While Love & Death impressed its viewers with its terrific casting and gripping screenplay, the most unsettling part is that it was based on a true story. Now that HBO Max’s original has made its way to Netflix, the show has quickly entered the top 10 list.
So, if you’re wondering what the true story that inspired the show, here are the details.
Love & Death is based on the real-world story of Candy Montgomery
Created by David E. Kelley, Love & Death features Elizabeth Olsen, Jesse Plemons, Patrick Fugit, Krysten Ritter, and Lily Rabe in the lead roles. The show premiered on April 27, 2023, with three episodes, with subsequent episodes releasing every week.
The series follows Candy (Olsen), a seemingly perfect suburban housewife, who has an affair with her neighbor, Allan Gore (Plemmons). On a fateful day, Allan’s wife, Betty Gore (Rabe), is found murdered with an axe at their residence. When he comes clean to the authorities about his affair with Candy, all eyes turn towards her as she faces an intense investigation and trial.
Love & Death is inspired by the horrifying true story of Candace Lynn Montgomery from Wylie, Texas. In 1980, Candy was involved in an affair with Allan after she met him at their local church. On June 13, 1980, following a violent confrontation, Candy fatally struck Betty with an axe 41 times. The neighbors discovered Betty’s body after Allan, who was out of town at the time, asked them to check in on her since he could not reach his wife.
The murder quickly turned into a high-profile case. The investigation lasted only a few days before Candy surrendered herself at the Collin County Sheriff’s Office on June 26, 1980. Later, after receiving support from her community church, Candy posted bail.
During the trial, Candy pleaded self-defense, claiming that Betty attacked her first with the same axe after learning about the affair. Furthermore, psychiatric evidence described Candy entering a trance-like state from past traumas, convincing the jury of self-defense. On October 29, 1980, the jury found Candy not guilty and cleared her of all charges. Following her trial, she relocated to Georgia, working as a mental health counselor.
