Exploring the Gruesome Truth Behind "Love & Death": Facts About Candy Montgomery's Actual Murder of Her Friend

The HBO Max miniseries Love & Death, which premiered in April 2023, portrays the shocking true events surrounding the killing of Betty Gore by her close friend, Candy Montgomery. Elizabeth Olsen stars as Candy, while Lily Rabe plays Betty. The series, created by David E. Kelley, offers a chilling depiction of Candys life unraveling after an illicit affair with Allan Gore, Bettys husband, played by Jesse Plemons.

The story is set in Wylie, Texas, where Candy appeared to live a quiet suburban life. Her relationship with Allan began as a controlled, emotionless arrangement but gradually became complicated as feelings deepened. Betty, who was both Candys friend and Allans wife, grew suspicious over time. The situation reached a violent climax one summer day in 1980, when Candy attacked Betty with an axe, striking her 41 times.

Kelley based much of the series on the book Evidence of Love: A True Story of Passion and Death in the Suburbs by John Bloom and Jim Atkinson, which originally appeared as a multi-part feature in Texas Monthly in 1984 titled Love and Death in Silicon Prairie. Kelley noted that the real-life events were so compelling that fictionalizing them felt unnecessary.

The Lives Behind the Tragedy

Candy Montgomery was considered a normal suburban housewife, married to Pat Montgomery with whom she had a son and a daughter. In 1977, the family moved to Wylie and settled into what Candy described as her dream home. She attended the Methodist Church of Lucas, where she met Betty Gore, and the two women formed a close friendship.

Betty, married to Allan Gore in 1970, worked as an elementary school teacher but struggled with her job and household responsibilities. Planning a second child carefully, Bettys life appeared orderly, but her marriage to Allan became strained. During this time, Candy and Allan grew close after meeting at a church volleyball game in 1978, eventually beginning an affair that lasted several months.

The Murder and Investigation

On June 13, 1980, Allan was away on a business trip and became concerned when Betty did not respond to calls. Candy reassured him that Betty was fine, but later, a neighbor discovered the Gore home filled with blood and Bettys infant daughter unharmed in her crib. Police quickly identified Bettys murder, and Candy became the prime suspect as the last person to see her alive. Allans admission of the affair gave authorities a clear motive.

Candy was arrested on June 26, 1980, and, supported by her church community, hired lawyer Don Crowder. Psychiatrist Dr. Fred Fason helped Candy recall the events through hypnosis, revealing that she claimed self-defense during the fatal confrontation with Betty. Candy testified that Betty attacked her with an axe after discovering the affair, leading Candy to strike back 41 times until exhausted.

Trial and Aftermath

On October 29, 1980, Candy Montgomery was acquitted of murder charges. Following the trial, she retreated from public attention. She and Pat eventually moved to Georgia, where she worked as a certified family counselor before the couple separated. Bettys daughters, Alisa and Bethany, were raised by Bettys parents in Kansas.

The miniseries Love & Death brings these shocking events to life, exploring the tangled relationships, betrayal, and the unexpected violence that shattered a seemingly ordinary suburban community.

Author: Aiden Foster