Candy Montgomery
Friday the 13th is already considered an unlucky day, but for the small town of Wylie, Texas, it became the scene of a gruesome murder. On June 13, 1980, Betty Gore was brutally killed in her own home. What made this case even more shocking was that the killer was someone she considered a friend—Candy Montgomery.
A Quiet Texas Town Turned Upside Down
Wylie, Texas, was the kind of place where people felt safe. Neighbors knew each other, kids played outside, and crime was rare. Betty Gore and Candy Montgomery were both part of that tight-knit community. They met through church and seemed to have a friendly relationship. But beneath the surface, tensions had been brewing.
The Affair That Led to Murder
Candy Montgomery and Betty’s husband, Allan Gore, had been having an affair. According to Candy, the affair had ended months before the murder, but the situation remained complicated. On the day of the attack, Betty confronted Candy about the affair. What happened next turned deadly.
Candy claimed that Betty attacked her first with an ax. In what she described as self-defense, Candy fought back. However, instead of just escaping, she struck Betty 41 times with the ax. The brutal nature of the attack shocked everyone.
A Chilling Discovery
Allan Gore was out of town on business at the time. When he couldn’t reach Betty, he asked neighbors to check on her. They found her lifeless body in the utility room, surrounded by blood. The crime scene was horrifying, and it was clear this was not a random attack.
The Trial That Captivated the Nation
Candy Montgomery was arrested and charged with Betty’s murder. The case quickly gained national attention. Many were stunned when Candy pleaded self-defense. During the trial, her lawyers argued that she had a dissociative reaction triggered by past trauma. They claimed she had no control over her actions once the attack started.
The jury ultimately believed her defense. On October 30, 1980, she was found not guilty of murder. She walked away a free woman, leaving the community in disbelief.
Life After the Trial
After the trial, Candy and her family moved away, trying to leave the past behind. However, the case never truly faded from public memory. It has since been the subject of books, documentaries, and TV series. People still debate whether justice was truly served.
Why This Case Still Haunts Texas
More than 40 years later, the murder of Betty Gore remains one of Texas’s most shocking crimes. The idea that a suburban mom could commit such a violent act and walk free still baffles many.
The story of Betty Gore and Candy Montgomery is a chilling reminder that sometimes, the most unexpected people are capable of unthinkable things.
Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.
