Betty Broderick, who was serving two consecutive life sentences for the 1989 killings of her ex-husband and his new wife, has died in prison at the age of 78, according to family and corrections officials.
Her son, Daniel Broderick, has now shared new details about her final days, saying she suffered serious medical complications before her death while in custody.
Son Says She Was on Life Support
In a statement to TMZ, Daniel Broderick said his mother experienced multiple septic infections prior to her death and had been seriously ill for weeks.
He also revealed she suffered a fall at the California Institution for Women about three weeks earlier, resulting in broken ribs and further complications.
According to Daniel, Betty was placed on life support and transferred to an intensive care unit outside the prison system shortly before she died.
He added that she was unable to communicate during her final days and was surrounded by all four of her children at the time of her passing.
Prison Officials Confirm Transfer and Death
A spokesperson for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed that Broderick was moved from the California Institution for Women to an outside medical facility for advanced care on April 18.
She was later pronounced dead on May 8 at 3:40 a.m. local time.
Officials stated that a physician initially ruled her cause of death as natural causes, though a final determination will be made by the San Bernardino County Coroner.
From Infamous Case to Life in Prison
Broderick became nationally known after being convicted of killing her ex-husband, Dan Broderick, and his second wife, Linda Kolkena, in 1989.
She was sentenced in 1991 to two consecutive terms of 15 years to life, along with additional time for firearm charges.
Her case drew widespread media attention and remains one of the most discussed domestic murder trials in U.S. criminal history.
Years of Parole Denials
Over the years, Broderick repeatedly sought parole, arguing that she had served enough time and was a victim of prolonged domestic abuse and coercive control.
However, prosecutors consistently opposed her release, citing her lack of remorse and the severity of the crimes.
In 2017, a San Diego County deputy district attorney described her as “completely unrepentant.”
Final Years Behind Bars
Broderick was next scheduled for parole consideration in 2032, when she would have been 84 years old.
Her death marks the end of a decades-long incarceration that continued to attract public attention and debate over justice, abuse, and sentencing.
A Case That Still Draws Debate
The Broderick case has remained a topic of public discussion for more than three decades, with ongoing debate over whether her actions were driven by abuse, rage, or premeditation.
While her supporters have long argued she was failed by the justice system, prosecutors maintained that the killings were deliberate and calculated.
Her death closes a long and controversial chapter in one of America’s most widely known criminal cases.
