Netflix’s Monster: Who is Emma Borden? All about Lizzie Borden’s elusive sister and their fallout

The Netflix anthology series "Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story," premiering on September 17, casts fresh light on Emma Borden, Lizzie Borden's often overlooked sister. Emma, born in 1851, was the eldest of the Borden children, nine years older than her notorious sister. Following their mother's death, Emma reportedly vowed to care for Lizzie, a promise she largely fulfilled throughout her adult life.

She also fiercely protected the family's reputation, vehemently refuting negative portrayals of their father as miserly in a 1913 interview.

However, Emma's whereabouts during the 1892 murders of Andrew and Abby Borden remain a mystery. She was 17 miles away in Fairhaven, staying with a friend, while Lizzie sought help from a family physician. This absence provided Emma with a solid alibi, setting her apart from the scrutiny Lizzie faced. Despite Lizzie's acquittal, Emma chose to remain close, living together in a large home called Maplecroft, shielded from the Fall River society that turned against them post-trial.

Yet, the sisters' bond did not endure. As Lizzie formed a close relationship with actress Nance O'Neil and began inviting theater friends to the home, Emma eventually left in 1905. The reasons behind their estrangement remain unclear, with both women remaining tight-lipped about the dissolution of their relationship. Years later, Emma alluded to a gradual breakdown of their bond, rather than an abrupt conflict.