The true crime drama Love & Death on Max brings a shocking Texas murder case back into focus. The seven-episode series tells the story of Candy Montgomery, a church-going housewife from Wylie, Texas, who was tried for the axe murder of her friend, Betty Gore. The killing happened on June 13, 1980, and the trial that followed ended with a surprising verdict that left a community divided and questions unanswered.
The True Story of Candy Montgomery and Betty Gore
In the late 1970s, both the Montgomerys and the Gores were families living in Wylie, Texas, and attending the same Methodist church. Candy Montgomery was married to an electrical engineer named Pat, and they had two children. Betty Gore was a school teacher married to Allan Gore, and they also had two children. Despite their seemingly ordinary suburban lives, Candy began an affair with Allan Gore that lasted for months. The affair eventually ended, but the consequences were just beginning.
On Friday, June 13, 1980, while Allan Gore was out of town, Candy went to the Gore house. What happened next is known only from Candy’s testimony. She said Betty confronted her about the affair and the situation turned violent. The confrontation ended with Betty Gore dead in her utility room, having been struck with an axe 41 times. Candy Montgomery was later arrested and charged with murder.
The Confrontation and Candy Montgomery’s Self-Defense Claim
The HBO Max series dramatizes the deadly encounter based on trial records and Candy’s own account. According to her testimony, which the show recreates, Betty Gore retrieved an axe from the garage after Candy admitted to the affair. Candy stated that Betty attacked her first, striking her in the head and the toe with the weapon. A struggle for the axe ensued.
Candy told the court that after she gained control of the axe, she hit Betty in what she believed was a defensive act. She tried to leave, but Betty, still conscious, stopped her. At this point, Candy’s story takes a psychological turn. She testified that Betty said “shush,” which triggered a traumatic memory from Candy’s childhood. A psychiatrist for the defense later explained this as a dissociative reaction, where Candy essentially lost control. She then struck Betty Gore repeatedly, a total of 41 times, before finally stopping.
“We determined it never had a bearing on the verdict at all — whether it was one gunshot or 1,000 whacks,” said juror Alice Doherty Rowley about the brutality of the crime.
The Key Evidence and Testimony at Trial
Candy Montgomery’s trial lasted eight days in McKinney, Texas. Her defense team, led by lawyer Don Crowder, argued she acted in pure self-defense. The prosecution, led by District Attorney Tom O’Connell, argued that the extreme violence—41 axe blows—was far beyond what was necessary for self-defense and that Candy could have simply fled.
Several pieces of testimony became central to the case. Dr. Fred Fason, a psychiatrist, took the stand to explain the concept of a dissociative state, arguing that Candy’s violent reaction was triggered by Betty’s “shush” and her own past trauma. This helped the defense frame the excessive violence as an uncontrollable psychological episode rather than premeditated murder.
Candy’s husband, Pat Montgomery, also testified in her support. In a conservative community where infidelity was a major scandal, his forgiveness and defense of his wife were seen as crucial. He told the jury he had forgiven Candy and was thankful she was the one who survived the encounter.
A curious piece of physical evidence was a lens from Candy’s sunglasses, found in the Gores’ garage. This was puzzling because Candy claimed the entire fight happened inside the house, not the garage. The defense could not fully explain it, but the jury ultimately did not find it compelling enough to convict.
The Verdict and Immediate Fallout
After just over three hours of deliberation, the jury of nine women and three men reached a verdict on October 30, 1980. They found Candy Montgomery not guilty of murder. The acquittal was based on the legal principle of self-defense.
The verdict stunned the community. As Candy left the courthouse, crowds shouted “Murderer!” at her. The legal system had found her not guilty, but the court of public opinion in her small Texas town was less forgiving. The series shows how the social fabric of her community fractured, with neighbors and former friends distancing themselves from Candy and her family. Betty Gore’s father, Bob Pomeroy, expressed the lingering doubt shared by many, saying, “We don’t know what happened and we never will know what happened”.
What Happened to the People Involved After the Trial
The real-life outcomes for those involved, detailed in the series’ epilogue, are a mixture of new beginnings and ongoing tragedy.
Candy and Pat Montgomery moved out of Texas shortly after the trial, relocating to Georgia. However, their marriage did not survive, and they divorced in 1986. Candy Montgomery eventually became a licensed professional counselor, specializing in family and adolescent therapy. She has largely stayed out of the public eye.
Allan Gore, Betty’s husband, remarried a woman named Elaine Williams, who had supported him during the trial. That marriage also ended in divorce. Allan later remarried a third time and moved to Maine. Betty’s parents adopted and raised his and Betty’s two daughters.
Tragedy followed Don Crowder, Candy’s lawyer. After an unsuccessful run for Governor of Texas in 1986, he died by suicide in 1998.
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Where to Watch Love & Death
The Love & Death miniseries, starring Elizabeth Olsen as Candy Montgomery and Jesse Plemons as Allan Gore, first premiered on HBO Max (now Max) in April 2023. In a significant move for streaming, the complete series became available on Netflix in the United States on December 1, 2025, introducing the story to a vast new audience. The show remains available to stream on Max as well.
The series was created by David E. Kelley and features a notable performance by Elizabeth Olsen, which drew critical praise. It offers a dramatic and thoughtful look at a crime where the only living witness was the accused, leaving viewers to grapple with the same unanswered questions that haunted a Texas town over four decades ago.
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