In August 1892, wealthy businessman Andrew Borden and his wife, Abby , were found murdered inside their home in Fall River, Massachusetts. Suspicion soon fell on Andrew’s 32-year-old daughter, Lizzie Borden , but police could find neither a bloody weapon nor bloodstained clothing. Because of this, she was not immediately arrested or charged with the murders.

Three days later, family friend Alice Russell walked into the Borden kitchen and saw Lizzie standing near the stove with a dress in her hands. Emma Borden , Lizzie’s older sister, was washing dishes nearby.

“I am going to burn this old thing up,” Lizzie told her sister, according to Russell’s later testimony . “It is covered with paint.”

Russell left the kitchen, then returned to find Lizzie tearing apart the dress. “I wouldn’t let anybody see me do that, Lizzie,” she warned her.

Russell kept what she’d seen to herself for nearly four months.…