The True Story Behind Hulu’s Candy Montgomery Miniseries, Explained

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Years have passed, but the 1980 true crime story about Candace “Candy” Montgomery, a seemingly ordinary mother from rural Texas who committed axe murder in the town, remains one of the most perplexing and unsettling crimes that has ever gripped the public’s fascination through news. The case is disturbing as it underscores the chilling possibility that the friendly neighbor who brings homemade pecan pies to church gatherings might be concealing a thousand falsehoods and a hidden world of dark secrets. The case remains baffling due to the divisive verdict that let one such seemingly innocent person go free from the courthouse without facing justice.

This television show features Jessica Biel in the role of a churchgoing woman who, following an affair with Betty Gore’s husband, becomes increasingly unhinged and attacks Betty Gore (played by Melanie Lynskey), much like Jack Torrance in “The Shining.” This portrayal is one of several adaptations that delve into the chilling tale of a small-town horror story. The narrative unfolds from Candy’s point of view, and it effectively uses real-life case details to create an unsettling depiction of a woman who, due to her meticulous planning, unravels under immense emotional pressure.

The real Candy was a suburban Texas housewife with a steamy secret

Similar to the narrative presented in the Hulu and Max series “Love & Death,” the actual story of Candy Montgomery serves as a warning against the deep-seated troubles that can develop from marital monotony. In her late twenties, Candy Montgomery relocated with her electrical engineer husband Pat and their two small children to the town of Wylie, Texas, which had a population of just 3,700.

1970s housewife Candy enjoyed a satisfying life until she befriended Betty and Allan Gore from the local Methodist church. Their kids were similar ages, making things comfortable between the families. However, their tranquility was disrupted one unfortunate day in 1978 when Allan and Candy accidentally collided during a volleyball game. The scent of Allan’s cologne sparked intrusive thoughts in Candy, stirring up tempting “what-ifs.” Instead of channeling these feelings into reading romance novels like many other housewives from the era, Candy took an unconventional route and proposed a business-focused affair, which was rather indiscreet.

Originally declining due to Candy’s wife’s recent pregnancy from being a middle school teacher, Allan unexpectedly changed his mind and accepted her proposal. The duo carefully arranged their escapades, including an agreement to terminate the relationship if either developed feelings. However, despite their precautions and Candy’s continued bond with Betty, after Allan ended things to focus on his marriage, Betty would eventually be murdered by Candy. Her vengeful 41-strike assault may have stopped when Candy ran out of energy to keep swinging the axe.

Candy Montgomery was found not guilty despite a public outcry

To many who listen to the Candy Montgomery case, her guilt appears undeniable. However, juries can be misled by minor complications such as the possibility of reasonable doubt and technical aspects like polygraphs and hypnosis. These elements combined could reasonably explain why a housewife was acquitted in October 1980 despite claiming self-defense.

After committing her crime, Montgomery acted as if nothing was wrong, leaving her friend Betty’s newborn baby unattended in a crib while her mother’s lifeless body lay in the next room for 13 hours. When initially confronted about this violent act following her confession of an affair to the police, Montgomery could count on the support of the congregation she and Betty had been part of for many years when they denied her involvement in the crime.

To shed light on Montgomery’s forgotten memories connected to Betty’s murder, her lawyer engaged a hypnotist specialized in memory recovery. This professional was believed to have uncovered repressed childhood experiences, such as being hushed in a waiting room, that may have triggered a traumatic response causing Montgomery to lose control and attack her secret rival, Betty. The hypnotist’s findings, coupled with the testimony of a polygraph expert showcasing an exceptionally clear exam result, allowed Montgomery’s legal team—which included church acquaintance Don Crowder—to argue successfully that she acted in self-defense. Following a brief three-hour jury deliberation, the panel of 12 individuals decided to free Montgomery, who later found employment as a certified family counselor in Georgia.

“Candy” is available to stream on Hulu.

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2025-05-16 21:30