Where Are Pat and Candy Montgomery Today? A Look at Their Lives 45 Years After Betty Gore’s Slaying

Pat and Candy Montgomery became infamous in 1980 after Candy killed their friend, Betty Gore.

The otherwise normal suburban Texas couple, who were known for being active in their local church, made headlines after Candy confessed to killing Betty with an ax — and to having an affair with Betty’s husband, Allan Gore, for several months before the slaying.

The case and trial were each dramatic enough to inspire two miniseries: Hulu’s 2022 show Candy, starring Jessica Biel in the title role, and Max’s 2023 series Love and Death, which starred Elizabeth Olsen.

But Candy didn’t participate in either of the series, telling Biel that she “was not interested,” per Entertainment Weekly.

Here’s everything to know about where Pat and Candy Montgomery are now, 45 years after Candy killed Betty Gore.

Who are Pat and Candy Montgomery?

For most of their lives, the Montgomerys were a typical suburban couple. They married in the early 1970s, per Texas Monthly, when Candy was a secretary and Pat was an engineer for Texas Instruments.

The pair moved to Wylie, Texas, in 1977 with their son and daughter. Candy became a homemaker, but described herself as “bored crazy,” per Texas Monthly, and so she took a writing course to keep herself busy.

The couple were active in their local Methodist Church, where they befriended Betty and Allan Gore. According to Oxygen, Candy was a member of her church choir and taught Sunday school.

What did Candy Montgomery do?

Candy and Allan bonded after bumping into each other at a church volleyball game. After months of flirting, their affair became physical for the first time on Dec. 12, 1978. According to Texas Monthly, they met every other week for several months before ending their affair in 1979.

On June 13, 1980, Allan was out of town on a business trip. When Betty didn’t answer any of his calls, he grew concerned and asked a neighbor to check in on her. He also called Candy, who was watching his and Betty’s older daughter, Alisa, and assured him that everything was fine.

After several more attempts to reach his wife, Allan grew increasingly worried and urged a neighbor to enter his house to check on Betty.

The neighbor obliged, finding the couple’s younger daughter Bethany in her crib and an “ocean” of blood near the door to the Gores’ utility room. The neighbor called Allan, telling him that Betty was dead and that he thought she’d been shot.

She wasn’t shot, though: Betty had been killed with an ax. The crime scene was so bloody that local police initially thought it was a copycat killing inspired by the film adaptation of Stephen King’s The Shining, which was released just three weeks prior to the real-life slaying.

Authorities didn’t know it at the time, but Candy had killed Betty.

What crimes was Candy Montgomery charged with?

Police questioned Candy several times in relation to Betty’s death. She initially told authorities she had an alibi for her whereabouts at the time of the killing, per the Texas Monthly.

But after Allan admitted to police that he and Candy had embarked on a months-long affair, detectives finally found their motive.

Candy surrendered for arrest on June 26, 1980, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Candy was charged with Betty’s murder, per UPI.

How many years did Candy Montgomery get?

Candy initially denied killing Betty. With the support of her church, Candy hired attorney Don Crowder to represent her. She pleaded not guilty, later claiming she killed Betty in self-defense, per Texas Monthly.

While on the witness stand, Candy alleged that Betty had confronted her about her affair with Allan. According to Candy, when Candy confessed to having a sexual relationship with Allan, Betty went to a utility room and grabbed an ax.

After a verbal exchange, Candy said that Betty tried to attack her with the ax, but missed. After a lengthy struggle between the women, Betty told Candy to “shh,” which Candy said allegedly triggered her into a blind rage.

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Candy took the ax from Betty and killed her with it, striking Betty 41 times, Texas Monthly reported.

Candy denied having premeditated the murder and said that she had no intention of killing Betty when she visited her home.

On Oct. 29, 1980, the prosecution and defense rested their cases. The same afternoon, the jury acquitted Candy of murder.

Where is Allan Gore now?

Allan remarried within months of Candy’s murder trial, per People Magazine Investigates: Candy and Betty. This caused a rift between Allan and Betty’s family for several years.

He has since gotten divorced, according to The Dallas Morning News.

Betty’s brother Ron Pomeroy told People Magazine Investigates: Candy and Betty that Betty’s parents, Bob and Bertha Pomeroy, raised her and Allan’s daughters, Alisa and Bethany, in Norwich, Kan. He added that today, Alisa and Bethany are fully grown with vibrant professional lives and children of their own.

Where is Pat Montgomery now?

Pat and Candy Montgomery moved to Georgia with their children after her murder trial, according to People Magazine Investigates: Candy and Betty.

Pat and Candy eventually divorced, per The Dallas Morning News.

Where is Candy Montgomery now?

Following her family’s move to Georgia and her divorce from Pat, Candy went back to school to become a counselor, according to People Magazine Investigates: Candy and Betty.

“The fact that she thought she could counsel after what she had done still boggles me to this day,” Ron said.

Candy now uses her maiden name, Candace Wheeler, per Entertainment Weekly.