Full Cases
Betty Broderick: The Case File
Video · 5:57 · Watch on YouTube
Betty Broderick was convicted in 1991 of killing her ex-husband and his wife. Here is what the courts, the parole boards and the coroner reports show, and what is still unknown.
0:00 Betty Broderick case file: overview
0:35 Betty Broderick case: the 1989 killings
1:29 Betty Broderick trials: hung jury, 1991
2:29 Betty Broderick parole denied: 2010, 2017
4:02 Betty Broderick death: what's reported
Update ·
The first jury hung
The first trial, in 1990, ended in a hung jury: jurors couldn't agree between murder and manslaughter. At the second trial, in 1991, the defense pointed to a bitter divorce and custody battle; the jury convicted her of two counts of second-degree murder. Sentence: 32 years to life.
Update ·
How her death was reported
On April 18, 2026, the California Department of Corrections moved her from the women's prison in Chino to a medical facility. She died May 8, age 78. CDCR's first statement said the initial cause appeared natural; the San Bernardino County coroner would decide. Her son told reporters she had fallen, broken ribs and developed sepsis. In June the coroner reportedly ruled it an accident. We haven't seen the coroner's report.
Update ·
1969 to Nov. 5, 1989
Betty and Dan Broderick married in 1969; he became a prominent San Diego malpractice attorney. They separated in 1985, and in 1989 Dan married Linda Kolkena, who had worked at his firm. On Nov. 5, 1989, Betty Broderick let herself in with a key and shot Dan, 44, and Linda, 28, as they slept. A jury convicted her of two counts of second-degree murder.
What's confirmed
- Nov. 5, 1989Daniel Broderick (44) and Linda Kolkena Broderick (28) were shot as they slept (NBC San Diego, KTVU, Times of San Diego).
- 1990first trial ended in a hung jury and mistrial; 1991: second trial, two counts of second-degree murder, 32 years to life (KTVU, Biography.com, NBC San Diego).
- Jan. 2010parole denied. Commissioner Robert Doyle: "Your heart is still bitter, and you are still angry." (ABA Journal, Jan. 22, 2010)
- Jan. 2017parole denied again (NBC 7 San Diego, Jan. 4, 2017). Former deputy DA Richard Sachs, who argued against release, later told 10News: "It was her defiant attitude and not accepting responsibility that kept her in there." (10News, May 11, 2026)
- April 18, 2026moved from the California Institution for Women in Chino to a medical facility. Died May 8, 2026, age 78. CDCR's first statement said the initial cause appeared natural; the San Bernardino County coroner was to determine the official cause (NBC San Diego, KTVU).
- Her side, in a 2025 San Diego Reader interview"I am considered the most dangerous person in this prison by the people in charge."
What we don't know
- The coroner's own report. Outlets (Scripps, TMZ) report an accident ruling in June 2026; we have not seen the record.
- Whether press accounts of the 2010 and 2017 hearings match the board's written decisions. We have not pulled them.
Chapters
- 0:00Betty Broderick case file: overview
- 0:35Betty Broderick case: the 1989 killings
- 1:29Betty Broderick trials: hung jury, 1991
- 2:29Betty Broderick parole denied: 2010, 2017
- 4:02Betty Broderick death: what's reported
Sources
- NBC 7 San Diego (2017) Reportingnbcsandiego.com/news/local/one-time-san-diego-socialite-convicted-killer-betty-broderick-parole-hearing/29481/
- ABA Journal (2010) Reportingabajournal.com/news/article/no_parole_for_still-angry_ex-wife_convicted_of_killing_prominent_attorney
- 10News (2026) Reporting10news.com/news/local-news/former-prosecutor-betty-brodericks-defiance-kept-her-in-prison
- Times of San Diego (2026) Reportingtimesofsandiego.com/crime/2026/05/09/convicted-murderer-betty-broderick-dead-at-78/
- KTVU Reportingktvu.com/news/betty-broderick-death-murder-conviction-trial
- San Diego Reader (2025) Reportingsandiegoreader.com/news/2025/apr/11/feature-betty-broderick-story
The record · as of Oct. 30, 2026
How we know
Primary records are court and agency documents; reporting is news coverage we checked against them. How we report.
Verified timeline
- 1989-04-22Dan Broderick married Linda Kolkena. Times of SD confirms April 1989.Times of San Diego 2026; Wikipedia
- 1989-11-05Early on Nov. 5, 1989, Elizabeth 'Betty' Broderick shot her ex-husband Daniel Broderick III (44) and his wife Linda Kolkena Broderick (28) as they slept in San Diego. She used a key taken from her daughter. She turned herself in to police and has not denied firing the shots. (Time of day, ~5:30 a.m., is Wikipedia-only: not used.)NBC San Diego 2026; KTVU 2026; Times of San Diego 2026; Wikipedia; Biography.com
- 1990-11-01First trial (Nov. 1990) ended in a hung jury and mistrial; jurors could not agree between murder and manslaughter.KTVU 2026; Biography.com; Wikipedia
- 1991-12-01Sentence: 32 years to life (NBC SD 2010/2017, Wikipedia). KTVU/Wikipedia describe it as two consecutive terms of 15 to life. Sentencing date not found in a reliable source.NBC San Diego 2017; KTVU 2026; Wikipedia
- 2010-01-21Parole denied at first hearing (Jan. 21, 2010). Two-person panel found her unrepentant: Commissioner Robert Doyle, 'Your heart is still bitter, and you are still angry.' Deputy DA Richard Sachs argued against release.NBC News/AP 2010; Biography.com; Wikipedia (Jan. 2010)
- 2017-01-04Parole denied again at hearing Wed., Jan. 4, 2017. Board found no remorse / unreasonable risk of danger (NBC SD); Deputy DA Sachs argued against release. 10News text puts article in Jan. 2017, no exact date.NBC San Diego 2017; 10News 2017; Wikipedia (Jan. 2017)
- 2026-04-18Apr. 18, 2026: CDCR transported Broderick from CIW (Chino) to an outside medical facility for a higher level of care.NBC San Diego 2026; KTVU 2026 (quoting CDCR)
- 2026-05-08Died May 8, 2026, 3:40 a.m., age 78, pronounced by a medical doctor; CDCR: initial cause natural, San Bernardino County Coroner to determine official cause. DISCREPANCY: Times of SD gives May 9 and Chino Valley Medical Center; NBC SD article text says 'by 3:40 a.m. on Friday' (May 8 was a Friday) but one fetch showed May 9 heading; KTVU/Court TV/Wikipedia say May 8.KTVU 2026; NBC San Diego 2026; Court TV (snippet); Wikipedia; Times of San Diego 2026 (May 9)
- 2026-05-08Her son (Rhett Broderick, per Times of SD) said she tripped weeks earlier, broke ribs, developed sepsis and died with children at bedside; KTVU relays TMZ: ICU, septic infections, broken ribs, on life support. Family account, not an official finding.Times of San Diego 2026; KTVU 2026 (via TMZ)
Also in our research file
- Cause of death revealed (Scripps syndication; coroner ruled accidental) ReportingScripps/NewsChannel 9 · June 3, 2026
- Convicted killer Betty Broderick dead ReportingNBC San Diego · May 9, 2026
- Convicted killer Betty Broderick denied parole Reporting10News · 2017-01
- Betty Broderick denied parole in murders (Jan. 21, 2010) ReportingNBC News/AP · Jan. 21, 2010
- FOX: CDCR statement, died May 8 2026, initial cause natural Reportingfox7austin.com
- CBS 8 throwback 30 years Reportingcbs8.com
- Betty Broderick dies in custody (CDCR statement to Court TV; search snippet only) ReportingCourt TV
- Wikimedia Commons: CDCR inmate photo, PD Secondarycommons.wikimedia.org
- Betty Broderick SecondaryBiography.com
- Betty Broderick SecondaryWikipedia
- Find a Grave: Broderick marker photo findagrave.com
Updates and corrections
Photo: California Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation, via Wikimedia Commons (public domain).
Her children are not named in this video.
Spot an error? Email corrections@undercurrentdaily.com. See our corrections policy. Have information about this case? Contact the investigating agency first.
