New Hulu Series Tells the Incredible Story of Don Crowder’s Criminal Defense Triumph

 Posted on May 24, 2022 in Criminal Defense

In 1980, Candy Montgomery, a Collin County housewife, was accused of murdering her friend Betty Gore by striking her 41 times with an ax, including 28 times in the head. On the surface, it seemed like an open-and-closed case; Montgomery had carried on an affair with Gore’s husband, and although the affair had ended before the murder, the small town was convinced Montgomery was not only a cheater, but was also guilty of a grotesque manslaughter. The story has recently been featured as a limited series called Candy, which is currently streaming on Hulu. A second series—this one called Love and Death—is set to premiere on HBO Max later this year.

Young Civil Attorney Don Crowder Takes Candy Montgomery Murder Case 

Montgomery approached Don Crowder, whom she knew from their church. Despite having no criminal defense experience, Crowder took the case, and soon, his assertive, outlandish style in the courtroom garnered nearly as much attention as the case itself. In fact, his defense was so brazen that he was thrown in jail for four days for contempt of court. In the end, however, his strategy paid off when Montgomery was acquitted after only four hours of jury deliberations. 

An Original and Effective Defense Strategy

After the prosecution presented its proof that showed Montgomery was guilty, Attorney Crowder did not present a typical defense - instead, he put Montgomery on the stand. She testified about her affair with Gore’s husband, claimed that Gore attacked her first, and that Montgomery had acted in self-defense. Crowder brought in a psychologist who hypnotized Montgomery and elicited a statement that Montgomery had been psychologically triggered by a repressed memory and had essentially killed Gore in a fugue state. 

Inspiring a New Generation of Criminal Defense Attorneys

Don Crowder’s deep-seated conviction that even a woman whose peers shunned her deserved a fair defense inspired criminal defense attorneys all over the state, including one who would go on to be an outstanding criminal defense attorney in her own right: His daughter-in-law, Darlina Crowder. Years after Montgomery’s stunning acquittal, Don Crowder encouraged Darlina to go to law school and be the best trial lawyer she could be - an ethic that continues to guide her today. 

Contact a Collin County, Texas Criminal Defense Attorney

Criminal law in the United States is based on a crucial assumption: That those accused of a crime are innocent until proven guilty by a jury of their peers. If you have been accused of committing a crime, you can trust in the aggressive defense and protection that Darlina Crowder at The Crowder Law Firm, P.C. provides each of her clients. Having learned from the outstanding example of her father-in-law and with her own established history of being an effective Collin County criminal defense attorney, Darlina Crowder and her colleagues are ready and willing to fight for your rights. Call us now at 214-544-0061 to schedule a free consultation. 

Source: 

https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/tv/2021/05/07/elizabeth-olsen-to-play-dallas-area-ax-killer-candy-montgomery-in-hbo-max-series