Lizzie Borden Society Forum

Debbie, you keep me on my toes, for sure.

Seriously, I do think you have a good point in saying: The damage done to both of them looks like punishment...perhaps enraged retribution rather than money alone. I agree that the killer, probably Lizzie, was full of rage, which was directed toward both Andrew and Abby, although, IMO, that rage was directed more at Abby then Andrew. Overkill? Definitely! Depersonalization? Absolutely!

I swing backwards and forwards on this one. (So, what else is new!) My first reaction when viewing the autopsy photos when I first joined the Forum and again later, was, as debbie says, "The killer has tried to destroy Andrew's face. This is often done by people filled with hate towards the person involved."

Then I get swayed by Possum and other posters' argument that the upmost side of the face on the couch would be convenient for the killer and therefore would be obliterated. So, go away to think once more! Of course, if the killer is a member of Andrew's family (Lizzie) or had a personal vendetta against him, the first scenario holds good, doesn't it?

Indeed Andrew's face was the easiest and most vulnerable site for attack. Except the killer didn't stop after the first few blows, any of which would've been fatal. Bludgeoning Andrew until his eyeball is oozing down his no longer-existent cheek, brains are splattered on the walls and his features are obliterated....that's overkill and depersonalization.

debbiediablo wrote:

andrew-body.jpg

Indeed Andrew's face was the easiest and most vulnerable site for attack. Except the killer didn't stop after the first few blows, any of which would've been fatal. Bludgeoning Andrew until his eyeball is oozing down his no longer-existent cheek, brains are splattered on the walls and his features are obliterated....that's overkill and depersonalization.

You both can be correct. When killing someone in a house with others around, you MUST make sure the person is killed by the first or second blow. You can't miss or hit a non-vital area. If Andrew (or Abby) screamed, the jig would be up. The killer hit hard and fast to prevent that. BUT after the first 4 or 5 blows, he obviously was dead the killer's arm would be tired, and yet they continued. That shows emotional response of hate.