned on. Others report seeing a man resembling Andrew Borden near the sofa where he died.

- Physical Sensations: Visitors often describe feeling a heavy, oppressive atmosphere in the guest bedroom, where Abby was killed. Some report sudden cold spots or the sensation of being touched, particularly on the back or shoulders, mirroring the axe wounds Abby sustained.

- Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVPs): Paranormal investigators using audio equipment have captured voices saying phrases like “Get out” or “Lizzie, why?” in the murder rooms. These recordings, shared on platforms like YouTube and paranormal forums, have added to the house’s mystique.

St. John herself has spoken about an incident where she felt a tug on her clothing while alone in the basement, a less-visited area of the house. She also recounted hearing a loud bang from the parlor late at night, only to find nothing out of place except a faint smell of pipe tobacco, which Andrew was known to smoke.

The House’s Modern Legacy

Today, the Lizzie Borden House operates as a bed-and-breakfast, offering overnight stays, guided tours, and ghost hunts. Guests can sleep in the very rooms where the murders occurred, and many do so hoping for a paranormal encounter. The house hosts regular “Ghostflix” events, where investigators use EMF meters, spirit boxes, and infrared cameras to communicate with alleged spirits. These sessions often yield unexplained readings, particularly around 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., the approximate times of the murders.

Theories about the hauntings vary. Some believe Abby and Andrew’s spirits remain, trapped by the violent nature of their deaths. Others suggest Lizzie herself, who died in 1927, lingers out of guilt or unrest, though her acquittal makes this speculative. Paranormal experts propose the house acts as a “psychic battery,” storing the emotional energy of the 1892 tragedy, which manifests as residual hauntings. Skeptics, however, attribute the phenomena to suggestion, old house creaks, and the power of the Borden legend to influence impressionable visitors.

The house’s reputation has made it a cultural touchstone, inspiring books, films, and TV series, including a 2018 movie starring Kristen Stewart as Lizzie. Its status as a paranormal destination was cemented by appearances on shows like *Ghost Adventures* and *Kindred Spirits*, where investigators reported intense activity, including objects moving and EVPs capturing names like “Abby” and “Andrew.”

Ongoing Mysteries

The Lizzie Borden House continues to draw thousands annually, many of whom leave with stories of their own. One guest, in 2023, reported waking up to find their suitcase unzipped and clothing scattered, despite locking their room. Another claimed their phone captured a photo of a misty figure in the parlor mirror, unprompted. These accounts, shared on social media and paranormal forums, keep the house’s haunted legacy alive.

The unsolved nature of the murders fuels the paranormal narrative. Was Lizzie truly innocent, or did her acquittal leave a restless energy in the house? Could the spirits be those of other victims tied to Fall River’s dark history, drawn to the site’s infamy? The lack of answers ensures the Lizzie Borden House remains a chilling enigma, blending true crime with supernatural intrigue.

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