The ‘Lizzie Borden’ of Michigan: The Case of Martha Haney

The story of Lizzie Borden has captivated the public for over 100 years and has inspired countless books,  movie adaptations, and documentaries. Now, in 2026, her story has been thrust back into the spotlight by a new Netflix drama about the controversial axe murders of her parents in the latest season of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.

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But did you know that Michigan has its very own version of "Lizzie Borden"? I don't mean literally, but there is a story from years past that echoes the murder Lizzie is associated with. Meet Martha Haney, who also gained prominence because of the gruesome murder of her mother. 

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Lizzie Borden: A Brief Summary

Lizzie Borden's story has been retold so many times because of how violent it was, the mystery of the murders, and its aftermath. According to a BBC article, in August 1892, the bodies of Andrew and Abby Borden were found discovered in their family home, both sporting vicious hatchet wounds.

READ MORE: Award-Winning Michigan True Crime Documentary Coming to Holland

The bodies were reported by Lizzie, and while she wasn't originally a suspect, she was eventually the prime suspect. However, her court case didn't go as planned: evidence was ruled out, and ultimately the jury couldn't be convinced she could commit such a heinous crime. No one else was ever tried for the murders.

Netflix's retelling definitely takes some creative liberties, so it's better to watch it for entertainment, not as a historical retelling.

Martha Haney, Michigan's Own "Lizzie Borden"

Though Lizzie wasn't convicted of anything, Martha Haney (shown here) is another story. On April 28th, 1897, Martha Haney committed a crime arguably more brutal than Lizzie's alleged crime. Martha was arraigned for the murder of her mother-in-law, Maria Haney, who was decapitated with an axe, and her head was left on a plate on the dining room table for the police to find.

But much like Lizzie, Martha avoided a conviction for the murder despite mounting evidence, though for a different reason. The Detroit Free Press article detailed that Martha was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Her defense argued she had a history of epilepsy that had damaged her brain, and three different physicians agreed. After the ruling, they took her to an asylum to receive psychiatric help.

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While the outcomes were different, having two women go to court for murders using similar weapons within a matter of years of each other is quite a coincidence.