
I’m sure many of you are aware of the Dirty John series two, Betty Broderick. Although it has not had as much coverage as I’d have hoped. Now true crime documentaries are not always the best way to find out the truth, after delving deep into the history of this case, I found it does represent it well. If you haven’t given it a watch, I would definitely recommend it and would love to know your thoughts on the case.
Betty was married to Daniel Broderick, having 4 children and helping him become a doctor and then through law school. Of course, it all ended in 1989 when Betty had finally had enough of the torturous years with her husband’s affair with Linda Kolkena, killing them both. Not that I am condoning what she did at all, it was wrong for her to end his and Linda’s life. Although I do understand why she did do it and believe others in her situation could be led to this end too. After she kept them afloat with money while he went through law school, having his children and being the perfect housewife, he decided she was too old and needed a young wife to suit his new high class life-style.
This is not to say that Daniel was the sole person to blame, Betty was in the wrong too. However, taking a woman’s children away from her and brainwashing them tipped her over the edge, as it would do with many women. Betty brought the children up alone, with Daniel always too busy with his company to care about them. It seems Daniel did love Betty to begin with, but to me, it seems it became easy and stayed with her to do everything for him.
Daniel began socialising with his new girlfriend, rubbing his success in Betty’s face. This really does make me sad for Betty, she had no money because all her time was invested in her husband’s career. When it came to the divorce, it became a game for Daniel, trying to leave her with next to nothing and only supervised visits with her own children. He really did drive her to the point of destruction.
This woman is now 72 and has been in prison since 1989. I may be too generous, but I believe that this woman should be let to live her final years as a free woman. Free from having to fight for her children, fight for money to live and fight for her sanity. Daniel took all these away from her. And, although he did not get to live, Betty merely existed in the years of their divorce. She lost her spark and became depressed.
What do you believe?

Men can be so cruel. Women are more emotional than men. Men will never understand the feelings that women go through in their life. Men don’t want to take the time to understand women.
Sad that this happened.
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Yes, please! Free that poor woman! Maybe she is still rotting there because of the powerful lawyers of San Diego..
Another woman deserves to be released: LeslieVan Houten. It’s time for Sharon ‘s sister to let go…
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[…] Natalie’s (@criminologysocietyuon) thoughts around the “true crime” documentary Betty Broderick remains our most read individual entry, clocking up views ever since the day it was published. This […]
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She did way better with him and being dumped than she ever would have done alone as a school teacher. She got way more in 1989 than most people make in 2026. She did awful things. Who drives their car into somebody’s house? I read about old people doing it by mistake because they are bad drivers but out of hate? She needed to get over it and get on with it. Relationships run their course. Because you may have evolved and changed as a person and/or your partner has and you no longer love that person intimately and romantically, does that mean you have to sacrifice the rest of your life to be with that person because their feelings are hurt? I think I read she was diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder. Those of you who understand how she could do it….what is wrong with you? If you can picture yourself killing someone because you have been scorned, get yourself some help now.
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