Quick Read
- The HBO Max series ‘Love & Death’ is based on the true story of Candy Montgomery, who killed her friend Betty Gore in 1980.
- Montgomery was acquitted of murder after claiming self-defense during her trial.
- The case was widely covered by Texas Monthly and the book ‘Evidence of Love.’
- Candy Montgomery later moved to Georgia and became a family counselor.
- Betty Gore’s daughters were raised by her parents after the tragedy.
The Real-Life Crime Behind ‘Love & Death’
Sometimes, truth is stranger—and far more disturbing—than fiction. The HBO Max miniseries Love & Death, which made its Netflix debut in December 2025, brings to the screen one of Texas’s most infamous true crime stories: the slaying of Betty Gore by her friend and fellow churchgoer, Candy Montgomery. It’s a story that, despite its sensational headlines, was rooted in the quiet routines of suburban life—until everything exploded on a single summer day in 1980.
Candy Montgomery: Suburban Wife Turned Accused Murderer
Candy Montgomery, portrayed by Elizabeth Olsen, seemed the picture of a ‘normal suburban housewife’ in Wylie, Texas. Married to Pat Montgomery, with two children and a dream home in the country, Candy’s life looked idyllic from the outside. But as detailed in Texas Monthly and the book Evidence of Love: A True Story of Passion and Death in the Suburbs, Candy found her marriage boring and craved excitement.
Her world revolved around the Methodist Church of Lucas, where she met Betty Gore. Betty, played by Lily Rabe, was also a wife and mother, struggling with the challenges of teaching and the loneliness of a husband who traveled often. The two women’s friendship was genuine, but cracks appeared when Candy began a clandestine affair with Betty’s husband, Allan Gore.
An Affair That Set Tragedy in Motion
The affair started in 1978, after a chance collision during a church volleyball game. Candy was drawn to Allan—she even approached him directly about her attraction. Allan, for his part, felt neglected in his own marriage. After months of carefully scheduled, emotion-free rendezvous, the relationship grew complicated. Eventually, Allan ended things to work on his marriage, but by then, the seeds of tragedy had been sown.
The Murder: A Shocking Act in a Quiet Town
On June 13, 1980, with Allan away on business, Betty Gore was found dead in her home—struck 41 times with an axe. Her infant daughter was discovered unharmed nearby, but the scene was described as ‘oceans of blood.’ Suspicion quickly fell on Candy, who had been the last person to see Betty alive and was watching Betty’s older daughter at the time.
As police investigated, Allan admitted to the affair, giving them a motive. Candy surrendered herself on June 26, 1980. Her community rallied behind her, and she hired lawyer Don Crowder to lead her defense. The trial that followed gripped the nation, as details emerged through witness testimony and even hypnosis sessions with psychiatrist Dr. Fred Fason, who claimed Candy’s childhood trauma triggered her rage.
The Trial and Verdict: Self-Defense or Something More?
During the trial, Candy claimed self-defense: that Betty had confronted her about the affair, grabbed an axe, and attacked first. Candy said she only stopped striking Betty ‘at the point of utter exhaustion.’ The jury ultimately acquitted her of murder on October 29, 1980—a decision that left many in shock, and others questioning the justice system’s ability to unravel complex emotional truths.
Aftermath: Where Are They Now?
After the trial, Candy Montgomery faded from the public eye. According to The Dallas Morning News, she and her husband moved to Georgia, where she worked as a family counselor. The couple eventually separated. Betty Gore’s daughters were raised by her parents in Kansas, a quiet ending to a story that had begun in the shadow of suburban normalcy.
Why This Story Still Resonates
What makes the Love & Death story so compelling isn’t just the crime itself, but the web of relationships and emotions that led up to it. It’s a cautionary tale about the dangers lurking beneath the surface of seemingly ordinary lives, and the way suppressed desires and resentments can spiral out of control. The case continues to fascinate because it’s not just about violence—it’s about longing, betrayal, and the limits of forgiveness.
The series draws heavily from original reporting in Texas Monthly and the book Evidence of Love, ensuring that the facts remain front and center. The dramatization may add Hollywood flair, but the heart of the story—two families shattered by a moment of unimaginable violence—remains unchanged.
As viewers watch the series or read about the case, the question lingers: how could this happen in a place so ordinary? The answer, perhaps, is that tragedy can strike anywhere, especially when the lines between friendship, desire, and resentment become blurred.
Looking at the facts, the Candy Montgomery case is a stark reminder of the unpredictable complexity of human relationships. The acquittal, controversial then and now, speaks to the difficulty of untangling motive, emotion, and justice in a crime born out of intimacy and betrayal. ‘Love & Death’ doesn’t just revisit a notorious murder—it asks us to reconsider the hidden tensions that shape our lives.