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candy montgomery

Candy Montgomery is a Texas housewife who became infamous for the 1980 axe killing of her friend Betty Gore in Wylie, Texas, a case that still fuels true‑crime shows, forums, and debates today.

Who Candy Montgomery Is

  • Candace “Candy” Montgomery (née Wheeler) was a church‑going suburban mom living in Collin County, Texas, in the late 1970s.
  • She had an extramarital affair with Allan Gore, the husband of her friend and fellow church member Betty Gore.

The Killing In 1980

  • On June 13, 1980, Betty Gore was killed in her home with a wood‑splitting axe and struck 41 times, an exceptionally brutal attack that shocked the small town of Wylie.
  • Candy admitted to killing Betty but claimed it happened during a struggle after Betty confronted her about the affair and allegedly came at her with the axe.

Trial, Defense, And Verdict

  • At trial in McKinney, Texas, Candy’s lawyers argued self‑defense and introduced a psychologist who said she had a “dissociative reaction,” suggesting she snapped during the confrontation.
  • Despite the 41 blows, a jury of nine women and three men found her not guilty of murder on October 30, 1980, a decision that led to public outrage and chants of “Murderer!” as she left the courthouse.

Aftermath And Later Life

  • After her acquittal, Candy left Texas, eventually relocating to Georgia and reportedly taking back her maiden name, Candace Wheeler.
  • She has been reported in recent coverage as working as a mental health therapist and living a low‑profile life far from the media spotlight.

Pop Culture And Forum Buzz

  • The case has inspired multiple books, docuseries, and dramatizations, including the streaming drama “Love & Death,” which retells the events around the Gore killing and Candy’s trial.
  • On true‑crime blogs and forums, people still argue over whether her self‑defense claim was believable, with many pointing to the 41 axe blows as evidence of rage rather than simple defense.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.