Betty Broderick: The Woman Who Killed Her Ex-Husband and His New Wife After a Bitter Divorce Has Died at 78

For decades, Betty Broderick’s name remained one of the most infamous in American true-crime history. The former San Diego socialite became nationally known after shooting and killing her ex-husband, prominent attorney Dan Broderick, and his new wife, Linda Kolkena, inside their home in November 1989. Her story was marked by a bitter divorce, a bitter custody battle and years of escalating conflict. Nearly 37 years after the killings, Betty died on May 8, 2026, at age 78 while serving her prison sentence in California.

Betty and Dan married in 1969 and eventually had four children together. For years, they appeared to have a comfortable family life in the affluent community of La Jolla, California. Dan built a successful career as a medical malpractice attorney, while Betty focused much of her time on raising their children and managing their household. Their marriage began falling apart after Dan became involved with Linda Kolkena, a younger woman who worked as his legal assistant. The relationship eventually led to the couple’s separation in 1985 and a contentious divorce that continued for years. Dan later married Linda in 1989, intensifying the conflict between the former spouses.

The divorce became increasingly hostile, with disputes over money, property and custody of their children. Betty repeatedly left angry and threatening messages for Dan and Linda, and their confrontations became increasingly difficult. On November 5, 1989, the conflict reached a devastating end. Betty entered the couple’s home in San Diego using a key she had obtained from one of her daughters. Armed with a .38-caliber revolver, she went into their bedroom and fired five shots while Dan and Linda were sleeping. Three bullets struck the couple, killing both. Later that day, Betty surrendered to police and admitted responsibility for the shootings.

At her first trial in 1990, the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict, resulting in a mistrial. Betty’s defense argued that years of emotional distress and the bitter divorce had affected her state of mind, while prosecutors maintained that the killings were intentional. During the second trial in 1991, a jury convicted her of two counts of second-degree murder. She received a sentence of 32 years to life in prison. The case attracted enormous public attention, partly because it raised difficult questions about domestic conflict, revenge, psychological distress and criminal responsibility. But the court ultimately held Betty responsible for the deaths of two people who were asleep in their own home.

Her four children had complicated and sometimes conflicting feelings about their mother. Some supported her release, believing that she had changed during her decades in prison, while others opposed parole and remained deeply affected by the killings. Her daughter Kim testified against her during the trial, while her son Rhett later publicly supported the possibility of her release. Betty appeared before parole authorities in 2010 and again in 2017, but both requests were denied. Officials cited concerns about her attitude, lack of remorse and the circumstances of the murders. She remained incarcerated for the rest of her life.

In April 2026, Betty was transferred from the California Institution for Women to an outside medical facility after requiring a higher level of care. She died there on May 8 at 3:40 a.m. The California Department of Corrections initially reported that she had died from natural causes, while subsequent reporting described complications following a fall and infection. Her death brought an end to a case that had remained part of American popular culture for decades, inspiring television movies, books, podcasts and the series Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story. Yet behind the headlines and dramatizations were two people who lost their lives and four children whose family was permanently changed by the violence.

Source: PEOPLE