Hulu’s ‘Candy’ Miniseries Renews Interest In 1980 Wylie Murder On Dogwood Drive

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410 Dogwood Drive Betty Gore Murder Candy Montgomery
The utility room where in 1980 Candy Montgomery murdered friend Betty Gore at 410 Dogwood Drive

Take a spin down Dogwood Drive in Wylie, just a couple of blocks off the city’s historic downtown, and you wouldn’t know a brutal ax murder occurred on this quiet residential street in 1980. 

The home itself isn’t particularly remarkable, but it has certainly drawn its share of gawkers since the true crime mini-series Candy premiered on Hulu earlier this month. 

As renewed attention comes to this sensational North Texas crime, we’re using our unique real estate lens to give context to the parts of the story often neglected: the home, the neighborhood, and the community. Our site founder Candy Evans covered the trial when she was a television reporter for Fox4 News and is lending her old reporter’s notebook for this multi-part CandysDirt.com series highlighting the crime itself and the acquittal that shocked North Texas.

Based on a True Story

410 Dogwood Drive Betty Gore Murder Candy Montgomery
The mailbox at 410 Dogwood denotes ”A. Gore” in 1980

“Candy” is based on the violent 1980 murder of Betty Gore in her Wylie home. The abridged version of the infamous Candy Montgomery true crime story is this: Candy and Betty Gore were friends, having met at the First United Methodist Church of Lucas. Candy had eyes on Betty’s husband Allan Gore and propositioned him after a church volleyball game. “Would you be interested in having an affair?” Candy cavalierly asked her friend’s husband, according to a report in Texas Monthly

By all accounts, seven months after the affair ended, Candy allegedly went over to Betty’s house and killed her friend with 41 blows from a three-foot ax. Candy claimed self-defense, was acquitted, and never served a day in jail. Now about 72 years old, Candy is said to be divorced from her husband and employed as a mental health counselor, possibly in Georgia

The Hulu miniseries “Candy,” starring Jessica Biel as Candy, Pablo Schreiber as Allan, and Melanie Lynskey as Betty, was released May 9. It has been lauded for its attention to detail and historical accuracy, with many of the scenes plucked directly from Texas Monthly’s detailed reporting. 

Betty’s Home

410 Dogwood Drive Betty Gore Murder Candy Montgomery
(Credit: MLS)

Betty and Allan Gore lived at 410 Dogwood Drive in the quiet town of Wylie. Built in 1974, the modest home has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, 1,697 square feet, and a big backyard.

It was recently listed and sold in March 2022 by Darla McMullen with Monument Realty for $344,900. Interior photos show recent updates throughout the kitchen and bathrooms, as well as the utility room, the scene of the June 13, 1980 crime. 

The recent Dogwood Drive listing describes the home as a “hidden gem” with granite countertops, stainless steel kitchen appliances, vaulted ceilings, and a wood-burning fireplace. The 8,000-square-foot lot has a backyard patio, and the location is minutes from President George Bush Turnpike. 

Neither McMullen, nor the buyer’s representative, Melissa Dunn with Keller Williams Realty Dallas Preston Road, returned calls seeking comment. 

The Gores’ friends, Candy and Pat Montgomery, lived in Fairview though the address is not widely known. She once held a baby shower for Betty there, wherein Biel as Candy in the Hulu show describes it as “the best party house.” 

The Hulu series was filmed in Georgia, but the landmarks depicted in the show look like those we know around Fairview and Wylie in Collin County. 

Another small-screen depiction of Candy’s story, Love and Death starring Elizabeth Olsen, is set for release later this summer on HBO Max. That version is being filmed in Kyle, Texas, near Austin. 

A Controversial Murder Home

410 Dogwood Drive Betty Gore Murder Candy Montgomery (Photo: Mimi Perez for CandyDirt.com)
(Photos: Mimi Perez for CandysDirt.com)

Today, a modern Ring doorbell allows guests at the Dogwood Drive home to notify the new occupants of their presence. When CandysDirt.com visited the home last week, a young man who answered the door said he was sick and was “not interested” in talking to a reporter. Fair enough; the place is no doubt getting a lot of media attention and neighborhood gawkers these days. The quiet residential area has had its share of interest over the years, but the TV programs have prompted renewed intrigue — particularly from those who are new to the area. 

It’s clear the current owners are aware of the sensation their home is creating. A murder that occurred in a listed home must be disclosed by the seller, according to a 2020 Texas Real Estate Research Center article.

“This includes a murder that predates the seller’s possession of the property if the seller is aware of it,” the report states. “Also, a death caused by the property’s condition, even if the death was accidental and even if the condition that caused the death was subsequently remedied. Both of these types of deaths are considered material information that a prospective buyer would want to know.” 

In a Texas seller’s disclosure, it should be noted that deaths by suicide or natural causes are not required to be reported.

Episode One

Episode One of the Hulu miniseries opens with Biel as Candy reciting what sounds like a children’s story about a tree. The story takes a dark turn as Candy says the tree was cut down with an ax and made into Jesus’ cross. 

“And now any time anyone looks at that tree, they think of God,” she says. “So next time you’re sad because you didn’t get what you want, you just wait because God has something even better for you.” 

The first episode doesn’t show the murder itself, but viewers see a disheveled Candy with blood on her forehead, desperately trying to establish an alibi. She lands on saying she went to Target in Plano but realized her watch had stopped. 

At the time the crime occurred — Friday the 13th — Allan Gore was out of town on business. The episode shows him reaching out to neighbors to check on the house because Betty isn’t answering the phone. 

Neighbor Richard Parker agrees to gain entry with his “Realtor’s key,” but in the miniseries, Parker and another neighbor ultimately realize the front door is unlocked, and they enter to find Betty Gore’s lifeless body in a bloody 12-foot-by-6-foot utility room. A third neighbor has joined the men for “backup.”

“Looks like she’s been shot,” one of the neighbors tells a panicked Allan, who had been calling repeatedly for updates. On the phone miles from home Allan learns his wife has been murdered.

Neighbors Remember

“Once I really started diving into who she is and how this ending happened this way,” Biel told Variety, ”I got really interested in why and how did this very normal woman — seemingly very normal, upstanding pillar of the community, good mother, good wife, nice human — how did she commit this crazy act of violence?”.

The topic is widely discussed on social media, particularly in the Wylie, Texas, Facebook Group.

(Photo: Mimi Perez for CandyDirt.com)
(Photos: Mimi Perez for Candy’s Dirt)
(Photo: Mimi Perez for CandyDirt.com)

“I can’t believe it’s a true story, and I can’t believe she was acquitted,” is a familiar refrain among Wylie residents. 

“[Betty] was loved by her students,” wrote Erin Rippy Adams. “Candy was jealous that Allan called it off. Candy killed Betty out of jealousy. She came in the garage door and used an ax from Betty’s garage.” 

Another resident also commented about Betty Gore’s popularity with her students. 

“Mrs. Gore was my teacher and neighbor,” wrote Leslie Thomason. “Sweetest and kindest woman ever! Still unbelievable that Candy got away with murder!” 

What do you think about the Candy Montgomery story? Would you live in a house where such a crime had taken place? Drop a comment below, and we may include it in next week’s update. 

April Towery covers Dallas City Hall and is an assistant editor for CandysDirt.com. She studied journalism at Texas A&M University and has been an award-winning reporter and editor for more than 25 years.

1 Comment

  1. S on July 8, 2023 at 8:48 am

    whats the relevance of Landon winery please?

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