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I questioned every decision I had ever made as I trembled under the covers in the basement of one of America’s most haunted residences. Visiting is one thing, but staying overnight? That’s a feat reserved for the brave—or as I soon realized, the foolish.
I only recently discovered that the Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, Massachusetts, had been converted into a B&B, which instantly piqued my interest, especially because it’s the site of an unsolved murder case I’ve been obsessed with for years.
I don’t usually seek out haunted experiences; I prefer observing them from a safe distance (via YouTube and movies). I have a healthy fear of the occult and no interest in ghosts or demons latching onto me. But my morbid curiosity got the best of me with this one, so I asked my most daring friend if she’d join me—and she instantly said yes. Soon after, we made plans to go just before Halloween.
We could’ve just done the ghost tours and hunt, which would be more than enough horror for most people. But coming from NYC, we needed somewhere to stay. Since October is their busy season, none of the official rooms were available. Instead, we were invited to sleep on a Murphy bed in the basement’s washroom, the most haunted part of the house.
In horror movies, the basement is the place you avoid at all costs if you don’t want to end up haunted or possessed. But our craving for a visceral, fear-driven adrenaline rush overpowered our better judgment. So, read on to vicariously experience the scariest night of our lives without the risk of ghosts following you home.
Fall River Walking Tour
We started our visit with a nighttime walking tour with US Ghost Adventures, exploring the haunted streets of Fall River, Massachusetts, where the Borden house stands. We learned not only about the twisted history of the Borden family but also about the town’s other horrifying cults, murders, and chilling past. Turns out the whole place is cursed.
The last part of the tour led us into the main floor of the Borden house. The moment I walked in, a sinking feeling washed over me. The energy of the space felt disturbingly hollow, as if its very soul had been vacuumed out.
Whether this feeling stemmed from my prior knowledge of what had happened here or if it was simply a natural response to the creepiness of the space, I couldn’t say. But the more time I spent inside, the more I wanted to leave—there were definitely otherworldly forces at play, which was later confirmed.
The Haunting History of the Borden Family
The Borden family became infamous after the shocking murders of Andrew and Abby Borden on August 4, 1892, in their lavish Victorian residence. Andrew, a wealthy businessman known for his frugality, married Abby in 1865. This strained Andrew’s relationship with his daughters from his first marriage, Lizzie and Emma.
On the day of the murders, Andrew was found dead on the living room sofa, and Abby was discovered in a guest room, both victims of multiple axe wounds. Lizzie, 32 at the time, was arrested and tried for the murders but acquitted due to lack of evidence despite remaining a prime suspect.
Following the trial, Lizzie and Emma inherited their father’s fortune, but the case left a lasting legacy of mystery and controversy, making it one of the most famous unsolved murder mysteries in American history.
Potential Explanations
I asked everyone I met who had deep knowledge of the case—locals, historians, and tour guides alike—whether they believed Lizzie had committed the murder or was somehow involved. I’d assumed for years that she was, but to my surprise, they all answered with a unanimous ‘no.’ Naturally, I made each one explain, and here’s what I learned:
The Bordens often hosted Lizzie and Emma’s uncle, John Morse (their mother’s brother), who wasn’t particularly fond of Andrew or Abby. Since Andrew had remarried, John wouldn’t inherit any of Andrew’s substantial estate, as it would first go to Abby—leaving even Lizzie and Emma out. If Abby died first, followed by Andrew, that would be the only way the inhertitance would go to them.
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Everyone I spoke with believed John was the catalyst behind it all, hiring an assassin to do his dirty work. The entire family and the maid were interrogated, and each had a solid alibi. Lizzie’s was the weakest, as she was home when the murders occurred, leading to her being the only one arrested and tried (or maybe it was all a setup and they just needed a suspect…).
John’s alibi, however, seemed premeditated—he provided a few too many details about where he was and who he was with, carefully covering all his bases.
Regardless of what modern-day Fall River citizens believe, we may never know the true murderer. However, this is the explanation I find most believable.
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Issues with the Case
Poor Forensic Technology and Crime Scene Regulations
The case was especially challenging due to the lack of forensic technology at the time and the tampering of the crime scene.
When the photographer arrived, he found Andrew deceased on the couch with his feet up. More concerned with the fact that he was only in his socks than the fact that his whole face was mutilated with 11 axe blows, the photographer put his shoes back on and arranged him in a more ‘respectable’ position. Somehow, he believed that the public would be more shocked by a shoeless elitist than by a barely identifiable, blood-drenched face.
Police Were Late to the Scene
To make matters worse, the police didn’t arrive at the crime scene until about 40 minutes after receiving a vague alert that ‘something happened.’ And even then, only a few officers showed up—the rest were conveniently living it up at a clam bake in Boston.
By that point, hundreds of people had gathered around the house, many of them storming inside to steal possessions and tamper with the crime scene. The crowd erupted into song and dance, celebrating with popcorn and drinks, which says a lot about the public opinion of Andrew Borden. And it was well-deserved—he had monopolized the town, owning most of the businesses and real estate, with a history of greed and corruption that left nearly everyone in town feeling wronged.
Given his widespread unpopularity, there were nearly a hundred suspects, but conducting such a thorough investigation would have bankrupted Fall River. So, they simply shrugged it off and called it a day.
Classism and Racism
Classism and racism only further corrupted this case. It’s no secret that rich, white Protestants dominated nearly every aspect of society at that time, while Irish Catholics and Portuguese immigrants, the main immigrant groups in Fall River, faced significant discrimination.
That being said, the jury was composed entirely of white Protestant men who couldn’t fathom that a woman as high-class as Lizzie could be involved in such a brutal murder. The mayor was skeptical, but his opinion carried little weight because he was Irish Catholic.
Andrew was notorious for his blatant racism against Irish Catholics, even going so far as to cut off heat for his Irish maid, Bridget. He and his family referred to her as ‘Maggie,’ the name of their former maid, showing they didn’t even bother to learn her real name.
The Ghost Hunt
I have always been a curious skeptic and have attempted to debunk any of the mild ghostly encounters I’ve had in the past. I mostly experienced objects disappearing, but I chalked that up to my problems with object permanence and my poor attention span.
This doesn’t change the fact that I am utterly terrified by the possibility of supernatural forces and prefer not to mess with anything too much – just in case something does exist. Ghost agnosticism, if you will.
How it Works
US Ghost Adventures hosts nightly self-guided ghost hunts with access to a variety of ghost-hunting tools. Our guide gave us a debrief on what ghosts might be lurking in the home, including Andrew, Abby, Lizzie, Eliza, a cat named Max, and whatever comes through the mirror portal in the parlor. Apparently, the prior owners of the home allowed people to use Ouija boards for some god-awful reason, so whatever entities remain from that disaster of an idea could be lurking around the house, too.
He then taught us how to use the tools, divided us into two groups (about nine people each) and sent us on our merry way. We divided and conquered, our group starting in the basement and the other group beginning on the first floor. We switched after the 50-minute mark.
The Ghost Hunting Tools
I have never used any ghost-hunting tools, so I was really excited to get to try a whole bunch of them out. Here is what we had access to:
EMF Meter (Electromagnetic Field Meter): Measures electromagnetic fields and can indicate the presence of spirits, as they are believed to manipulate electromagnetic energy.
Spirit Box (Ghost Box): A device that scans radio frequencies to facilitate communication with spirits, allowing them to use the radio waves to speak through the device.
Thermal Imaging Camera: Detects temperature changes in the environment, which can indicate the presence of a spirit.
Dowsing Rods: Traditionally used for locating water, some believe they can also indicate the presence of spirits by moving or crossing in response to questions.
Motion Sensors: Detects movement in an area and can alert investigators to potential paranormal activity.
The Basement Hunt
Our group made the creaky descent into the basement, which was divided into a maze of shadowy nooks and crannies. Everyone scattered to explore, taking turns with the ghost-hunting devices. Being in a group made it feel a bit less terrifying—at first. But as things began to happen, we all grew increasingly unnerved.
We set the motion sensor down in the washroom, designed to beep whenever something passed over it. Each of us had our own EMF meters, which light up when ‘something is present.’ These are devices I’d once dismissed as gimmicky and unreliable but when they all started going off in unison and the overhead lights began flickering, I felt my skepticism turn to genuine fear. All of this action was happening right where we were supposed to sleep that night.
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The First Floor Hunt
After the basement, our group went up to the first floor. My friend, two other ladies and I hung out in the living room on the first floor where Andrew Borden was murdered. This is where we played around with the spirit box, what I consider the scariest and most believable detector of them all.
The device rapidly scans radio frequencies, generating white noise and fragmented audio that spirits are thought to manipulate to communicate relevant words or responses to investigators. Standout words or contextually relevant replies are often seen as potential spirit communication.
At first, we heard only nominal blips—nothing that could be directly understood. But soon, the words became clearer and began answering our questions directly. It was game over when both my friend and I heard our names spoken. The “ghost” then identified itself as Steve, promptly hurling a barrage of misogynistic slurs our way. I did not like Steve. And I did not like this house. But I had to see it through.
If you really want to venture down skeptic avenue, you could say that its just frequency interference, a case of pareidolia or some form of confirmation bias. But I suggest trying it out for yourself first. Devices aside, I sensed an energy that can only be understood through firsthand experience.
Sleeping (Not Really) in the Basement
After being paralyzed with fear, my friend and I made our way to the car to gather our things and get ready for bed. We sat in the car for nearly 45 minutes, mentally preparing ourselves to face the daunting return to the basement.
Once we got there, we decided to leave a light on and I cranked up a white noise app to full volume on my phone. Then, both of us made sure every single part of us was under the covers, to the point of near suffocation. We weren’t going to take any chances.
I was convinced that even the slightest movement or shift in my weight might attract some strange energy. Parched, overheated, and cramped in the same position all night, I didn’t sleep a wink—while somehow, my lucky friend managed to doze off.
Morning couldn’t come soon enough, and when it finally did, we felt an overwhelming sense of relief. But seeing a light on that we hadn’t turned on and a door mysteriously opened on its own only made us want to leave faster.
My friend and I walked away with an unforgettable bond and eerie stories we’ll share for years—whether anyone believes us or not. For the skeptics, there’s only one way to know for sure: experience it yourself.
If You Dare Go:
- The basement isn’t technically a place for guests to sleep, but you can book it privately for an overnight investigation. For a true overnight stay, you can choose from any of the other rooms in the house—including the one where Abby was murdered. Take a look at the options here.
- Go to US Ghost Adventures to book tours and hunts
- Visit Oak Grove Cemetery to find the Borden family’s graves.
- Stop by the Lizzie Borden Café next door, located at the site of other infamous murders in the Borden family. Conversations with the owners and locals gave me deep insights into the case and their theories.
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