Broderick Murder House

Author: Jewls Krueger

The Murder of Dan & Linda Broderick

At around 5:30 a.m. on November 5, 1989, Betty Broderick let herself into the home of her ex-husband, successful lawyer Dan Broderick, and his new wife Linda Broderick (nee Kolkena). She used a key she had taken from her daughter Kim, then went upstairs to the master bedroom of the large, colonial style home where the couple was sleeping. Betty fired five shots from a .38-caliber Smith and Wesson revolver. Three of the shots struck the couple, killing both Linda and Dan. The murders happened just two days before Betty's 42nd birthday.

Trial testimony later indicated that Betty had removed a telephone and answering machine from the bedroom so the couple could not call for help. Dan, who was hit in the chest, did not die immediately. Betty left the house and turned herself in to police later that day, after first contacting her daughter Lee. She never denied firing the gun, but she would maintain that the shooting was not planned.

The Marriage

Betty and Dan met at the University of Notre Dame in 1965 and married in 1969. They went on to have five children together, one of whom died shortly after birth. Dan first earned his M.D. at Cornell, then decided to return to school for a law degree, graduating from Harvard Law School in 1973. While Dan was in school and building his career, Betty was the main provider and homemaker for the family, raising the children and earning money through part time work that at times included selling Tupperware and Avon. By 1978, Dan had founded his own San Diego law firm specializing in medical malpractice cases, and the practice quickly became successful.

Dan, Linda, and the Divorce

In the fall of 1982, Dan hired Linda Kolkena, who was just 21 and had no background in law, as his legal assistant. Linda was a former Delta Air Lines flight attendant. Betty grew suspicious that the two were having an affair as early as 1983, but Dan denied it for years. Against Betty's wishes, Dan moved out of the family home in February 1985, eventually took custody of the children, and filed for divorce. Because Dan had become a prominent local attorney and served as president of the San Diego Bar Association, Betty said it was difficult for her to find a lawyer willing to represent her, which she felt left her at a disadvantage.

The divorce dragged on for years and grew increasingly bitter. Betty's behavior became more erratic during this period. She left hundreds of profane messages on Dan's answering machine, violated restraining orders that barred her from his property, and on one occasion drove her car into the front door of his home. The divorce was finalized in 1989, four years after Dan first filed.

Dan and Linda's Marriage

Dan married Linda Kolkena on April 22, 1989. Friends were concerned that Betty might appear at the wedding and cause a scene, and Linda reportedly urged Dan to wear a bulletproof vest. Dan declined, though plainclothes security was present. Betty stayed away and the wedding proceeded without incident. She had already purchased the revolver she would use in the murders a month earlier, in March of 1989. Linda was 28 years old at the time of her death. She and Dan were later buried together at Greenwood Memorial Park in San Diego.

Betty Broderick's Trials

Betty was charged with two counts of murder. Her defense argued that she was a battered woman driven to the breaking point by years of psychological abuse during the marriage and divorce. Prosecutor Kerry Wells portrayed her instead as a calculating killer who had planned the shooting. Betty was represented by defense attorney Jack Early.

Her first trial ended with a hung jury, when two jurors held out for a manslaughter verdict, citing a lack of intent, and a mistrial was declared. Betty was retried the following year, with the second trial beginning in December 1991. This time the jury found her guilty of two counts of second degree murder. She was sentenced to two consecutive terms of 15 years to life, plus two additional years for the use of a firearm, for a total of 32 years to life.

Betty Broderick's Fate

Betty served her sentence at the California Institution for Women in Chino. She became eligible for parole and was denied in both 2010 and 2017, with the parole board citing her lack of remorse. She would not have been eligible again until 2032.

Betty Broderick died on May 8, 2026, at the age of 78. Weeks earlier she had fallen at the prison and broken several ribs, and she was transferred on April 18 to an outside medical facility for a higher level of care. She then developed a serious infection that became sepsis. The San Bernardino County Coroner ruled her death an accident. Three of her children were at her bedside when she died, and a fourth joined by video call.

The Case in Popular Culture

The Broderick case drew national attention and has been retold many times. It was the subject of a two part 1992 television movie, "A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story," starring Meredith Baxter as Betty. In 2020, the second season of the anthology series "Dirty John" dramatized the story, with Amanda Peet as Betty and Christian Slater as Dan. The Los Angeles Times also produced a true crime podcast about the case, "It Was Simple: The Betty Broderick Murders." Over the years the case has appeared in multiple books and roughly thirty true crime television episodes and podcasts.

The Broderick House Today

The home where the double murders took place is located in the Marston Hills area of San Diego, just north of Balboa Park and near the Hillcrest neighborhood. It is a large, brick, colonial style home on the south side of Cypress Avenue. The home is private property. Please be respectful of the neighbors and the current residents, and stay on public roads and walkways at all times.