Inside the Lizzie Borden House Haunting: Real Ghost Encounters?

The Lizzie Borden House (Fall River, Massachusetts) was the scene of one of America’s most notorious crimes. On August 4, 1892, Andrew Borden and his wife, Abby, were brutally murdered with a hatchet inside the home.

Since the brutal murders, the house has become a hotspot for paranormal manifestations, including strange apparitions, unexplained sounds, and physical interactions (often attributed to the restless souls of the victims).

The guests and the paranormal investigators who visited the site described the oppressive atmosphere, with manifestations intensifying in the rooms tied to the murders.

Key Takeaways

Attribute	Details
Name	Lizzie Borden House (also known as Borden House or 92 Second Street)
Location	230 2nd Street, Fall River, Massachusetts, United States
History	Site of the 1892 axe murders of Andrew and Abby Borden; previously a middle-class residence owned by Andrew Borden from 1872; converted to a bed and breakfast in 1996.
Type of haunting	Intelligent, Apparitions, Ghosts (General), Poltergeist
Entities	Andrew Borden, Abby Borden, Lizzie Borden, Bridget Sullivan (maid), Ghosts of two children drowned in 1848 at adjacent property
Manifestations	Apparitions of shadowy figures, children’s laughter, unexplained footsteps, cold spots, objects moving or being thrown, electronic voice phenomena (EVPs), ghostly faces in photos, self-rocking chairs, spectral cats, choking sensations, fire alarms at 3 a.m.
First reported sighting	Mid-1990s, shortly after conversion to a bed and breakfast
Recent activity	March 2024: Guest Boyd reported a book flying off a shelf in the parlor during a solo visit; September 2022: Family captured anomalous photo in Bridget’s room showing two female figures and a dark face.
Open to the public?	Yes; visitors can book house tours daily from 10 a.m. to midnight, overnight stays starting at $260 per night, ghost tours in the evenings, and ghost hunts with provided equipment.

What Is the Lizzie Borden House Haunting?

The haunting at the Lizzie Borden House centers on alleged intelligent interactions and apparitions linked to the 1892 murders.

Guests report shadowy figures gliding through doorways, particularly in the parlor where Andrew Borden was killed and Abby’s upstairs bedroom. Children’s laughter echoes from the attic, possibly tied to unrelated 1848 drownings next door, while EVPs captured on recordings include voices resembling Lizzie and the maid Bridget Sullivan.

Physical manifestations add to the unease. Various household items have been witnessed flying across rooms and spinning mid-air before landing. Cold spots drop temperatures abruptly. Some guests felt choking sensations in Lizzie’s bed.

Over 25 years, paranormal investigators have documented more than 100 EVPs and anomalous photos here. Reports peak during overnight stays, with nearly 70% of guests citing unexplained noises or touches.

Lizzie Borden House Haunted History

The Lizzie Borden House is famous for its association with a family marked by tension and tragedy. The house was built in the 1840s as a residence for two families. In 1872, Andrew Borden (a wealthy banker) transformed it into a single-family home.

Despite his wealth, Andrew was known for being frugal, which created unhappy feelings among his family. His second wife, Abby, moved in after they married in 1865 and had to step into the role of a mother to Andrew’s two daughters, Emma and Lizzie, from his first marriage. Their mother, Sarah, had passed away in 1863.

Within the home, tensions were high. Abby, who was 64 when she died, was not well-liked by Lizzie—who was 32 at the time and saw her stepmother as an unwelcome presence.

In 1892, the family experienced mysterious health issues—which some suspected might have been caused by poisoned milk.

Andrew’s tendency to save money clashed with what his daughters wanted; Lizzie dreamed of living in a nicer neighborhood, while Emma, who was 42, shared her frustrations. The family’s live-in maid, Bridget Sullivan, often found herself caught in the middle of their disputes and would retreat to the attic as tensions rose.

The Axe Murders

On Thursday, August 4, 1892, what started as an ordinary day for the household quickly took a surprising turn. Abby was upstairs dusting around 9 in the morning, while Andrew left for work. Meanwhile, Bridget, who was feeling tired and unwell from the heat, took a break after finishing the task of washing the windows.

Lizzie claimed a distressed note from a friend summoned Abby to the guest room—yet no such message was ever found during the investigation that followed.

By 9:30 a.m., Abby lay dead on the floor, struck nearly 20 times with a hatchet; her skull fractured in a savage assault that sprayed blood across the walls.

Andrew returned around 10:45 a.m. and retired to the sitting room couch for a nap. Lizzie later claimed that she discovered his mutilated body at 11:15 a.m.—his face cleaved by 10 to 11 blows.

Neighbors rushed to help after hearing Lizzie’s cries. They found a hatchet hidden in the basement, the handle of which had been burned.

The community of Fall River was in shock: two wealthy people had been murdered in daylight, the doors were locked, and there were no signs of a break-in. Nothing had been stolen; even Andrew’s gold watch was still in his pocket.

Lizzie quickly became the main suspect in the investigation. She claimed that she was in the kitchen ironing when Abby was killed, but her story didn’t seem convincing.

Lizzie Borden’s Trial

Lizzie Borden’s arrest on August 11, 1892, sparked a massive media storm. This trial was the first murder case to be widely reported across the country through the telegraph.

Charged with the murder of her stepmother, Abby, Lizzie pleaded not guilty. Her calm behavior clashed with the shocking nature of the accusations against her.

The three-week trial took place in New Castle, New Hampshire, attracting thousands of spectators. An all-male jury faced the challenging case of a woman accused of a gruesome crime.

The prosecutor, Hosea Knowlton, portrayed Lizzie as vengeful, suggesting her motive stemmed from fears of being cut off from the family fortune, which Abby was trying to secure for her relatives.

Evidence against Lizzie piled up: questionable purchases of poison, inconsistencies in her alibi, and a dress she had burned shortly after the murders. The family’s maid, Bridget, testified that after the murders, Lizzie seemed unsettled and wanted to go upstairs, even though she stayed downstairs calmly sewing.

However, Lizzie’s defense attorney, Andrew Jennings, argued there was reasonable doubt. There was no blood found on Lizzie, and she claimed she was called away by a note, raising questions about the evidence.

Medical experts testified that the nature of the killings suggested they were carried out by someone strong, implying a woman would not have been capable of such violence.

Cultural biases of the time led many to resist accepting that a woman could be guilty of such a crime. After an hour and a half of deliberation, the jury found Lizzie not guilty on June 20, 1893. While there were cheers in the courtroom, whispers of a miscarriage of justice persisted.

After the trial, Lizzie, who later changed her name to Lizbeth, led a solitary life in a home called Maplecroft on the Hill until she died in 1927. Her sister Emma distanced herself after a disagreement in 1905.

The legacy of this trial left a lasting impact on the media, setting a precedent for sensationalized coverage of criminal cases. The town of Fall River turned its back on Lizzie, and her grave at Oak Grove Cemetery now attracts curious visitors.

The Borden house, sold piece by piece after the murders, fell into disrepair until it was restored in 1996, bringing back the haunting stories and headlines from that notorious case.

Ghost Sightings

Date	Location in House	Witness(es)	Description	Evidence Captured
Mid-1990s	Parlor	Early B&B guests	Shadowy figure resembling Andrew Borden seen sitting in armchair; cold spot followed by footsteps.	None documented; verbal reports only.
2007	Living Room	Paranormal investigation team	Camera moved autonomously twice, pointing at investigators; misty human forms photographed near murder site.	Anomalous photos; EVP of male voice saying “Leave.”
2012	Throughout house	Ghost Adventures crew and tour guide	Tour guide punched in back by unseen force; EVPs of women’s whispers; objects shifted in Abby’s room.	Video footage of punch; multiple EVPs including “Guilty?”
September 2022	Bridget’s Attic Room	Stefanie and family (daughter Lilly present)	Photo taken in empty room showed two female figures looking away and a dark face; children’s laughter heard prior.	Digital photo anomaly.
March 2024	Front Parlor	Solo guest Boyd	Book flew off shelf unaided while addressing spirits; sensation of being watched intensified.	Personal audio recording; no visual.
April 2024	Basement	Overnight group	Ghostly face appeared on wall during ghost hunt; fire alarm triggered at 3 a.m. without cause.	Enhanced photo of face; alarm logs.
July 2024	Abby’s Bedroom	Couple on tour	Bed sheets tugged; apparition of woman in Victorian dress at foot of bed; choking feeling reported.	EVP: “Why?”; temperature drop recorded at 15°F.
October 2024	Attic	Ghost hunt participants	Marbles rolling across floor; coat hangers rattling; shadow children figures darting in hallway.	Audio of rolling sounds; motion sensor triggers.

Movement in the Living Room (2007)

In 2007, a team investigating paranormal activity visited the Lizzie Borden House and experienced unusual events in the living room, where Andrew Borden’s body was found after his murder.

As they were setting up their cameras near a bloodstained sofa, they noticed that one of their video cameras moved on its own—not once, but twice. The first movement was gentle, but the second was sudden, as if something unseen was controlling it.

The team leader felt an odd weight in the air, and the temperature dropped by 10°F. In the pictures taken afterward, strange misty shapes appeared, resembling human figures near the fireplace where Lizzie Borden was rumored to have burned evidence.

One investigator felt a strong tug on their sleeve, along with a mysterious voice caught on their recording device saying, “Get out.”

This incident is considered one of the earliest examples of an “intelligent haunting,” where the spirit seems to respond to people’s presence. The investigators thought it might be related to Andrew Borden’s reputation for stinginess, suggesting it could be a ghostly warning against intruders.

Following this event, reports of similar strange occurrences increased, with objects reportedly moving in nearby rooms. Over 50 investigators have returned to the house since then, finding odd occurrences that have made the living room a hotspot for paranormal activity.

Ghost Adventures (2012)

In 2012, an episode of Ghost Adventures brought the Lizzie Borden House into the spotlight of paranormal television.

During a tour, a medium named Amy felt a strong punch to her lower back while in the bedroom of Abby Borden, Lizzie’s stepmother. It was so powerful that it left a bruise, and no one was close enough to do it.

Cameras also caught a strange orb darting towards Amy just before the incident. Additionally, Zak Bagans, the show’s host, suddenly felt unwell, and they had to step outside for a moment.

As they reviewed the recordings, they discovered strange voices, including a woman’s voice crying for help mixed with a man’s growls telling her to “Not [help] her.”

They witnessed objects moving on their own—like a hairbrush sliding across a dresser—and mirrors fogging up with handprints appearing without any visible cause. In the basement, where a hatchet was hidden, compasses went haywire, and a ghostly cat brushed against their legs.

Some claimed the punch was fake, but later medical examinations confirmed Amy had a bruise.

The episode attracted 2.3 million viewers and boosted bookings for the house by 40%. Similar ghost hunts after the episode led to more strange experiences, like scratches on people’s arms and whispers that called out for “Lizzie.”

Anomalous Photograph in Bridget’s Room (September 2022)

In September 2022, Stefanie was visiting the Lizzie Borden House with her fiancé and their young daughter, Lilly.

While exploring, she took a casual photo in a small attic room that once belonged to Bridget Sullivan, the house’s maid. They were the only ones in the room.

When the photo was developed later, it revealed strange and unsettling things. Two ghostly figures of women in old-fashioned clothing seemed to be looking away. Another dark, hazy figure with a twisted expression appeared in the center. Just before the photo was taken, Lilly had been giggling and claiming she saw “silly ladies playing hide.”

Stefanie also felt like someone was watching her, and a sudden draft blew out her candle without explanation. When the photo was enhanced, the faces became clearer: one looked like Abby, with her bonnet askew, while the other resembled Bridget, her eyes looking hollow.

After the photo was shared online, paranormal enthusiasts discussed it, and experts called it significant evidence of supernatural activity because it looked unaltered.

Stefanie returned to the house a few months later. She captured faint sounds on her recording devices, including the name “Maggie,” a nickname for Bridget.

Flying Book in the Parlor (March 2024)

During a solo visit in March 2024 to the Lizzie Borden House, guest Boyd decided to meditate in the parlor, where Andrew Borden met his untimely end. He spoke to the spirits, saying, “If you’re here, show yourselves.”

Moments later, a leather-bound book about the area’s history flew off the side table, soaring through the air before landing at his feet. There were no open windows and no signs of a draft in the room.

Boyd turned on his audio recorder. When he played it back, he heard a deep voice say the word “Truth.” Almost immediately, he noticed shadows in the room starting to stretch and shift, forming into the shape of a man by the couch—stern and without a hat.

Terrified, he ran out of the room, his heart pounding. When he returned with the staff, the book was sitting there as if nothing had happened, its pages open to the chapter about the trial.

The temperature in the room was unusually low, at about 50°F, significantly colder than the outside temperature. Boyd, who had been skeptical about such experiences, posted his videos online, and they gained 10,000 views.

Many compared this incident to a similar event in 2012, when a photo appeared to hover in the air, suggesting attempts at communication from beyond.

Theories

Researchers and experts have proposed various explanations for the unusual occurrences at the Lizzie Borden House. With more than 200 reports of unusual occurrences since the 1990s, these theories aim to explain the connection between historical violence and contemporary thought patterns.

Residual Haunting from Traumatic Imprint

A residual haunting is a type of haunting similar to “a film that plays repetitively” within a particular location.

The Lizzie Borden House occasionally presents visitors with peculiar auditory phenomena. In certain instances, the auditory experiences may mirror climatic conditions (such as the intense heat reminiscent of that fateful August day). Additionally, some visitors have reported hearing the jovial laughter of children in the attic, which may potentially echo the sorrowful events of 1848.

Parapsychologist William Roll proposes that the materials comprising the house—its stone walls and wooden floors—can retain memories or “energies” from bygone eras.

Intelligent Entities Seeking Resolution

Intelligent hauntings refer to spirits that are aware and trying to communicate.

The spirits of Andrew and Abby might be seeking justice for their deaths, while Lizzie could be dealing with guilt. This could explain the strange voices captured in recordings asking questions like “Guilty?” or “Why me?”

Investigators from Ghost Adventures have documented over 50 unusual occurrences, including objects being thrown at skeptics and sudden cold spots that follow individuals.

Poltergeist Activity Linked to Emotional Stress

Poltergeist activities—moving objects and mysterious knocks—often occur around individuals who are highly stressed. The history of the crime in the house adds to that stress.

The excitement of visitors, combined with its dark past, creates a unique energy that may lead to these occurrences. This aligns with a theory by parapsychologist William G. Roll, who suggests energy accumulates in tense group settings.

In Fall River, where the Borden family lived, tales of ghostly experiences are often linked to the struggles the family faced, particularly regarding inheritance and anger. Over 40% of reported strange happenings involve objects thrown near where the murders occurred, often at midnight when stress levels peak.

Environmental and Infrasound-Induced Perceptions

Environmental factors can create experiences that feel like paranormal encounters. Low-frequency sounds from nearby traffic or a high school can make people feel anxious or perceive things that aren’t there. Researcher Vic Tandy found that spooky feelings can arise from sound waves created by fans.

At the Lizzie Borden House, creaky floors and cold drafts add to the eerie atmosphere. Shadowy figures might be tricks of the light in dimly lit rooms. Strange sounds, such as unexplained voices on recordings, could be the brain interpreting random noises in unusual ways.

Issues like lead paint or mold can lead to hallucinations. Illnesses reported in 1892 may have been caused by dangerous substances that linger. Over 80% of ghost sightings occur when it’s dark, aligning with studies that show perceptions can be misleading at night.

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Portal to Other Dimensions

Some believe the Lizzie Borden House serves as a portal, where past violence causes unusual events, potentially allowing other dimensions to blend with ours.

This idea comes from quantum science and ghost studies, suggesting traumatic experiences create openings in reality. Locations such as the basement, where the hatchet incident occurred, and an old well are believed to be gateways for strange entities, including shadowy figures and spirits of children not associated with the Borden family.

Investigator Ron Kolek, in his book The Ghost Chronicles, shares findings such as unusual energy readings that spike significantly and mysterious children’s marbles rolling across the floor as if drawn from another dimension. Interestingly, surveys indicate 15% of haunted locations worldwide show similar characteristics, sparking speculation about a network of such phenomena.

Lizzie Borden House vs Other Haunted Houses

Haunted House	Location	Key Historical Event	Primary Manifestations	Public Access
Amityville Horror House	Amityville, NY, USA	1974 DeFeo family murders	Demonic voices, swarms of flies, levitating beds	Private residence; tours nearby
Winchester Mystery Mansion	San Jose, CA, USA	Sarah Winchester’s obsessive building to appease spirits	Stairways to nowhere, apparitions of workers	Museum and guided tours
The Stanley Hotel	Estes Park, CO, USA	Inspiration for The Shining; flu epidemic deaths	Piano playing itself, children’s giggles in closets	Hotel with ghost tours
Eastern State Penitentiary	Philadelphia, PA, USA	19th-century solitary confinement tortures	Shadow people in cells, disembodied laughter	Historic site with nightly tours
Myrtles Plantation	St. Francisville, LA, USA	19th-century poisonings and slave deaths	Choked mirror apparitions, slave girl ghost	Bed and breakfast with tours
Bell Witch Cabin Site	Adams, TN, USA	1817-1821 Bell family poltergeist assaults	Bed-shaking, animal mutilations, voice phenomena	Reconstructed cabin; events
LaLaurie Mansion	New Orleans, LA, USA	1834 slave torture discoveries	Screams, chained figures in mirrors	Private; walking tours pass by
The Queen Mary	Long Beach, CA, USA	WWII troopship drownings and suicides	Lady in white, haunted engine room knocks	Hotel and museum ship
Tower of London	London, UK	Executions of Anne Boleyn and others	Headless apparitions, torture cries	Historic fortress tours
Whaley House	San Diego, CA, USA	1850s hangings and family suicides	Footsteps of gallows victims, child laughter	Museum with evening tours
Gettysburg Battlefield Houses	Gettysburg, PA, USA	1863 Civil War battle casualties	Soldier ghosts marching, cannon echoes	Battlefield tours and reenactments
Biltmore Estate	Asheville, NC, USA	Vanderbilt family deaths and servant tragedies	Ghostly servants, unexplained cries	Mansion tours and gardens
The Skirvin Hotel	Oklahoma City, OK, USA	1930s maternity ward scandals	Assaults on male guests, crib rocking	Operating hotel
Lemp Mansion	St. Louis, MO, USA	Lemp family suicides in early 1900s	Bobbing heads in hallways, clinking glasses	Restaurant and B&B
The Crescent Hotel	Eureka Springs, AR, USA	1930s cancer hospital horrors	Nurse apparitions, operating room mists	Hotel with ghost tours

Is Lizzie Borden House Haunting Real?

The Lizzie Borden House stands as a place rich in history and mystery, with its walls bearing witness to the tragic events and courtroom dramas that unfolded there.

Strange reports—from ghostly voices to books flying off shelves—create a picture of lingering unrest. Some suggest it’s echoes of the past, while others attribute happenings to human reasons.

Examination of these stories reveals patterns too remarkable to ignore. However, they may be influenced by expectations in an eerie setting. By day, the house is a museum; by night, it becomes a stage for paranormal activity.