Betty Broderick- Wife, Mother, Murderer

After being married and suffering her husband's abuse for many years, Betty Broderick and her husband Dan Broderick separate, and Dan files for divorce. He moves on with his office temp turn secretary Linda Kolkena Both of whom she kills in a fit of rage after months and years of abuse. First, she fought for no divorce, then she fought for what she thought was a fair divorce. She was convicted of 2 counts of second-degree murder and later sentenced to 32 years in prison in a California women's penitentiary where she currently resides.

Betty saw her husband through many years of schooling, first, when Dan was going to medical school to become a doctor, then helping him through law school to become a lawyer. Betty was the main provider for the family while Dan attended Harvard Law School in 1982. Dan hired 21 year old, Linda, a former flight attendant, and current temporary assistant to become his Legal Assistant.

As early as October of 1983 Betty was convinced that Dan was having an affair with Linda at a party she had overheard Dan was talking to some of his co-workers about Linda and about how beautiful she was. When Betty asked Dan about his comments he played it off and said that Linda was just an employee and that there was nothing going on with them.

Against Betty's wishes, Dan had moved out in February of 1985. They had a big fight to end all fights where she told him if he did not fire Linda Kolkena she was going to leave him. An empty threat based on years of her thinking that she could control certain situations and that she could force him to fire her, which she had already previously told him to do numerous times and every time he refused.

She claimed that she was going to kick him out and he told her that if she wanted to leave she needed to leave. They fought and he left, he had made her believe that he may come back after they have a separation. However, he had no interest in reconciling with her and instead sent her divorce papers. The divorce was finalized in 1989, Dan had filed the petition for divorce immediately after leaving Betty, and in April of 1989, Linda and Dan were married.

Linda had joked to Dan that they should wear bulletproof vests at the wedding because Linda was concerned with Betty's state of mind, as she had already gone off the deep end a little bit trying to vandalize Dan and Linda's home, as well as walked into their home and stole a book. She had been harassing them on the phone cussing at them and leaving vulgar messages.

It was later when they were actually killed and Betty was arrested for their murder.

For years her kids, which she has four of, two girls two boys, would be divided. Some were on her side, some were against her, for the senseless act of killing their father. They did not understand her reasoning beyond her hatred for Linda and were very upset at the fact that their mother had stolen their father's life and the life of his wife. However, they did not understand why Betty would want to kill their father. Most of her kids have not even seen her even one day since she has been in prison while one of her daughters had stayed in contact with her for a little bit, she no longer has communication with her mother. The same as her other children. They have been hurt and upset by their mother's actions.

Betty, who has already been up for parole twice and been denied, will not be eligible again until 2032. She will be 84 years old.