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What’s your idea of a perfect married life? Is it a blissful union marked by love, understanding, and shared dreams like in many fairytales?
Is it a house in the suburbs with a white picket fence? Is it having beautiful children and the means to care for and give them everything they ever wanted?
Now imagine your significant other, the person you thought was your soulmate, replacing you with someone else. Picture a different person taking everything you’ve worked so hard to build.
How would you feel? Would you be angry? If you do, no one would blame you, right? After all, nobody wants to see their rosy partnership dissolving right before their eyes.
However, would you ever consider crossing the line and committing murder for your notion of an ideal marriage? Betty Broderick did.
If you haven’t seen the second season of Netflix’s highly acclaimed true crime series Dirty John, you may wonder who Betty Broderick is.
Fortunately, this article unravels the twists and turns of Betty’s story. Continue reading if you want answers to questions like “What did Betty do?” and “Is she still behind bars?”
Are you looking to determine whether a specific individual is in prison? Visit LookUpInmate.org, a valuable resource that lets you access inmate records from over 7,000 correctional facilities in the United States (U.S.).
Who Is Betty Broderick?
On June 2, 2020, Netflix released the first two episodes of Dirty John season two. This true crime series depicts the real-life story of Betty Broderick, including her jealousy-filled downward spiral.
But who is Betty? Before her controversies inspired a TV show and made her a recognizable personality, she was known as Elisabeth Anne Broderick.
She was born to Marita and Frank Bisceglia on November 7, 1947. Betty was the third among the Bisceglia’s children, which included Marita-Jane, Francis, Clare, Gerard, and Michael.
The Bisceglias owned a plastering business in Bronxville, New York. They raised Betty and her siblings in a strict Catholic household.
Interestingly, Betty was brought up to pursue the traditional path of a dutiful wife, echoing the societal expectations for young girls during that time.
In 1965, Betty would meet those expectations when she met Daniel Broderick, portrayed by Christian Slater in the Netflix series, at the University of Notre Dame.
The two would tie the knot four years later, in 1969, and have four children: two daughters and two sons— Kimberly, Kathy Lee, Daniel IV, and Rhett.
In 1973, the Broderick family moved to the tony San Diego enclave of La Jolla. This decision stemmed from Dan’s career pursuit of becoming a lawyer. However, Dan wouldn’t have to wait long, as in 1978, he would start his own practice as a malpractice attorney.
According to CBS, life was “seemingly perfect” for Betty. That was until 1982, when Dan hired then-21-year-old airline stewardess Linda Kolkena as his legal assistant.
Betty Broderick’s Net Worth
The Brodericks were reasonably wealthy. The family lived in a La Jolla mansion, owned a boat and a condo in Colorado, were members of two prestigious country clubs, and their children attended distinguished private schools.
Therefore, you may be forgiven for thinking that Betty Broderick had a significant net worth. Unfortunately, the subject of her wealth is intricate.
While reports say she’s worth $1.5 million as of November 2023, Betty has no considerable assets— at least, not her own.
Many speculate that Betty’s wealth was the byproduct of her marriage to her ex-husband, Daniel Broderick. Before he died in 1989, Dan was a successful lawyer and entrepreneur in San Diego with an estimated net worth of $6 million.
It’s worth noting that Dan’s estate was distributed among his children and his second wife, Linda. However, Betty was excluded despite initially having a share.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Betty asserted that Daniel used his legal profession and influence to prevent her from receiving her share of his seven-figure annual income.
Remind Me, What Did Betty Broderick Do?
Amanda Peet plays the titular role in Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story. The show details the events leading to the fateful night of November 5, 1989— the night Betty Broderick murdered her ex-husband, Dan, and his second wife, Linda.
Did Betty Broderick Shoot Her Husband?
On November 5, 1989, Betty visited Dan’s and Linda’s mansion. At her murder trial, she stated that she couldn’t remember firing her gun. Instead, she initially planned to talk to the two victims.
Unfortunately, in a fit of rage and jealousy, Betty shot Dan Broderick in the back and Linda Kolkena Broderick in the chest and neck using a .38 revolver, committing a double homicide.
Betty would turn herself in following the event and would later be charged with a 32-years-to-life sentence on two counts of second-degree murder.
The Murder Followed a Particularly Messy Divorce
If you were shocked to find out that a Catholic-raised girl who was molded to be the perfect wife would tragically kill someone, you’re not alone.
However, Betty Broderick’s destructive and eventually murderous path wasn’t paved overnight. You can trace its roots when Dan Broderick hired Linda Kolkena in 1982 to be his legal assistant.
After the hiring decision, it became apparent to Betty that her then-husband was having an affair. Although Dan initially denied the claims, even going as far as calling Betty “crazy,” he committed infidelity with Linda.
A series of juvenile back-and-forths later, including Betty burning Dan’s custom suits in the backyard, the pair separated.
If you think that was the end of the story, you’d be wrong. After all, Dan would later get a court order prohibiting Betty from entering their former home. Adding insult to injury, he shared that house with Linda.
However, according to the USA Network, things would escalate when Dan filed for divorce in 1985. Before the split was finalized, some notable incidents would occur, including:
- Betty vandalized their former home by breaking mirrors, defacing the walls, and smearing cream pie over Dan’s bed.
- Dan withheld alimony payments and sold the Broderick family home without Betty’s permission.
- Betty crashed her car through the front door of Dan’s new house.
- Dan got Betty arrested three times and had her committed to a mental hospital.
Fortunately for San Diego County, what they describe as the worst divorce case would be finalized in January 1989. Four months later, Dan would make Linda his new wife.
In the fall of 1991, Betty would tell The New York Times that Daniel took her home, her kids, and her money.
So, with everything that’s happened, do you think you can empathize with Betty Broderick and what she did? If you answer yes, consider hearing many incarcerated individuals’ less-publicized stories.
Visit LookUpInmate.org to access inmate records from over 7,000 federal, state, county, local, military, and immigrant detention facilities across the country.
The Jury Was Torn Over Betty’s Guilt
If you hear someone has committed murder, do you want that individual to be free? From the outside, Betty Broderick’s case is simple: you kill someone, you go to jail.
However, Betty’s first trial in 1990 wasn’t straightforward. Jurors were divided over the double murderer’s guilt. Some believed a portion of the actions she took were premeditated. On the other hand, others questioned her sanity.
The jury also grappled with conflicting narratives, which made it harder for them to reach a consensus. For one, jurors debated whether Dan Broderick was a victim harassed by his ex-wife or was a manipulator who stripped Betty of everything she held dear.
Unfortunately, Betty’s second trial in 1991, which involved charges of two counts of second-degree murder, would lead to a 32-years-to-life sentence.
Note that under California Penal Code Sections 187, 189, 190, and 194, the potential penalty you may face for second-degree murder is 15 years to life in state prison.
However, your prison term can increase to 20 and 25 years to life if you commited the homicide while shooting from a motor vehicle and your victim is law enforcement personnel, respectively. If you’re a repeat offender, you may be imprisoned without the possibility of parole.
Where Is Betty Broderick Now?
As of November 2023, Betty Broderick is being held at the California Institution for Women in Chino, California, serving her 32-years-to-life sentence.
Interestingly, the now-famous Betty shared the correctional facility with other notable names like Leslie Van Outen and Patricia Krenwinkel.
Leslie and Patricia are associated with the Manson Family and were indicted for their involvement in the infamous Tate-LaBianca murders in 1969.
Betty Broderick Children
As mentioned, Betty and Dan Broderick had four children— Kimberly, Kathy Lee, Daniel IV, and Rhett.
They have previously shared how their tense upbringing and their mother’s crime have negatively affected them to the point that Kim and Kathy Lee would testify against Betty in her 1991 trial.
But who can blame them? Especially if you consider that Betty used them in an incident as part of her back-and-forth with her then-husband Dan. In one episode, Betty dropped her children off at the Broderick family home’s doorstep one by one, which Dan used to win sole custody.
In an interview with Oprah, Rhett stated, “I constantly felt like I was under a microscope,” referring to how people often blame his parents’ situation for his actions.
Her Children Are Grown and Have Families of Their Own
As grown individuals, Betty’s children now have families of their own. Kimberly resides in Hailey, Idaho, with her family, as does her sister Kathy Lee.
Fittingly, Dan, the sibling named after their father, lives in La Jolla, California. He’s joined by his wife Megan and their three daughters.
On the other hand, the youngest of the Broderick siblings, Rhett, is now a Wood River High School history teacher. He also lives in Hailey, Idaho, with his wife and two daughters.
She’s a Grandma Now
Despite Betty’s incarceration, she maintains connections with her children and grandchildren. In 2009, she sent a family portrait taken in prison to an L.A. (Los Angeles) Magazine reporter.
The photo showcases Betty, her four children, and her two granddaughters celebrating her birthday and Mother’s Day. Unfortunately, Betty’s offspring avoid visiting her during Christmas and school holidays.
The Siblings Are Split Regarding Betty’s Prison Release
Up to Betty’s first parole hearing in 2010, she has experienced many betrayals. However, you may feel bad for Betty to know that her first shot at a life outside prison since her murder conviction was denied by some of her children.
In an interview about why he testified against her mother’s parole, Dan said, “In my heart, I know my mother is a good person, but along the way, she got lost.”
Dan continued, stating, “Releasing a lost person into society could be a dangerous mistake.”
In contrast, Kathy Lee was all for Betty’s release. She told the parole board that Betty could live with her, adding, “She should be able to live her later life outside prison walls.”
At One Point, Betty Said She Was Having a “Pretty Good Time” in Prison
You’d think that after everything Betty has been through, she would wallow in sadness during her prison stay. But in a 1998 interview, she admitted that she had found unexpected contentment behind bars.
Betty notes that she spends a fulfilling life within the prison walls, engaging in volunteer initiatives, including providing GED (general educational development) tutoring and recording books for Braille readers.
Despite the challenges of prison life, Betty admitted that she gets four hours of sleep and can engage in leisure activities, such as watching nature films with headphones during the night.
However, it’s essential to understand that rehabilitation programs and recreational activities vary significantly between correctional facilities. If you want to determine guidelines for a specific institution, visit LookUpInmate.org.
She Published a Memoir in 2015
Betty Broderick has kept herself busy while incarcerated. Aside from legal work and GED tutoring, she also wrote a memoir titled Telling on Myself, published in 2015.
If you want to hear insights into her upbringing, values, and the dynamics of her abusive relationships, consider reading Betty’s chronicle.
The autobiographical work also delves into the complexities of being trapped in such relationships and the challenges of breaking free.
Dirty John Is Not the First Work About Betty Broderick
While Netflix’s Dirty John introduced Betty Broderick to modern audiences in 2020, she had already carved her name into the history books.
Betty has appeared, and her story has been mentioned in various forms of media. For instance, her double murder case inspired movies like the Emmy-nominated A Woman Scorned and Her Final Fury, released in 1992.
Betty’s story has inspired several books, including Hell Hath No Fury by Byrna Taubman, Until the Twelfth of Never by Bella Stumbo, and Forsaking All Others: The Real Betty Broderick Story by Loretta Schwartz-Nobel.
Betty Broderick’s Love Letters From Prison Found in San Diego
Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story received much fanfare when it launched on Netflix. However, one individual wasn’t included in retelling the November 5, 1989 crime— Bradley Wright.
Bradley was Betty’s boyfriend when she shot and killed her then-ex-husband, Daniel Broderick, and his wife, Linda Kolkena Broderick. Bradley was also the one who discovered the bodies of the two victims.
The reason why Bradley was a recent trending topic was because letters from him to the incarcerated Betty were discovered in a forgotten San Diego storage unit.
While Bradley and Betty are no longer in a relationship, their 2003 to 2006 exchange gave insight into the latter’s life in prison. It includes an instance where Bradley sent money to Betty after her 1991 sentence.
She Was Denied Parole Twice
Betty Broderick faced parole hearings in 2010 and 2017. Unfortunately for her, both resulted in denial.
Although her children’s testimonies may have played a role, Betty’s biggest obstacle is the parole board‘s characterization of her.
Deputy District Attorney Richard Sachs even went as far as telling the San Diego Union-Tribune that Betty was an “unrepentant woman” with a lack of demonstrated remorse for the murders.
The court ruled for the maximum duration of 15 years before her eligibility for parole could be reconsidered. Betty’s next parole hearing is scheduled for January 2032. By then, she will be 84 years old.
She Claims She’s a “Political Prisoner”
There’s never a dull moment in Betty Broderick’s prison life. In 2017, she asserted in a four-page letter to Katie Dunn, the Murder Made Me Famous producer, that she had become a “political prisoner.”
In her correspondence, Betty contested the denial of her parole, citing she met all the criteria and had a release date for 2010.
Betty’s claim adds a layer of complexity to her perspective on the criminal justice system’s handling of one’s case. If you’re intrigued by the broader issues within the American correctional system, visit LookUpInmate.org.
This valuable resource allows you to gain insights into the prison system through accessible inmate records from over 7,000 U.S. correctional facilities.
References
- Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story (2020)
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/dirty_john/ - Where is Betty Broderick Now? What Does She Look Like Now?
https://www.fresherslive.com/latest/articles/where-is-betty - Who Was the Real Betty Broderick? The True Story Behind Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story
https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/ - Betty Broderick Net Worth: How Rich Is She
https://wealthyrichceleb.com/betty-broderick-net-worth/ - What Is Betty Broderick’s Net Worth and Is She Still in Jail?
https://buzznigeria.com/us/what-is-betty-brodericks-net-worth - The True Story of Betty Broderick and Where She Is Now
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/ - Dirty John’s Betty Broderick Is Up for Parole Again in 2032
https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/a32654617/betty-broderick - California Second Degree Murder Laws
https://www.findlaw.com/state/california-law/ - Leslie Van Houten Parole Was a Tragic Mistake
https://www.pacificresearch.org/leslie-van-houten - Betty Broderick’s love letters from prison found in San Diego
https://www.cbs8.com/amp/article/news/crime/betty