Where Is Candy Montgomery Now? The Shocking Life Of The Texas Ax Killer In 2025

As of late 2025, Candace "Candy" Montgomery, the infamous figure at the center of the 1980 Texas ax murder case, is believed to be living a quiet life in Georgia, working as a mental health counselor. Decades after her sensational acquittal for the killing of her friend, Betty Gore, Montgomery has successfully faded from the public eye, adopting her maiden name, Candace Wheeler, to maintain anonymity. Her current life is a world away from the scandal that rocked the small, tight-knit community of Wylie, Texas, and continues to fascinate true crime enthusiasts globally. The renewed public interest in her story, fueled by recent high-profile miniseries like Hulu’s *Candy* and HBO Max’s *Love & Death*, has brought the 45-year-old case back into the spotlight. Despite the dramatizations, the real Candace Wheeler is determined to keep her past buried. This article provides the most current information available on her life today, alongside a complete profile of the woman who shocked America with her self-defense plea.

A Complete Biography of Candace Lynn Montgomery (Wheeler)

The life of Candy Montgomery is a complex narrative that began as a picture of suburban perfection before descending into a shocking crime.

• Full Name: Candace Lynn Montgomery (née Wheeler)
• Date of Birth: November 15, 1949
• Place of Birth: Lucas, Texas
• Husband: Pat Montgomery (engineer at Texas Instruments)
• Marriage Status: Divorced (separated shortly after the trial, officially divorced around 1986)
• Children: Two children (a son and a daughter), whose names were kept private from the press.
• Residence at Time of Crime: Wylie, Texas (Collin County)
• Victim: Betty Gore (wife of her former lover, Allan Gore)
• Current Location (2025): Believed to be living in Georgia.
• Current Occupation: Reportedly works as a certified family counselor and mental health worker.
• Current Name: Candace Wheeler (using her maiden name).

Candy and her husband, Pat Montgomery, moved to Wylie, Texas, in 1977, where they quickly integrated into the community and the Methodist Church of Lucas. It was through the church that Candy befriended Betty Gore, a local schoolteacher. This seemingly idyllic suburban life concealed a deeper discontent that led Candy to initiate an extramarital affair with Betty’s husband, Allan Gore, which began in 1978.

The Shocking 1980 Ax Murder of Betty Gore

The events of Friday, June 13, 1980, shattered the peace of the Wylie community forever. Candy Montgomery visited the Gore home to pick up a swimsuit for Betty’s daughter, Alisa, who had stayed over at the Montgomery house. During the visit, an argument escalated when Betty Gore confronted Candy about the affair with Allan Gore. The confrontation took place in the Gore's utility room. According to Candy’s later testimony, Betty retrieved a three-foot-long axe from the garage. Candy claimed that in the ensuing struggle, she managed to disarm Betty and struck her in an act of pure self-defense. The brutal nature of the crime, however, was difficult to reconcile with a simple self-defense claim. Betty Gore was struck 41 times with the axe. Allan Gore discovered his wife's body after repeatedly trying to call her from a business trip. The sheer violence of the attack made the subsequent “not guilty” verdict one of the most controversial in Texas history.

The Controversial Trial and Acquittal

The murder trial, which began in October 1980 in Collin County, became a media spectacle. Candy Montgomery was represented by a formidable legal team led by attorney Don Crowder. The defense's strategy hinged entirely on the claim of self-defense, arguing that Candy acted only to save her own life after Betty attacked her. The most critical and controversial piece of evidence presented was the testimony of Dr. Fred Fason, a psychiatrist and clinical hypnotist hired by the defense.

The Role of Hypnosis and Dissociation

Dr. Fason conducted a hypnosis session with Candy, during which he claimed to have uncovered a repressed childhood trauma: a memory of her mother shushing her, which Candy associated with rage. * The Defense Theory: The defense argued that when Betty Gore shushed Candy during their confrontation, it triggered a "dissociative reaction" in Candy, causing her to regress and enter a fugue state of blind, uncontrollable rage. * The Verdict: Despite the gruesome evidence of 41 axe wounds, the jury—composed of nine women and three men—accepted the self-defense plea, which was supported by the psychiatric testimony. On October 29, 1980, the jury delivered a stunning verdict of "not guilty" on all charges, including murder and manslaughter. The verdict was met with public outrage and widespread criticism, with spectators outside the courtroom screaming their disapproval.

Candy Montgomery's Life Since the Trial

Following her acquittal, the media scrutiny and public condemnation became unbearable for the Montgomery family in Wylie, Texas.

The Move to Georgia and Separation

In an attempt to escape the fallout and the constant judgment, Candy and Pat Montgomery moved their two children to Georgia shortly after the trial concluded. However, the marriage could not withstand the trauma and public pressure. Candy and Pat separated, eventually divorcing around 1986.

A New Life as Candace Wheeler

Candy Montgomery made a determined effort to disappear from the public eye. She shed the "Montgomery" name, reverting to her maiden name, Candace Wheeler. * Current Career Path: Reports indicate that Candace Wheeler pursued a career in the mental health field. She became a certified family counselor and mental health worker, a stark and ironic twist given the psychiatric defense used in her trial. * Current Anonymity: Candace Wheeler is now in her mid-70s and is believed to still be living in Georgia. She has maintained a deep commitment to privacy, successfully avoiding public appearances and interviews for decades. Her exact whereabouts and current appearance remain unknown, a deliberate choice to distance herself from the sensational true crime story that defined her early life. The story of Candy Montgomery remains a chilling study of suburban life, infidelity, and violence. While the legal system deemed her actions self-defense, the public fascination and debate over the shocking number of axe blows and the controversial psychiatric defense ensure that the legacy of the Wylie ax murder case—and the question of "Where is Candy Montgomery now?"—will continue to endure.

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