Why did Candy Montgomery kill Betty?
DECADES ago, Candy Montgomery stood trial for the murder of her friend Betty Gore.
At the time, it was revealed the accused was having an affair with her deceased neighbor's husband Allan Gore.
Why did Candy Montgomery kill Betty?
Candy Montgomery was a stay-at-home mother who resided in the quiet, small town of Wylie, Texas, and cared for her and her husband's two children.
The family's life fell apart when her friend was found brutally murdered with her one-year-old infant crying in a nearby crib.
Montgomery was charged with the murder but when she took the stand in the courtroom, she claimed self-defense.
She told the judge and jury that she had stopped by Betty Gore's house on June 13, 1980, to pick up a bathing suit for Gore's daughter who was staying with her that evening.
Montgomery, who said she had been having an affair with Gore's husband, claimed Gore charged at her with an ax.
It was then that she said she blacked out and when she came to, Gore was dead and she left to pick up the kids from school.
During the final days of the trial, Montgomery's defense attorney, Don Crowder, said in his final arguments that the prosecution had presented "not one word of evidence that has refuted the testimony of self-defense".
The jury, made up of nine women and three men, left the courtroom to deliberate, and when they read the final verdict, Montgomery was declared innocent of murdering Gore.
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It was ruled that Montgomery had acted in self-defense, and Crowder told at the time, "We're just very pleased, very pleased. We're proud the jury had enough courage to stand up."
Where is Candy Montgomery now?
The Montgomery family left Texas after Candy Montgomery was cleared of murder, and relocated to Georgia where they reportedly still reside.
Details are few and far between though.
It’s thought her marriage to Pat Montgomery around four years after the move and Candy now goes by her maiden name of Wheeler.
She is said to now work as a mental health counselor.
For the Hulu series Candy with Jessica Biel playing Montgomery, Biel told in 2022 that she had contacted a representative of Candy to see if “she was interested in having any conversation whatsoever.”
“She was not interested,” Biel said.
The program premiered on May 9, 2022, and concluded five days later.
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The events surrounding Candy's murder of Betty Gore are also retold in HBO's Love and Death, starring Elizabeth Olsen and Lily Rabe.
On April 27, 2023, the show was made available to stream via HBO Max.