Betty Broderick Biography – Betty Broderick was born on November 7, 1947. Her full name was Elizabeth Anne Broderick. She became known for a famous crime case in the United States. The crime happened after Daniel divorced Betty and married Linda. Betty went on trial, and in 1991 she was found guilty of two counts of second-degree murder. She was sentenced to 32 years to life in prison. Betty Broderick died in prison in 2026.
Betty Broderick Biography

Betty Broderick was born on November 7, 1947. Her full name was Elizabeth Anne Broderick. She became known for a famous crime case in the United States.
In November 1989, Betty killed her ex-husband, Daniel T. Broderick III, and his new wife, Linda Kolkena Broderick.
The crime happened after Daniel divorced Betty and married Linda. Betty went on trial, and in 1991 she was found guilty of two counts of second-degree murder.
She was sentenced to 32 years to life in prison. The case received a lot of media attention. Many books and TV programs were made about it.
In 2020, an 8-episode TV series called Dirty John showed the story of Betty Broderick. Betty Broderick died in prison in 2026.
| Heading | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Elizabeth Anne Broderick |
| Known As | Betty Broderick |
| Date of Birth | November 7, 1947 |
| Birthplace | New York City, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous For | High-profile murder case |
| Conviction Year | 1991 |
| Charges | Two counts of second-degree murder |
| Sentence | 32 years to life in prison |
| Death Year | 2026 |
Betty Broderick Net Worth
Betty Broderick had an estimated net worth of about $1.5 million at the time of her conviction. She and her ex-husband, Daniel T.
Broderick III, earned a lot of money during their careers. Betty also received a large divorce settlement in the 1980s after their marriage ended.
| Heading | Information |
|---|---|
| Estimated Net Worth | About $1.5–$2 million |
| Income Sources | Real estate and divorce settlement |
| Profession | Real estate broker |
| Financial Support | Monthly pension from Daniel Broderick |
| Pension Ended | 1989 |
| Financial Status After Prison | No regular income |
She worked as a real estate broker and earned income from that job. Betty also received a monthly pension payment from Dan for some time.
However, those payments stopped in 1989. After going to prison, Betty did not have a regular source of income.
Betty Broderick Family

Betty Broderick was married to attorney Daniel T. Broderick III from 1969 until their divorce in the 1980s. They had four children named Kim, Lee, Daniel IV, and Rhett.
They also had another baby boy who sadly died at birth. After the 1989 murders of Dan and his second wife, Linda Kolkena Broderick, Betty’s children had different opinions about whether she should be released from prison.
Their eldest daughter, Kim Broderick, wrote a book in 2014 called Betty Broderick, My Mom: The Kim Broderick Story. In the book, she talked about the pain and problems the family experienced.
Lee Broderick is Betty’s second daughter. Daniel Broderick IV is one of her sons. Rhett Broderick is the youngest child. He once said that he and his brothers and sisters tried to remember their mother during her happier times.
| Heading | Information |
|---|---|
| Husband | Daniel T. Broderick III |
| Marriage Year | 1969 |
| Divorce | 1980s |
| Children | Kim, Lee, Daniel IV, Rhett |
| Other Child | One baby boy died after birth |
| Daughter’s Book | Betty Broderick, My Mom |
| Family Issue | Different views on her prison release |
Betty Broderick Early Life
Betty Broderick was born as Elizabeth Anne Bisceglia on November 7, 1947. She grew up in Bronxville. Betty was the third of six children in her family.
Her mother, Marita Curtin Bisceglia, was Irish American, and her father, Frank Bisceglia, was Italian American. Her father owned a successful plastering business with family members.
Betty’s parents were very strict. They expected their children to follow strong family and religious values. Betty later said she was raised to become a housewife.
She went to Catholic schools and was taught to support her future husband and family. She studied at Maria Regina High School in Hartsdale.
Later, she graduated from Eastchester High School in 1965. Betty then attended College of Mount Saint Vincent in The Bronx.
She earned a degree in early childhood education and also completed a minor in English.
| Heading | Information |
|---|---|
| Birth Name | Elizabeth Anne Bisceglia |
| Childhood Home | Bronxville |
| Parents | Frank and Marita Bisceglia |
| Father’s Job | Plastering business owner |
| Family Background | Irish and Italian American |
| Religion | Catholic |
| School | Maria Regina High School |
| College | College of Mount Saint Vincent |
| Degree | Early Childhood Education |
Betty Broderick Murder
One month before the wedding of Daniel T. Broderick III and Linda Kolkena Broderick, Betty Broderick bought a Smith & Wesson revolver.
On the morning of November 5, 1989, Betty drove to Dan’s house in the Marston Hills area near Balboa Park in San Diego.
She used a house key that she had taken from her daughter Kim. Betty entered the house while Dan and Linda were sleeping.
She shot both of them. Linda died immediately after being shot in the head and chest. Dan was shot in the chest while he was reportedly trying to reach the phone.
The shooting happened at 5:30 a.m., two days before Betty’s 42nd birthday. Dan was almost 45 years old, and Linda was 28 years old.
During the trial, evidence showed that Betty had removed the phone and answering machine from the bedroom so Dan could not call for help.
Doctors later said that Dan did not die immediately after being shot. Betty later claimed that she spoke to him after the shooting.
After the incident, Betty contacted her daughter Lee and Lee’s boyfriend. Later, she surrendered to the police. She admitted that she fired the gun, but she said she never planned to kill Dan and Linda.
During the second trial, Betty said she became frightened after hearing Linda shout, “Call the police!” and then fired the gun.
| Heading | Information |
|---|---|
| Crime Date | November 5, 1989 |
| Victims | Daniel Broderick and Linda Kolkena |
| Location | San Diego, California |
| Weapon | Smith & Wesson revolver |
| Time | Around 5:30 a.m. |
| Arrest | Later surrendered to police |
| Trial Result | Guilty of second-degree murder |
| Claim | Said she did not plan the killings |
Betty Broderick Physical Appearance
Betty Broderick was an American woman who became known because of a famous murder case. She was convicted for the 1989 murders of her ex-husband, Daniel T.
Broderick III, and his second wife, Linda Kolkena Broderick. Betty was born on November 7, 1947, in New York City. She grew up in a middle-class family in Long Island.
She was about 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighed around 150 pounds. She had blonde hair and blue eyes. Betty received a sentence of 32 years to life in prison.
She served her sentence at the California Institution for Women in Chino. At the time of her conviction, her estimated net worth was around $2 million.
Before going to prison, she worked as a real estate broker and earned money from that job.
| Heading | Information |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 feet 3 inches |
| Weight | Around 150 pounds |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Prison | California Institution for Women |
| Profession Before Prison | Real estate broker |
Betty Broderick Marriage
In 1965, Betty Broderick met her future husband, Daniel T. Broderick III, at the University of Notre Dame. They met at a dance while Dan was studying there.
Dan was 21 years old and planned to attend medical school at Cornell Medical School. Betty was 17 years old and studying at College of Saint Mary’s.
Dan came from a large Irish Catholic family in Pittsburgh. His family had values similar to Betty’s family. Betty later said that Dan worked very hard to convince her to marry him.
The couple got married on April 12, 1969, at Immaculate Conception Church in Tuckahoe. After their honeymoon, Betty became pregnant with their first child.
They had four children: daughters Kim and Lee, and sons Daniel and Rhett. They also had another baby boy who sadly died four days after birth.
| Heading | Information |
|---|---|
| Husband | Daniel T. Broderick III |
| First Meeting | 1965 |
| Marriage Date | April 12, 1969 |
| Wedding Place | Immaculate Conception Church |
| Children | Four children |
| Family Background | Irish Catholic values |
| Marriage Problems | Divorce and legal disputes |
FAQ – Betty Broderick
1. Who was Betty Broderick ?
Betty Broderick was an American woman who became widely known because of a famous murder case in the United States. She was convicted for the 1989 killings of her ex-husband, Daniel T. Broderick III, and his second wife, Linda Kolkena Broderick.
2. What happened in the Betty Broderick case ?
In November 1989, Betty Broderick entered the home of her ex-husband in San Diego and shot Daniel Broderick and Linda Kolkena while they were sleeping. In 1991, she was found guilty of two counts of second-degree murder and received a prison sentence of 32 years to life.
3. How many children did Betty Broderick have ?
Betty Broderick had four children with Daniel Broderick. Their names are Kim, Lee, Daniel IV, and Rhett Broderick. The couple also had a baby boy who sadly died shortly after birth.
4. What was Betty Broderick net worth ?
At the time of her conviction, Betty Broderick’s estimated net worth was around $1.5 million to $2 million. She earned money through real estate work and received financial support during and after her divorce settlement.
5. Was Betty Broderick story made into a TV series ?
Yes, Betty Broderick’s story was shown in the 2020 television series Dirty John. The series focused on her marriage, divorce, and the events that led to the famous criminal case.
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