Candy Montgomery now living quietly in Georgia after acquittal, but what she’s doing today shocks true crime fans

Candy Montgomery now lives quietly in Georgia under her maiden name Candace Wheeler, working as a family counselor decades after being acquitted of Betty Gore’s 1980 murder. The transformation from Texas housewife to accused killer to mental health professional represents one of true crime’s most striking reinventions. Her story continues captivating audiences through HBO Max’s 2023 series Love & Death, which has launched fresh interest in what became of the woman at the center of this shocking Texas case.

The 1980 Trial That Changed Everything

On June 13, 1980, Betty Gore was killed in her Wylie, Texas home in a crime that would define an entire era of Texas crime reporting. Candy Montgomery, then 30 years old and married to electrical engineer Pat Montgomery, was accused of the brutal murder using an axe.

The case captivated North Texas because it challenged every suburban stereotype. Both women were church-going, family-oriented, and lived in exclusive neighborhoods. Their affair with Betty’s husband Allan Gore was the shocking motive behind the crime. The trial lasted eight days and concluded on the afternoon of October 29, 1980, when a jury of nine women and three men returned with a verdict that shocked the community.

The courtroom crowd booed when Candy was found not guilty, with many believing the justice system had failed Betty’s family. Her acquittal instantly made her one of the most controversial figures in Texas criminal history.

From Texas Housewife to Georgia Counselor

Rather than fade into obscurity, Candy Montgomery underwent a complete life transformation. After her acquittal, she and her family departed Texas for Georgia, where her parents lived. The move represented both a geographic escape and a fresh start away from the scrutiny and suspicion that surrounded her in Dallas.

By 1996, Candy had returned to school and obtained her professional counselor license in Georgia under her maiden name, Candace Wheeler. She became a certified family counselor, ironically helping other families navigate their own crises. Today, at 75 years old, she continues working in this capacity in Georgia, having built a quiet professional reputation helping others.

The reinvention wasn’t without its costs. Her marriage to Pat Montgomery dissolved in 1986, just six years after she was acquitted. The couple’s two children moved with the family to Georgia and have maintained their privacy over the decades.

Hollywood’s Twin Obsession with Her Story

Series Title	Platform	Lead Actress	Release Date
Love & Death	HBO Max	Elizabeth Olsen	April 27, 2023
Candy	Hulu	Jessica Biel	May 2022

The true crime community’s renewed fascination with Candy Montgomery produced an unusual phenomenon: two major streaming adaptations released within months of each other in 2022-2023.

HBO Max’s Love & Death premiered on April 27, 2023, starring Oscar-nominated actress Elizabeth Olsen as Candy Montgomery. The five-episode limited series told the story from Candy’s perspective, generating significant viewership and debate about sympathizing with the defendant. Meanwhile, Hulu’s Candy, starring Jessica Biel, offered a different narrative angle on the same events.

The Aftermath: Betty Gore’s Family and Legacy

While Candy Montgomery found peace and professional purpose in her new life, Betty Gore’s family faced permanent loss. Betty’s two daughters were raised by their maternal grandparents after her death, a lifelong consequence of the crime. Allan Gore, Betty’s surviving husband, eventually remarried, with his new marriage ending in divorce.

The contrasts are stark and undeniable. Candy Montgomery obtained her counselor’s license, built a career helping families, and lived quietly in Georgia under her maiden name. Betty Gore’s daughters grew up without their mother. The trial verdict of not guilty left many in shock, including survivors of violence who questioned the justice system’s verdict.

In recent years, documentaries and investigative reports have examined the case from fresh angles. HBO Max released a documentary called Suburbia & Murder, offering additional context about the social pressures, marital dynamics, and gender expectations that defined the 1980 Texas case.

Why Does Candy Montgomery’s Story Still Matter Today?

Forty-five years after Betty Gore’s death, Candy Montgomery remains a figure of fascination because her story raises uncomfortable questions about justice, redemption, and second chances. She received an acquittal that many disputed, built a successful career helping families, and lived a quiet, ordinary life for decades.

Yet her name instantly evokes the 1980 trial, the affair, the axe, and the shocking verdict. The dual streaming releases in 2023 show that audiences remain captivated by the mystery of who Candy Montgomery really was—and perhaps more importantly, who she became. Whether she made genuine peace with her past or consciously chose invisibility, Candy Montgomery’s journey from accused murderer to licensed family counselor represents a second act that few could have imagined possible.

Sources

• People Magazine – Investigative coverage of Candy and Pat Montgomery’s current lives
• HBO Max – Love & Death miniseries and related documentary content
• Texas Monthly – Historical accounts of the 1980 trial and aftermath