As the true true crime series Candy, starring Jessica Biel, drops on Hulu expect nothing short of an eerie suburban nightmare. Candy, an '80s housewife who was accused of killing her friend and lover's wife with a three-foot ax, is based on true events that rocked the nation in 1980.
Candy Montgomery and Betty Gore first met during church service at The Methodist Church of Lucas in Wylie, TX. Both housewives, their families became close. Their daughters became friends, often having sleepovers. Somewhere down the line boundaries were crossed, because Candy began having an affair with Betty's husband, Allen Gore.
For months, Candy contemplated cheating on her husband, Pat Montgomery, an electrical engineer. Candy was dissatisfied with her sex life and decided to do something about it—and that it was Allen. Betty was pregnant at the time and when the youngest Gore was born in 1979, he ended the affair, leaving Candy distraught.
Ironically, on Friday, June 13th, Candy headed over to Betty's home to pick up a swimsuit. Betty didn't beat around the bush, asking Candy whether or not she was having an affair with her husband. After attempting to deny the affair, Candy eventually confessed. Betty disappeared into a room in the house, appearing to go collect the swimsuit. But she arrived with an ax. An altercation ensued, but it wasn't Candy who endured the blade. Things ended with Betty Gore being struck over 41 times. Candy cleaned herself up and went about her day as normal, leaving Betty dead on the floor and her newborn upstairs sleeping.
Being the last person to see Betty alive, the police immediately suspected Candy. But they didn't think they had much of a case on her. That was until Allen admitted that he and Candy had ended an affair just seven months earlier and the entire story unraveled.
Aside from leaving the small town of Wylie completely shaken, the case split public opinion. Was it self-defense or not? Was Candy an ax-murderer or a loving Christian mother? Was she both? After a trial that included both a hypnotist and several sympathetic jurors, Candy was acquitted for the crime on the basis of self defense in 1980. Soon after, she left Texas and didn't look back.
There are certainly a number of rumors and reports trying to give us answers. From a number of them, including a report by The Daily Mail, it appears Candy and Pat left Texas for her home state of Georgia, where they ended up divorcing. Apparently going back to her maiden name "Wheeler," Candy reportedly went on to become a mental health therapist. She would be in her 70s today.
Candy, which also stars Melanie Lynskey, Pablo Schreiber and more, is set to be released on Monday, May 9th on Hulu, with the season finale wrapping up on May 13. Watch the trailer for the upcoming true story drama below.
