In reconstructing Lizzie Borden’s story, Monster Season 4 linked the alleged killer to Aileen Wuornos, the Damsel of Death. The new entry released on September 17, 2026, takes fans back to 1892, exploring the gruesome murders of Andrew Borden and his second wife, Abby Durfrr Gray. Unlike previous installments, the latest chapter focuses on a female lead portrayed by Ella Beatty. The American actress brings the Lizzie Borden story to life, but much of what unfolds in the series isn’t based on facts.
Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan have always taken great liberties in retelling true-crime stories. Because of this, the biographical crime drama has drawn criticism for factual inaccuracies since the series premiered on Netflix in September 2022. From Jeffrey Dahmer to the Menendez Brothers and Ed Gein, Monster incorporates speculation in dramatizing high-profile cases of homicide. The same is true for The Lizzie Borden Story, but how accurate is the connection to Aileen Wuornos?
Who Was Aileen Wuornos?
A terrifying interview with Aileen Wuornos, the serial k*ller who k*lled seven people in less than a year.
I can’t forget the look of despair she showed in court when she found out her lover had betrayed her. pic.twitter.com/0MrRrLnRXi
— 🦢 (@damnidc__) March 19, 2026
Dubbed the Damsel of Death when her crimes came to light, Aileen Wuornos was a notorious American serial killer convicted on six counts of first-degree murder. Originally from Rochester, Michigan, Wuornos had a rough childhood that ultimately drove her into prostitution. Born to a father who received a life sentence for sexually assaulting a minor and a mother who abandoned her when she was barely four, Wuornos had no chance for a normal upbringing. She struggled through her early life with allegations of sexual and physical assault from her grandfather and his friend.
At age 15, she was homeless and supported herself through street prostitution. After a series of run-ins with the law, Aileen Wuornos committed her first murder in November 1989. She shot and killed 51-year-old Richard Charles Mallory, claiming he assaulted and sodomized her after soliciting her services. Aileen Wuornos killed six more men the following year before her arrest in January 1991. She received a death sentence for each of the murders, except for a case where the victim’s body was not found. With six death sentences, the Supreme Court denied her appeal in 1996, and she was eventually executed in October 2002.
How Monster Season 4 Connects Aileen Wuornos To Lizzie Borden
Starring Sarah Paulson as Aileen Wuornos, The Lizzie Borden Story features the Damsel of Death in several episodes. Notably, “Bed and Breakfast” (Episode 6) depicts the serial killer at the Lizzie Borden House alongside her girlfriend Shelby (Jessie Lee), who’s reading a book about Andrew and Abby’s murders. Earlier in Episode 4, Wuornos tells a victim she is Lizzie Borden. These scenes seem to suggest that Wuornos’ fascination with Borden inspired her killing spree. Beyond that, they present a parallel comparison of female-perpetrated violence from different eras.
Brennan told People that Wuornos’ story highlighted the differences. “That’s why when Aileen Wuornos comes into the show, that contrast comes in much clearer,” he said. According to the co-creator, the Damsel of Death compels viewers to distill who “is the Lizzie of our world? How is she treated? And how does she lash out?” Beatty shared a similar sentiment with Netflix’s Tudum. She told the publication that Wuornos’ inclusion in The Lizzie Borden Story helped the show explore “a legacy of female rage and reaction to the set of circumstances that they are presented with.”
The actress explained that Monster Season 4, like the previous installments, attempts to understand the killer’s psychology. “I knew from the beginning that Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan were really interested in exploring what brings a woman to the point of violence,” she said. “I think the story of Aileen Wuornos also served that question and that exploration of why women kill.”
Did Lizzie Borden Inspire Aileen Wuornos?
Woven into The Lizzie Borden Story with appearances in four episodes, Paulson’s Aileen Wuornos props up Monster Season 4. Her story contributes to the new season’s well-paced plot, unpredictable storyline, and overall appeal. Be that as it may, Lizzie didn’t inspire Wuornos as the series seems to suggest. Their connection is a product of the showrunners’ creative imagination. The Lizzie Borden House didn’t exist as a bed and breakfast until 1996. Wuornos was already on death row at this time, so it’s practically impossible for her to have visited the lodging establishment. Above all, there’s no evidence the Damsel of Death knew about Lizzie and her alleged crimes. Check out what Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s end-credits scene means.
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