Lizzie Borden, one of the most recognizable figures in American criminal history, died on June 1, 1927, in Fall River, Massachusetts, at the age of 66. Her death came more than three decades after she was accused and acquitted in the highly publicized 1892 axe murders of her father, Andrew Borden, and stepmother, Abby Borden.

Although Borden was found not guilty at her 1893 trial, the case remained a subject of intense public fascination throughout her life. The Library of Congress maintains historical material documenting the famous trial and Borden’s prosecution.

Lizzie Borden Cause of Death

The commonly reported cause of Lizzie Borden’s death was pneumonia. Historical accounts indicate that she had experienced declining health in the period leading up to her death.

There has, however, been some variation in historical descriptions of her final illness and medical condition. Accounts associated with Borden’s death have also referenced heart disease or myocarditis, while contemporary newspaper reporting described her as suffering from pneumonia shortly before she died.

For that reason, pneumonia is best described as the commonly reported immediate cause, rather than presenting every historical medical reference as identical.

Lizzie Borden’s Final Years

Borden spent her final years largely removed from the intense public attention that had followed the murders and her acquittal. She lived at Maplecroft, the Fall River residence she shared with her sister, Emma Borden, after the sisters moved away from the house where their father and stepmother had been killed.

Despite withdrawing from much of public life, Borden never completely escaped the notoriety surrounding the case. The 1892 murders remained unresolved after her acquittal, and her name continued to be associated with one of America’s most enduring criminal mysteries.

The Library of Congress continues to preserve historic newspapers and other materials relating to the Borden investigation and trial, reflecting the enormous public attention the case received in the 1890s.

Death of Lizzie Borden in 1927

Borden died at Maplecroft on June 1, 1927, after years in which her health had reportedly deteriorated. Unlike the violent deaths that had made her famous, her own death was attributed to illness.

Her sister Emma survived her by only nine days, dying on June 10, 1927. The sisters were ultimately buried together in the Borden family plot at Oak Grove Cemetery in Fall River.

Legacy of a Famous American Mystery

Lizzie Borden’s death did not end public interest in her story. The murders of Andrew and Abby Borden remain one of the most frequently discussed unsolved criminal cases in American history.

Borden was never convicted of the killings, and the 1893 jury acquitted her. Nevertheless, the circumstances surrounding the murders and the questions raised during the investigation have continued to inspire books, documentaries, films, television productions and historical research.

The Library of Congress describes Borden as a major subject within its historical true-crime collections, with books and archival material continuing to examine both the murders and the woman behind the enduring legend.

Beyond the sensational aspects of her public reputation, Borden also left a substantial estate and was associated with charitable interests, including support for animal welfare.

More than a century after the Borden murders, Lizzie Borden remains a controversial and heavily studied figure in American history. Her own final chapter, however, was comparatively quiet: after years of declining health, she died in Fall River in 1927 at 66, with pneumonia generally identified as the immediate cause of death.