A very interesting piece appeared on August 20, 2006 in the Palm Beach Post which does a rather lengthy comparison of the Lizzie Borden case and the JonBenet Ramsey investigation, prompted, of course, by the “confession” of John Mark Karr.
Read the article all the way through, as there are some choice quotes by 92 Second Street owner Lee-ann Wilbur and the curator of the Fall River Historical Society, Michael Martins. Looks like reporter Michael Browning has done some legwork for this piece.
The similarities with the Ramsey case are striking.
Both murders occurred at the family home. Lizzie’s older sister, Emma, was out of town. An uncle, John Vinnicum Morse, was staying with the Bordens but left the house early and was in town conducting business. The maid, an Irishwoman named Bridget Sullivan, was there.
So, needless to say, were Lizzie and her stepmother, Abby Borden. Andrew Borden, a prosperous undertaker and land speculator, had come home for lunch and a nap.
Both murders had evidentiary problems. JonBenet Ramsey’s body was moved from the basement, where it was discovered by her father. No murder weapon or bloody clothing was ever discovered by police in the Borden case.
The lack of crucial evidence, together with the fact that both murder houses represented sealed environments — difficult if not impossible for outsiders to gain access to in such a narrow time-frame — have kept the Ramsey and Borden murders alive in a kind of Black Museum of murder.
Thanks to Intrepid Reporter for the link!
