On the morning of November 5, 1989, Betty Broderick broke into the home of her ex-husband, Dan Broderick, and fatally shot him and his new wife while they were in bed.
Her tale sparked widespread attention among scorned ex-partners in America, particularly as she recounted how her husband, whom she had financially supported through his education, left her for a younger woman.
Some viewed Betty Broderick as a wife who exacted justified revenge, while others saw her as a cold-blooded murderer.
The Toxic Divorce Of Dan And Betty Broderick
Auto Draft Born Elisabeth Anne Bisceglia on November 7, 1947, in Brooklyn, New York, Betty Broderick grew up in a devout Catholic family, with plans to attend a local Catholic women's college after high school.
Her life took a different turn at 17 when she met Dan Broderick at a Notre Dame football game in Pittsburgh. They married in 1969.
Betty supported Dan through his studies at Harvard Law School by working as an elementary school teacher and babysitter. After his graduation, they moved to La Jolla, California, where they began a family, with Betty staying home to raise their three children.
As a successful lawyer, Dan Broderick started earning over a million dollars a year at his firm, enabling the family to enjoy luxuries like country club memberships, a Corvette, a boat, and a ski condo. However, these trappings of wealth could not mend the growing rift in their marriage.
Broderick's suspicions about her husband began in 1983 when he elevated his 22-year-old receptionist, Linda Kolkena, to the position of his assistant. Given that Kolkena was a former airline stewardess without a degree or typing skills, Broderick suspected an affair, which was later confirmed.
Feeling deeply betrayed, Broderick responded by burning her husband's clothes and hurling a stereo at him. As their divorce proceedings started, Betty claimed that Dan thwarted her attempts to secure legal representation. In retaliation, she broke into his house, vandalized his bedroom with spray paint, and smeared food all over his kitchen.
In retaliation, Dan Broderick sought a restraining order against Betty in 1984. Undeterred, Betty drove her car into his front door, was found with a knife, and subsequently detained in psychiatric care for 72 hours.
The divorce was settled in 1986, granting Dan the house and custody of their three children. "He took my home, my kids, my money," Betty Broderick told The New York Times in 1991. "His was the white-collar way of beating you. If he had hit me with a baseball bat, I could have shown people what he did and made him stop."
Despite receiving an allowance from him, Betty claimed she was left with "nothing to live on."
Betty Broderick's Husband's Affair Drove Her To A Deadly Act: She Killed Them Both In Their Bed However, it was the marriage of Dan and Linda Kolkena in 1989 that finally drove her to the brink.
The Murder Of Dan Broderick And Linda Kolkena
The tension between the Brodericks had escalated to such a point that Linda Kolkena ominously suggested Dan wear a bulletproof vest on their wedding day. He declined, but their apprehension was justified as Betty Broderick had recently acquired a revolver.
On that fateful day in November, Betty Broderick used her daughter's keys to gain entry to her ex-husband's house at 1041 Cypress Avenue. She approached the bedroom, startling the couple awake. As Kolkena cried out for the police, Broderick discharged five shots, hitting Kolkena twice and her husband once.
Betty Broderick's Husband's Affair Drove Her To A Deadly Act: She Killed Them Both In Their Bed As he attempted to reach for the phone, Broderick yanked it from the wall and left him to succumb to his injuries. She surrendered to the police later that day.
During her 1990 trial, Betty Broderick claimed her intention was to commit suicide in front of the couple, but she panicked and fired the gun when Kolkenka screamed.
She also testified that she fired the gun reflexively and claimed she had been subtly abused by her husband, who manipulated her with money. However, the prosecution presented a recorded phone call where she had expressed a wish for Dan Broderick "to just die."
Betty Broderick was convicted and received a sentence of two consecutive 15-year to life terms in prison.
Betty Broderick's Husband's Affair Drove Her To A Deadly Act: She Killed Them Both In Their Bed Betty Broderick is currently incarcerated at the California Institution for Women in Chino, California. At her first parole hearing in 2010, her children were divided on whether she should be released. She was denied parole, and her next opportunity for a hearing is scheduled for 2032.
Her story has been depicted in various media, most notably in the Netflix series "Dirty John," where Amanda Peet plays her character.
In discussions about her life behind bars, Betty Broderick has remarked that prison life has been beneficial for her. "I live a lot happier than I did when I had all that money," she said.
