Candy Montgomery’s lawyer, Don Crowder, passed away in 1998. He was known for successfully defending Montgomery in her 1980 trial for the murder of her friend Betty Gore.
Don Crowder, an attorney based in McKinney, Texas, gained significant attention for his role in one of the most sensational trials of the time. Candy Montgomery was accused of killing Betty Gore with an ax in 1980. The case was particularly shocking due to the nature of the crime and the fact that both women were seen as typical suburban housewives.
Crowder’s defense strategy for Montgomery was based on self-defense. He argued that Montgomery had killed Gore in a struggle after Gore had attacked her with the ax. The case hinged on the psychological state of Montgomery, and Crowder’s presentation of the evidence and his argument that Montgomery had acted in self-defense were convincing to the jury.
The trial lasted nine days, and the jury deliberated for just over three hours before acquitting Montgomery of murder. The verdict was controversial and led to a great deal of media coverage and public debate.
After the trial, Don Crowder continued his law practice but eventually faced personal difficulties. He struggled with alcoholism, which affected his career, and in 1998, he died by suicide. His role in the Montgomery case remains a notable aspect of his legal legacy, and the trial itself has been the subject of various books, articles, and more recently, television series that explore the complexities of the case and the defense strategy that led to Montgomery’s acquittal.
