It’s been more than four decades since Candy Montgomery was accused of murdering her lover’s wife, but the story of the axe-wielding Texas housewife still hasn’t left the headlines or the public’s imagination.
Montgomery was found not guilty after claiming self-defense in the killing of Betty Gore, whom was struck with an axe 41 times on June 13, 1980. Jessica Biel portrayed Montgomery in the Hulu miniseries Candy last year, and Elizabeth Olsen plays her in Love & Death, the new limited series now streaming on HBO Max.
But what became of the real Candy Montgomery? After expressing her desire to “be normal again” following her trial, Montgomery has largely avoided the public spotlight and shunned interview requests, living a quiet live in a new profession that might, given her past history, seem a bit ironic.
Who Is Candy Montgomery?
Patrick Fugit and Elizabeth Olsen play Pat and Candy Montgomery in the HBO Max miniseries Love & Death.
In 1977, Candy Montgomery, then 27, and her husband, Pat, moved to Collins County, Texas, where they lived with their two young children, a son and a daughter. With Pat working as an electrical engineer at Texas Instruments, Candy was living in her “dream house,” but found herself “bored crazy” with her new life, according to Texas Monthly.
Candy became friends with middle school teacher Betty Gore after meeting her at a church service. Betty lived nearby with her husband, Allan, with whom Candy started having an affair. Betty was pregnant at the time, and Allan tried to end things with Candy after the baby was born.
Allan was out of town for work on June 13, 1980, and when he couldn’t reach Betty via phone, he called his neighbors and asked them to investigate. They forced their way into the house and found her dead body, with her crying daughter in a crib in another room. Betty had been struck 41 times with an axe.
A Not Guilty Verdict
Candy became the prime suspect after Allan told detectives about their affair. She confessed to the killing, but claimed it was self-defense. She said Betty attacked her with the ax during an argument, cutting Candy’s toe with it, before Candy was able to wrestle the weapon away and use it against Betty. A polygraph test indicated Candy was telling the truth.
District Attorney Tom O’Connell tried to argue that 41 strikes from an axe went beyond the pale for self-defense. A psychologist testified that a hypnosis session with Montgomery revealed Betty inadvertently triggered repressed childhood trauma when she told Candy to “shush,” something Candy’s mother used to say when punishing her as a child.
Following an eight-day trial, Candy was found not guilty on October 30, 1980. The ruling was widely criticized, with spectators outside the courtroom screaming “Murderer! Murderer!” following the verdict. After the trial concluded, Candy told reporters she wanted “to get all this behind me and be normal again.”
Staying Out of the Spotlight
Candy and her family moved out of Texas three months after the trial, settling in Georgia. Candy and Pat stayed together at first, but they got a divorce four years later. Candy remained in Georgia living under her maiden name, Candace Wheeler.
Since then, Candy has stayed out of the public eye and attempted to distance herself from the killing. When contacted in 2000 by The Dallas Morning News to discuss the 20th anniversary of the murder, Candy responded, “I’m telling you in big bold letters: I’m not interested.”
Now 74, Candy is believed to still be living in Georgia, where she reportedly works as a mental health worker and counselor. Some reports indicate she might work with her daughter. When actor Jessica Biel portrayed her in the Hulu miniseries Candy, she attempted to make contact with Candy, but “she was not interested.”
Watch Love & Death on HBO Max Now
Elizabeth Olsen stars as Candy Montgomery in Love & Death, which also features Jesse Plemons, Patrick Fugit, Lily Rabe, and Krysten Ritter. It premieres Thursday on HBO Max.
Colin McEvoy
Senior News Editor, Biography.com
Colin McEvoy joined the Biography.com staff in 2023, and before that had spent 16 years as a journalist, writer, and communications professional. He is the author of two true crime books: Love Me or Else and Fatal Jealousy. He is also an avid film buff, reader, and lover of great stories.
FAQs
After her acquittal, Candy Montgomery and her family moved to Georgia, where she is believed to have changed her name to Candace Wheeler (her maiden name), split from her husband, and is said to now work as a mental health counselor or therapist; however, she has stayed out of the public eye since the trial.
Where is Candy and Pat Montgomery now? ›
Candy and Pat stayed together after the trial, and moved out of Texas to escape the lingering spotlight, though some reports indicate that they subsequently got divorced. Today, per People, Candy is living in Georgia, where she works as a mental health counselor.
Did Candy's husband remarry? ›
After Candy's acquittal, Allan remarried and moved away, losing custody of his and Betty's daughters who were later adopted by Betty's parents.
What happened to Candy Montgomery's lawyer? ›
After the trial, Crowder faced public scrutiny, ran for Governor of Texas, and opened a sports bar before his untimely death by suicide.
What happened to Candy Montgomery's best friend? ›
“Candy Montgomery did kill Betty Gore and she did so in self-defense,” said Udashen. Candy took the stand in her own defense and claimed that when she arrived at the Gore house, Betty confronted her about the affair. She said Betty came at her with an axe, swinging it down to the floor and cutting Candy's toe.
What happened to Don Crowder in real life? ›
Defense attorney Don Crowder committed suicide in 1998, at age 56. He was said to be depressed after being arrested for driving while intoxicated. He shot himself at home as his wife tried to talk him out of it. Crowder's colleague, Robert Udashen, continues to practice criminal law in the Dallas area.
Why was candy acquitted? ›
Candy claimed self-defense and, after a speedy trial, was acquitted. The salacious details and interesting threads that crisscross the Dallas area are what keep people fascinated 43 years after the crime took place on Friday, June 13, 1980.
Where is Allen Gore today? ›
Allan's daughters were raised by Betty's parents. Today, Alisa works at a multinational conglomerate corporation, and Bethany works as a teacher, according to their social media profiles. According to his Facebook page, Allan is currently retired in Sarasota, Florida, and has been in a domestic partnership since 2016.
What happened to Candy Montgomery's children? ›
However, The Cinemaholic has reported Montgomery's kids' real names are Jennifer and Ian. The Montgomery family left Texas after Candy Montgomery was cleared of murder, and relocated to Georgia where they reportedly still reside.
Was Betty Gore pregnant? ›
But Betty thought she was pregnant at the time of her death. There is that scene in the show where she says she thinks she's pregnant again. So, we know that. And then we know from her autopsy that she in fact wasn't.
Back in 1980, seemingly everybody in Texas thought the real-life Candy was guilty of murder—everybody, that is, except her lawyers: Crowder, Elaine Carpenter, and Robert Udashen. “It was clear to me it was self-defense,” Udashen, the only surviving member of the team, recently told me.
What were the injuries to Betty Gore? ›
According to reports, Candy struck Betty 41 times with an axe, out of which 28 were on her head. The condition of her head initially led to the assumption that she was shot. However, wounds on her face, head, hands, arms, torso, and legs later confirmed that an axe was used to kill her.
Why did Candy's lawyer go to jail? ›
His "audacious" nature, as Esparza put it, during Montgomery's trial landed him a four-day jail sentence for contempt of court, with Shapiro saying: "The joke around the courthouse was who was going to get more time, Candy or Crowder."
Why did Candy hit her 41 times? ›
The killing took place in Wylie, Texas, on June 13, 1980. During the assault, Gore was struck 41 times with a wood splitting axe. Montgomery pleaded not guilty to charges of murder on the basis of self-defense, alleging that Gore confronted her about an affair she had with Gore's husband and attacked her with the axe.
How old was Betty Gore? ›
Gore was 30 years old when she died. Her youngest child was almost a year old and her oldest was 5 years old at the time of her death.
What happened to Judge Tom Ryan? ›
Three special masters (the masters) were appointed to take testimony on this matter, and the Commission appointed examiners to present the case. After 13 days of hearings, the masters found that Judge Ryan had engaged in numerous acts of wilful misconduct and prejudicial conduct.
What happened to Pat Montgomery, hockey player? ›
Pat Montgomery, 41, who was shot and killed on Saturday, July 13, in Oshawa, was born and raised in Oshawa and played for his hometown Oshawa Generals from 1999-2002. He also played for the Norwood Vipers.
What happened to Betty Gore's children? ›
Allan's daughters were raised by Betty's parents. Today, Alisa works at a multinational conglomerate corporation, and Bethany works as a teacher, according to their social media profiles.
