Betty Broderick was an American woman whose tumultuous marriage and subsequent divorce resulted in a high-profile criminal trial in the early 1990s. After being found guilty of the murder of her ex-husband and his new wife, Broderick was sentenced to prison. Her story of a tumultuous marriage gone wrong and her eventual trial and conviction has been the subject of several books, movies, and documentaries.
Early Life
Betty Broderick was born in 1947 in the town of Eastchester, New York. She was the daughter of a successful businessman and attended Catholic schools throughout her childhood. After graduating high school, Broderick attended the College of New Rochelle, where she earned a degree in education. After college, she married a medical student named Daniel Broderick III in 1969. The couple had four children together and lived a comfortable life in San Diego.
Marital Struggles
As the years went on, Betty’s marriage to Dan grew increasingly strained. Dan had become a successful lawyer while Betty had devoted her time to raising their children. Dan had also begun having an affair with his legal assistant, Linda Kolkena. In 1985, Dan filed for divorce and Betty was devastated. She began a long legal battle with Dan over the divorce settlement, which ultimately ended in 1989 when Dan was awarded the family home. In the years that followed, Betty’s behavior became increasingly erratic and she was eventually charged with the murder of Dan and Linda in 1991.
Final Years
Betty was found guilty of two counts of second-degree murder in 1991 and was sentenced to 32 years in prison. She was released on parole in 2018, but was subsequently sent back to prison after violating her parole. She was released again in 2019, but is currently serving a five-year probation. Despite her conviction, Betty’s story has continued to captivate the public and her story has been the subject of several books, movies, and documentaries.
Betty Broderick’s story is one of a tumultuous marriage gone wrong and her eventual trial and conviction has been the subject of several books, movies, and documentaries. She remains a controversial figure, but her story continues to captivate the public.

