Candace Wheeler Biography: Where Is Candy Montgomery Today?

Candace Wheeler, formerly Candace Montgomery, is an American therapist who became widely known after a highly publicized 1980 murder trial in Texas. She later built a quieter life in Georgia.

She became famous after being charged with killing her friend Betty Gore. Candace argued that she acted in self-defence, and the jury eventually found her not guilty of murder.

This article explores Candace Wheeler’s early background, marriage, children, murder case, acquittal, move to Georgia, counselling career, divorce, current life, and renewed attention through television dramas about her story.

Quick Bio

Who Is Candace Wheeler?

Candace Wheeler is an American therapist who became a well-known figure because of a major criminal case in Texas. She was previously known as Candace Montgomery during her marriage to Pat Montgomery. Her name attracted national attention in 1980 when she was charged with the killing of her friend, Betty Gore.

The case became especially well known because Candace said that she acted in self-defence. Her trial received major attention, and a jury eventually found her not guilty. After the case ended, she tried to move away from the publicity surrounding her life.

Candace later moved from Texas to Georgia with her husband and children. Her marriage eventually ended, and she returned to using her maiden name, Wheeler. She then followed a different career path and worked in mental health counselling while keeping her personal life away from public attention.

Candace Wheeler’s Early Life and Background

Candace Lynn Wheeler was born on 15 November 1949 in the United States. She is 76 years old as of 2026, and her zodiac sign is Scorpio. She is an American national and spent an important period of her adult life in Texas before eventually relocating to Georgia.

Candace has brown hair and brown eyes. Before becoming associated with one of the most widely discussed criminal cases of 1980, she lived a relatively ordinary family life. Her public identity at the time was closely connected with her married surname, Montgomery.

Her life changed significantly after the death of Betty Gore. The investigation and court proceedings brought Candace into the national spotlight. Decades later, interest in her background continues because the case has been retold through television productions and discussions about the events surrounding Betty’s death.

Candace Wheeler and Pat Montgomery’s Marriage

Candace was married to Pat Montgomery during the period when she lived in Texas. Together, they had two children and lived as a family before the events of 1980 dramatically changed their lives. Pat remained with Candace during the investigation and the court case.

He supported his wife throughout her murder trial. After Candace was acquitted, the couple decided to leave Texas. They relocated to Georgia, giving their family an opportunity to begin a new chapter away from the attention that followed the case.

Their marriage did not last permanently. Candace and Pat eventually separated and divorced a few years after their move. Following the end of the marriage, Candace stopped using Montgomery as her surname and returned to her maiden name, Wheeler. Both later maintained private lives away from regular media coverage.

What Happened Between Candace Wheeler and Betty Gore?

Candace Wheeler became the centre of a major criminal case after Betty Gore was killed in Wylie, Texas, in 1980. Candace and Betty knew each other, making the circumstances surrounding Betty’s death particularly shocking to people familiar with their suburban community.

During the court case, Candace gave her account of what happened during the confrontation. She testified that Betty confronted her with an axe. According to Candace’s defence, the situation developed into a physical struggle, and she acted because she was trying to protect herself.

The violent nature of Betty’s death made the case particularly disturbing and attracted widespread attention. Investigators charged Candace with murder, leading to a closely followed trial. The question of self-defence became one of the central parts of her legal case and ultimately played a major role in the jury’s decision.

Inside Candace Wheeler’s 1980 Murder Trial

Candace went on trial in 1980 after being charged with Betty Gore’s murder. The proceedings became highly publicized because of the unusual circumstances surrounding the killing. Her defence maintained that Betty had attacked Candace first and that Candace’s actions occurred during a struggle for survival.

Don Crowder served as Candace’s defence lawyer. The case was unusual for him because he had no previous criminal-law experience. Nevertheless, he represented Candace throughout the proceedings and built the defence around her account that she had acted to protect herself.

After hearing the evidence and arguments presented during the trial, the jury reached its decision. On 30 October 1980, Candace was found not guilty of murder. The jury accepted the self-defence argument, meaning she was acquitted rather than convicted and sentenced to prison.

Why Was Candace Wheeler Acquitted?

The central argument in Candace Wheeler’s defence was that Betty Gore attacked her first with an axe. Candace testified about the confrontation and maintained that she responded because she needed to defend herself during the violent encounter.

The jury considered the evidence and testimony presented during the trial. Ultimately, jurors accepted the self-defence argument. This resulted in Candace being found not guilty of the murder charge on 30 October 1980.

Because she was acquitted, Candace did not receive a prison sentence for Betty Gore’s death. The verdict became one of the most discussed aspects of the case and has continued to generate public interest many decades later, especially as new television productions have introduced the story to younger audiences.

What Did Candace Wheeler Do After the Trial?

Life changed considerably for Candace after her acquittal. She and Pat Montgomery left Texas and relocated to Georgia. The move gave the couple and their children distance from the community where Betty Gore’s death and the resulting trial had taken place.

Candace attempted to create a new life after moving. She returned to education and trained in counselling, eventually entering mental health work. Her career focused on helping people facing personal and emotional difficulties, including problems involving anxiety, depression, grief, and family life.

Her new profession was very different from the circumstances that had made her famous. Rather than continuing to participate in public discussions about the trial, Candace gradually moved away from media attention. She built a private life and largely avoided discussing her past publicly.

Candace Wheeler’s Career as a Mental Health Counsellor

Following her move to Georgia, Candace pursued a career connected with mental health and family support. She trained as a counsellor and later worked in the field, marking a major change in direction after the events that had dominated her life in Texas.

Her counselling work involved supporting people dealing with emotional and personal challenges. Areas connected with her work included grief, anxiety, depression, and family difficulties. Her daughter also reportedly entered counselling, creating another connection between the family and the mental health field.

Candace did not use her career to return to the public spotlight. Instead, she maintained a low-profile lifestyle and continued using her maiden name. Her professional path became part of the quieter life she established in Georgia after her marriage ended.

Candace Wheeler and Pat Montgomery’s Divorce

Candace and Pat Montgomery stayed together during the murder investigation and trial. Pat supported his wife throughout the legal proceedings, and the two moved together to Georgia following her acquittal. However, relocating did not lead to a permanent continuation of their marriage.

A few years after leaving Texas, Candace and Pat ended their relationship and divorced. After the divorce, Candace returned to her maiden surname, Wheeler. This is why she is now commonly referred to as Candace Wheeler rather than Candace Montgomery.

Pat also stepped away from public attention. Details about his later personal life have remained limited, including whether he entered another marriage. Both former spouses largely avoided the public spotlight that had surrounded their family during the 1980 trial.

Does Candace Wheeler Have Children?

Candace Wheeler and her former husband, Pat Montgomery, have two children. Their children were part of the family during the difficult period surrounding Betty Gore’s death, the criminal investigation, and Candace’s murder trial.

After Candace was acquitted, the family relocated from Texas to Georgia. Her children therefore spent an important part of their lives in Georgia, away from the location where the events that made their mother nationally known had occurred.

Candace has kept family matters private over the years. Her daughter later became connected with counselling work, following a professional direction similar to her mother. The family has generally stayed away from public attention despite continuing interest in Candace and the famous case.

Where Is Pat Montgomery Now?

Pat Montgomery was an important figure in Candace’s life during the 1980 case. He remained beside her throughout the trial and supported her as she defended herself against the murder charge. After the not-guilty verdict, he moved with Candace and their children to Georgia.

Their relationship eventually ended in divorce. After their separation, Pat chose a life outside the public spotlight. His later personal life has received far less attention than the events surrounding his former wife and their marriage.

Pat has therefore remained a private figure in the decades following the case. While television adaptations have brought renewed attention to the Montgomery family, he has not developed a major public profile connected with those productions.

Where Is Candace Wheeler Today?

Candace Wheeler lives a largely private life in Georgia, United States. Her life there began after she and Pat Montgomery moved away from Texas following her 1980 acquittal. Georgia eventually became the place where she established a new professional and personal chapter.

She trained in counselling and worked in mental health support. Following her divorce from Pat, she returned to the Wheeler surname and continued keeping herself away from regular public appearances and extensive media coverage.

As of 2026, Candace is 76 years old. Despite the continued public fascination with her case, she has maintained a low profile. Her approach stands in contrast to the renewed attention created by television productions based on the events surrounding Betty Gore’s death.

Is Candace Wheeler Still Alive?

Candace Wheeler is still reported to be living in Georgia. Born on 15 November 1949, she turned 76 in November 2025 and remains 76 years old during most of 2026.

Her limited public presence can sometimes create questions about her current circumstances. However, she has simply chosen to live outside the media spotlight rather than maintain the public profile associated with her 1980 trial.

She has also avoided becoming actively involved in the entertainment projects inspired by her story. Instead, her later years have been characterized by privacy, counselling work, and distance from the events that originally made the name Candy Montgomery nationally recognizable.

Television Shows Based on Candace Wheeler’s Story

Interest in Candace Wheeler’s story increased again decades after the original trial. The unusual circumstances of Betty Gore’s death and Candace’s successful self-defence argument provided the basis for television dramatizations that introduced the case to a new audience.

One prominent production was the 2022 miniseries Candy, in which actress Jessica Biel portrayed Candace. Another dramatization, Love & Death, also explored the events surrounding the case and helped renew public curiosity about the people involved.

Candace did not participate in these adaptations and continued maintaining her private lifestyle. The popularity of the productions nevertheless brought renewed attention to questions about her present location, her former marriage, her children, her career after the trial, and how her life changed following the acquittal.

Final Thoughts

Candace Wheeler’s life changed dramatically after the 1980 death of Betty Gore. She was charged with murder, but her defence argued that she had acted in self-defence after Betty attacked her with an axe. A jury found Candace not guilty on 30 October 1980.

After the trial, Candace and Pat Montgomery moved their family from Texas to Georgia. Their marriage later ended in divorce, and Candace returned to using her maiden name, Wheeler. She then trained as a counsellor and worked in the mental health field.

Today, Candace lives away from the public spotlight. Television dramatizations have renewed interest in her story, but she has continued to maintain her privacy. Her 1980 trial remains the defining reason her name continues to attract widespread attention decades later.

(FAQs)

Where is Candace Wheeler now?

Candace Wheeler lives a private life in Georgia, United States. She moved there after her 1980 acquittal and later worked in mental health counselling while staying largely away from media attention.

Is Candace Wheeler still alive?

Yes. Candace Wheeler is reported to be alive and living in Georgia. She was born on 15 November 1949 and is 76 years old as of 2026.

Why was Candace Wheeler found not guilty?

Candace was acquitted because her defence argued that she acted in self-defence after Betty Gore attacked her with an axe. The jury accepted the self-defence argument and found her not guilty on 30 October 1980.

Did Candace Wheeler go to prison?

No. Candace did not serve a prison sentence for Betty Gore’s death because she was acquitted of the murder charge. The jury accepted her claim that she had acted in self-defence.

Is Candace Wheeler still married to Pat Montgomery?

No. Candace and Pat Montgomery divorced a few years after relocating to Georgia. Following their divorce, Candace returned to her maiden surname, Wheeler, and continued living a private life.

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