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News & Current Events May 9, 2026 at 5:07 PM

Betty Broderick, convicted of murdering her ex-husband and his new wife in bed, dies at 78

Posted by Historical-Bug-4784


Betty Broderick, convicted of murdering her ex-husband and his new wife in bed, dies at 78
NBC News
Betty Broderick, convicted of murdering her ex-husband and his new wife in bed, dies at 78
Broderick had been serving a prison sentence for the 1989 murders, which became the subject of multiple films and books.

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geraffes-are-so-dumb 2 days ago +3193
“At a 2010 parole hearing, all four of her children spoke. Two said they believed she should remain imprisoned. Her son Dan said his mother was a good person who had “got lost along the way.” “Releasing a lost person into society could be a dangerous mistake,” he said. Her parole was denied. “ Damn, she must have been really awful.
3193
RecordOfTheEnd 2 days ago +1878
I mean, she killed their father. So it's not like it's unusual for them to speak out against her. 
1878
sjhesketh 2 days ago +1290
IIRC she also drove a car into the deck at her husband’s house while the kids were on it. She was crazed and dangerous.
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fatherOblivion69 2 days ago +542
There was a "made for tv" movie about her and the case. There were a bunch of incidents where her antics were in full display before it finally came to a head. She was an entitled narcissist.
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Alternative_Year_340 2 days ago +129
She also got a Netflix special
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JeezieB 1 day ago +40
Ok, I'm 3 episodes in, and... I kinda get it.
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Alternative_Year_340 1 day ago +113
Her rage is understandable. He was horrible. But she couldn’t let it go or step back. She hated him more than she loved her children
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Senator_Bink 1 day ago +46
>*She hated him more than she loved her children* That was why I could never be Team Betty. She gave not one single shit about the effect of all that on her kids. I thought Dan, Linda and Betty were all equally-awful people. I only felt bad for her kids.
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Gaeliclad 18 hr ago +19
That is a complete false equivalence. Dan was flawed and certainly was not a perfect victim or father of the year material. Betty however was a cold blooded murderer who continually was abusive. She was on tape telling her 11 year old son to call Linda "the office c*nt". She repeated broke into the home to destroy Dan's clothes and set them on fire. She drove the car into the house when the children were in it. She bought a gun, took lessons on how to use it and murdered two people in it while her children were in the house. Dan had an affair, and told lies in covering it up. These two things are not the same.
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Sitcom_kid 10 hr ago +5
... what’s extremely fascinating to me is something that is almost never mentioned. Two people, who did not know each other, both came forward to say that Dan had discussed putting a murder-for-hire hit on Betty while they were still together. One of these witnesses was a deputy district attorney who did not previously know Dan, so we can consider him a reliable source. (Dan didn’t know the man was a DDA). Another man stated that Dan asked him how much it would cost to have his wife murdered. The DDA told his girlfriend about it at the time but didn’t report it because Dan was “only talking” about it, and he thought he would sound crazy accusing this big-shot scion of the legal community. The girlfriend later saw Dan and Betty and wanted to warn Betty, but when Dan saw the couple, he abruptly pulled Betty away in another direction. They were both willing to testify in court, but the judge decided it only spoke to Dan’s state of mind and wouldn’t allow it in. Nevertheless, it’s some truly disturbing information. It goes without saying, of course, that Betty should not have committed these murders. A former coworker of mine in law enforcement met Dan and described him as very cold, supercilious, and arrogant. \- u/LadyChatterteeth
5
Electronic-Link-5792 1 day ago +8
He wasnt horrible. All of the stuff about Dan comes from what Betty has said which is not reliable. He didnt even leave her after his degree. He supported her for years with a luxury lifestyle before leaving her for Linda. And by her daughters account Betty was abusive and violent during the marriage.
8
Kentust 1 day ago +7
Outta here with that logic! We trust crazed murderers at their word here.
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JeezieB 2 days ago +52
Ooo... which one? I love a good Netflix special!
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YOUSHOUTEDTHIS 1 day ago +61
Dirty John
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mayhemandqueso 1 day ago +35
Oh that’s her?!
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TimTom8921 1 day ago +22
Dirty Betty. Dirty John is about John Meehan
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Katie_Rai_60 1 day ago +8
Dirty John season 2 is about Betty.
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TimTom8921 1 day ago +5
You're right
5
RParkerMU 1 day ago +4
Here’s the link: https://www.netflix.com/us/title/80241855 It’s season 2 of Dirty John. I was confused as another comment called it Dirty Betty
4
NoRecommendation9404 2 days ago +22
Two made-for-TV movies.
22
New_Rooster_6184 1 day ago +115
Well she financially supported her husband through school. He became wealthy, and began to berate and belittle her over her physical appearance. Was verbally abusive…and then left her for his much younger secretary. Not excusing, especially the impact it had on the children…but, I can understand how a woman can be driven mad under those circumstances.
115
daesgatling 1 day ago +31
It would be understandable if it was early on. But they dragged out the fight and by then her ex was prepared to give her everything she wanted as long as it was done. The fighting didn’t get him killed. The lack of a fight did
31
Thedarkhunt 1 day ago +24
That’s a one-sided account. And the other side is dead
24
Electronic-Link-5792 1 day ago +19
Their daughter has said it was betty who was abusive. Betty left hundreds of abusive calls including to her children and theres no evidence of Dan doing anything like this. He also left her many years after graduating and providing her with a luxury lifestyle. He more than paid her back for her support. Theres no reason to sympathise with her.
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chebadusa 1 day ago +22
She supported him during both medical and law school and he paid her back (after 4 kids) by sleeping with his secretary and leaving her for a younger woman…And everything you are speaking to happened after the fact, as they were going through a divorce…and I did speak to that in my original statement. Doesn’t mean she wasn’t abused during the marriage…Friends testified to the abuse. Kids aren’t always privileged to information regarding their parents intimate affairs. Case in point. “He provided a luxury lifestyle”. He self imposed fines anytime she exhibited behavior he deemed unseemly and took it out of the court ordered spousal support she was supposed to receive. One month, he deducted $16k…Another, she received a negative check. He continued to do this even after the judge ordered him to stop his arbitrary system. He refused to pay for her divorce attorney, so she was forced to represent herself against a far more powerful man. He used legal loopholes to withhold money….And she had very limited means to fight back. That’s psychological warfare, and financial abuse.
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MarkCelery78 1 day ago +9
It’s all the killers side of the story
9
djjmar92 18 hr ago +5
“Just two weeks after his wedding to Betty, she asked him for a divorce, Dan stated in that 1988 interview. "I swear to God! I couldn't believe it. I was 24 years old. She was upset with me. She would never tell me \[why\]. She would say, 'If you don't know what I'm upset about, then you've got a real problem. I don't want to talk about it. I want to be divorced.' " Later, Dan said, "There were requests, demands, for divorce, hundreds of times. I means hundreds of times! I'm not exaggerating." "She glosses over a lot when she says we were both happy" with this arrangement, Dan declared. "She tells my children that we had a blissful, happy, healthy marriage until | went crazy when I was 40. That's just pure fiction! It's a figment of her imagination that's not even close." In reality, the marriage was tumultuous throughout its course, he said, cursed with "real incompatibility problems." Some were her fault, he said; but "I was far from the kind of good, loving husband I could have been," Dan readily admitted. Not long afterward, according to Dan, Betty began lapsing into violence. "She would come into the house whenever she wanted to, but in June 1985, she started on the rampages. Throwing stuff through the windows and breaking mirrors and spray-painting the walls. I mean, unbelievable things. She would always say that I provoked her, that she was upset with me because I did something or other. At one time, I had taken the kids to get haircuts, and she was expecting them at a soccer game. I didn't know they were supposed to be at a soccer game. I'm not that kind of person, that would take them to get a haircut just to spite her. I came back and there were hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars in damage. I mean, windows broken, and chandeliers cracked, and a stereo smashed. It was unbelievable stuff. "I called the police. 'What can you do about this?' 'Nothing. You don't have a court order. It's her house. She can do whatever she wants.! They wouldn't even take a report." So finally, on September 23, 1985, Dan filed for divorce. Earlier that month, Betty had received some warning of a change in her relationship with her husband. "He came and told me that he wanted me to be paying my own bills.... He sat me down and said, now you should have this for this, and this for that, and this for that." The calculations resulted in Dan's drawing up an agreement to pay Betty an "allowance" of almost $9000 per month - an annual income of more than $105,000 per year, tax-free (he also agreed to continue paying for insurance, taxes, club dues, and boat fees).
5
Electronic-Link-5792 1 day ago +14
The behaviour she 'exhibited' was stalking him, vandalising his property and attacking him. Thats what he was deducting payments for. You conveniently omit that. Her daughter has talked about her physical violence towards the children and Dan. I dont know why you just automatically believe Betty's claims.
14
ocgeekgirl 1 day ago +5
Law school and med school
5
MarkCelery78 1 day ago +5
Ah here we go. Blame the victims because a woman couldn’t possibly just be bad
5
beemojee 1 day ago +4
Oh Dan Broderick did so much more c*** to Betty than that. Of course none of it excuses murder, but he definitely had a hand in digging his own grave.
4
MarkCelery78 1 day ago +4
That’s her story
4
RazzamanazzU 1 day ago +8
He was not a good guy either. Both horrible people.
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jonashvillenc 1 day ago +2
That was like a docuseries with multiple 2 hour episodes. So good.
2
Electronic-Link-5792 1 day ago +9
And this was before the divorce settlement. The fact that people somehow think he was the bad guy for not giving her even more money is insane.
9
Montexe 2 days ago +243
She went crazy, felt it was unfair she lost the custody and made sure her kids would grow up without both parents instead
243
nevernikulous 2 days ago +276
She abandoned her children, one by one, on the ex husband’s doorstep before sole custody was awarded to him
276
Montexe 2 days ago +196
Yeah, she did and after all that she still claimed they were taken away from her unfairly. She had serious mental issues
196
Dangerous_Ant3260 1 day ago +83
She also claimed her ex sold the family home and left her homeless, in reality she had a house, he sold another house they didn't even live in. She left horrible messages for her young son, and threatened them.
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Economy_Walk 1 day ago +4
She hated Dan more than she loved them. I feel horrible for them. Betty's selfish actions left them without parents.
4
Margravos 2 days ago +180
Yeah she murdered two people in their bed
180
meaniemeanie-poo-poo 1 day ago +29
And was proud of it. She never showed any remorse.
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ccReptilelord 2 days ago +69
Such a mother; she's still able to get all four of her children together!
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AdCreepy5165 2 days ago +99
Wow that is really telling. Says a lot when your children not only don't want anything to do with you, but show up to your parole speak against you.
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koi-lotus-water-pond 1 day ago +39
According to the Guardian, they did choose to be with her when she died (one via Facetime). [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/09/betty-broderick-convicted-double-murder-ex-husband-wife-dead](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/09/betty-broderick-convicted-double-murder-ex-husband-wife-dead)
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Dairy_Ashford 2 days ago +20
the murder probably forced them to replay alot of arguments or behavior that most kids can brush off or reconcile against positive memories and a continuing bond. as they reach adulthood and navigate the same stressors or coinflicts without violence or abuse, it probably makes her choices even that much less forgivable.
20
limey1904 1 day ago +638
She was my preschool teacher. I forget the name of it but it was on Mt Soledad in La Jolla. My mom always reminded me for some reason.
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BurmeciaWillSurvive 1 day ago +639
Your mom: "hey, how'd the job interview go? Remember when your preschool teacher murdered those people? Good times, good times."
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Ladonnacinica 1 day ago +122
“They don’t make teachers like that anymore. I tell you what.”
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hedgehog-mom-al 1 day ago +20
Substitute teacher of the year!
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ZenPothos 19 hr ago +6
Kids are so soft nowadays without murderous teachers.
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bbShark24 1 day ago +49
This cracked me up
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tortoisenotaturtle 1 day ago +46
Love that moms are pretty much the same regardless of where or when you’re from.
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olololoh12 1 day ago +27
I’m surprised no one asked you here this: was she a good preschool teacher or you have 0 memories?
27
KimJongFunk 2 days ago +633
Her [interview with Oprah](https://youtu.be/02yJ46CZc88?si=wihTvRxRQDKbFwGY) will forever stick with me.
633
livingINtomorrow 2 days ago +914
The fact she kept saying “the gun went off” to avoid taking responsibility for firing it 5 times is pretty crazy
914
Mikeavelli 2 days ago +639
Abusers and the passive voice, truly a timeless match
639
HotSauceHigh 1 day ago +89
Chris Watts: "after *what happened*" 
89
New_Rooster_6184 1 day ago +32
Sounds like the husband was also pretty abusive.
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Obi-Tron_Kenobi 2 days ago +261
"And then he ran into my knife... he ran into my knife 10 times"
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Swordofsatan666 2 days ago +60
“Oh Miss Effie was her name, Through the west she won her fame, Being handy with a gun, But she drove the men insane, 'Cause she'd whip out her pistol and shoot most any guy, And sing out this alibi I didn't know the gun was loaded, And I'm so sorry my friend, I didn't know the gun was loaded, And I'll never never do it again But one night she made a slip, Shot the sheriff in the hip, So the law it took a hand, And made Effie take the stand, And she pled, "Oh, your honor I know you'll turn me loose, When you hеar my one excuse" I didn't know (shе didn't know) the gun was loaded, And I'm so (and I'm so) sorry my friend, I didn't know (she didn't know) the gun was loaded, And I'll never never do it again, I didn't know (she didn't know), The gun was loaded (that the gun was loaded), But regarding the gun that I toted All I did was hold it high and go ping, I'll never never do it again Yes the jury all agreed that Miss Effie should be freed, But the sheriff's jealous wife was indignant (yes indeed), So she borrowed a pistol and shot this village belle, And sang as Miss Effie fell I didn't know the gun was loaded, And I'm so (and I'm so) sorry my friend, I didn't know (she didn't know) the gun was loaded, And I'll never never do it again, I didn't know (she didn't know), The gun was loaded (that the gun was loaded), But regarding the gun that I toted All I did was hold it high and go ping, I'll never, never do it again
60
justtiptoeingthru2 1 day ago +15
[it's actually a real song! The Andrews Sisters made it famous.](https://genius.com/The-andrews-sisters-i-didnt-know-the-gun-was-loaded-lyrics)
15
drwhogwarts 1 day ago +3
No way!!! My grandmother used to sing the "I didn't know the gun was loaded" part but she'd switch the end to "and you can be damn sure I'd do it again" and then finger 'shoot' my grandfather. I thought she made it up!
3
JimBeam823 1 day ago +15
He had it coming!
15
MyBurnerAccount1977 1 day ago +12
Pop. Six. Squish. Uh-uh. Cicero. Lipschitz.
12
fleemfleemfleemfleem 2 days ago +133
The gun they show looks like a chief's special, so she emptied the cylinder at them. Even if she was telling the truth about not consciously deciding to kill them and "only bringing the gun to make them listen to her," at the time of that interview she doesn't seem to understand why that itself is wrong behavior. If someone insists that you only talk to them through lawyers, ask you to stay off the property, etc. At some point you accept that and hire a lawyer.
133
veryveryredundant 2 days ago +130
Deciding to bring a gun to make someone listen to you... the "make" part of that is "or else I shoot you."
130
fleemfleemfleemfleem 2 days ago +95
Yeah. Also, Oprah's framing here is kind of wild. She's framing it kind of like Broderick was driven to murder by having her perfect family fantasy broken up. Like yeah, that's unfortunate, bummer your husband cheated/left you. You don't get to kill him.
95
Rock4evur 2 days ago +113
Oprah is a known b******, who has platformed rapist cult leaders, and introduced Dr. Phil, and Dr. Oz to the world.
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amateur_mistake 1 day ago +25
I've also heard several times now that her handlers basically don't tip when she is buying food at the places near me.
25
Beginning_Ebb4220 1 day ago +6
what is wrong with these billionaires lol? If I made that kind of money I'd tip every meal. I would be proud to.
6
FriendlyDespot 1 day ago +49
Oprah and her ilk are part of why I roll my eyes when people claim that the 90s in America were great and something to strive for. Only a thoroughly broken society could elevate people like her.
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olololoh12 1 day ago +2
[ Removed by Listnook ]
2
kaisadilla_0x1 1 day ago +3
Especially when you don't handle your emotions well. These people know that they can be carried on by their emotions - choosing to give yourself a gun in that context is just evil and I really can't care if you try to argue that you "didn't want that to happen".
3
allisjow 1 day ago +17
Didn’t Oscar Pistorius say something similar when he shot his girlfriend? I could be wrong, but he sprang to mind.
17
Major-Regret 1 day ago +9
Passive/third person voice is a somewhat noted technique of those with sociopathic tendencies. Ted Bundy rather famously issued blanket denials until one investigator coaxed him into talking about himself in the anonymous third person, at which point he wouldn’t shut up
9
Ki-to-Life-5054 1 day ago +4
Claudine Longet as well.
4
Grey_Orange 1 day ago +13
That's actually really common for murders. Even without the threat of prison, accepting that you have intentionally killed someone for your own desires is difficult to accept. They will claim it was unintentional, or that the person was injured and they put them out of their misery.  While avoiding punishment is an aspect of this. I think that witnessing a murder is a pretty traumatic event, even if your the one that caused it.  
13
LukeSkywalkerDog 1 day ago +6
When you purposely drive to someone's home with a loaded gun, let yourself in, quietly climb the stairs, shoot a couple in their bed (instantly killing one but not the other), and rip the phone cord out of the wall so no one can call for help, you become a cold blooded murderer. Inexcusable.
6
OutlyingPlasma 1 day ago +29
> “the gun went off” Apparently this is a perfectly valid excuse if you are a trumpet shooting your daughter for not being a trumpet. Even being hot and blond didn't get her justice.
29
hogsucker 1 day ago +4
The exonerative tense is supposed to only be used when discussing the actions of law enforcement. 
4
drwhogwarts 1 day ago +2
That sounds like a line from *Chicago.*
2
Momochichi 2 days ago +170
God, Oprah will really platform anybody for ratings.
170
AnusOprah 1 day ago +121
Oprah really is a piece of shit
121
damik 2 days ago +59
That's one of the more disturbing things I've seen in a while.
59
FillFrontFloor 2 days ago +171
JFC, the amount of people excusing her in the comments it's crazy. Betty ain't the only psycho in society apparently. 
171
Kaarl_Mills 2 days ago +140
Considering Oprah is a large reason why the modem anti vax movement got so big, I'm comfortable saying she's a net negative on society
140
chasteeny 1 day ago +60
And dr phil, and dr oz... yeah she really is a pos too fr
60
Kaarl_Mills 1 day ago +23
Those two definitely are awful in their own right and shouldn't be ignored, but it doesn't even compare to the absolute psychosis people have regarding vaccines now that she unleashed onto Karens via her show
23
coolcoolcool485 2 days ago +85
i think some people need to better learn the difference between understanding and explaining behavior, and condoning it
85
Electronic-Link-5792 1 day ago +3
People shouldnt be sympathising with her. She is OJ simpson level bad. She got a good settlement. All her issues were from her own behaviour. All the claims about her being wronged basically trace back to what she has said rather than any other evidence.
3
QuickAltTab 1 day ago +3
The first trial was a hung jury according to the article, so it's not just the people in the comments.
3
IrNinjaBob 2 days ago +16
The only time there was really an audience reaction was people clapping loudly when the woman claimed the husband divorcing her was a form of brutalization.
16
Electronic-Link-5792 1 day ago +3
The worst part is almost every excuse comes back to simply the narrative that betty gave in interviews. Theres no actual evidence dan was manipulating the courts. Its just a claim she made. She went through multiple attorneys at least one of whom testified that her behaviour (like driving a car into Dans house) during the proceedings was the issue. She got 100k+ a year in 1989 money from him and he had spent years providing her with a luxury lifestyle before he left so he wasnt just using her.
3
normVectorsNotHate 2 days ago +3
As people lose faith in our institutions and justice systems, support for vigilante justice rises
3
Throwaway021614 2 days ago +10
“At least you didn’t diddle little kids. 😉” -Oprah, probably
10
Historical_Lab8619 1 day ago +123
My thoughts are with her children. This has been hell for them.
123
Mitchell_StephensESQ 1 day ago +79
Betty supporters have doxxed them and harassed them non-stop. People have even called Kim's place of employment to tell them Kim is unfit for her job and should be fired. I hope they find peace.
79
Traditional_Bug_2046 1 day ago +21
She has supporters??
21
RedEyeView 1 day ago +27
She has them on this thread
27
Time_Technician8258 1 day ago +4
There's even more of them on Instagram. I've seen it and it annoys me
4
Mitchell_StephensESQ 1 day ago +16
Yes, and a not insignificant number of them are vile. They have even doxxed Betty's children that testified in front of the parole board that their mother should not be paroled. They continue to smear the reputations of murder victims over 30 years later.
16
MarkCelery78 1 day ago +4
Yes look at the thread here
4
[deleted] 1 day ago +91
[deleted]
91
TREEEtreee123 1 day ago +6
Was she an odd bird when you knew her? Or did the divorce push her over the edge? Or a bit of both?
6
[deleted] 1 day ago +59
[deleted]
59
TREEEtreee123 1 day ago +12
Thank you for sharing.
12
koi-lotus-water-pond 1 day ago +7
[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/09/betty-broderick-convicted-double-murder-ex-husband-wife-dead](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/09/betty-broderick-convicted-double-murder-ex-husband-wife-dead) The Guardian quotes one of her children toward the end of the article if you are interested.
7
lumberjackname 1 day ago +92
I grew up in that neighborhood and was friends with their youngest two kids. I remember my parents were not terribly surprised about Betty’s behavior after she and Dan separated, but no one thought she would turn out to be a murderer.
92
Lonely_Noyaaa 2 days ago +310
She became the subject of multiple books and movies, and there's a weird group of people who still romanticize her as a wronged woman. But the evidence was overwhelming, from the key she borrowed to the fact that she went upstairs with a loaded gun.
310
Mitchell_StephensESQ 1 day ago +61
Betty didn't borrow the key. She stole her daughter's keys then pretended to help her daughter look for them.
61
missdevon2 1 day ago +22
She didn’t borrow the key she stole it from her daughter
22
Historical-Bug-4784 2 days ago +122
I think she might have had some untreated mental illness. Wouldn't excuse it, just explain it.
122
Walmartian_Beta 2 days ago +80
Yeah there's a difference between making excuses and understanding why something happened or why someone did something awful. I don't think she was justified at all, but I'm not surprised that it happened.
80
comin_up_shawt 1 day ago +30
She was diagnosed by a court appointed psychiatrist with narcissistic personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder. Those tend to set up in childhood.
30
NorthernerWuwu 1 day ago +20
Oh, it's certainly plausible. Still, murdering an ex and their new lover isn't exactly breaking new ground for human behaviour, with or without mental illness issues.
20
corpse_flour 1 day ago +39
As someone with a mental disorder, I think far too many people think that a having a mental disorder blurs the line between what is right and wrong. It may lower one's impulse control, but it's actually very rare for someone with even a serious mental disorder (that may affect their perception of reality) to commit a violent act against someone else. Betty knew what she was going to do was wrong, and went through with it anyway. Either way though, whether it's someone knowingly and intentionally committed murder, or someone who committed murder because they've lost their grip on reality, both those types of people need to be locked away in order to protect the public from them.
39
xgfdgfbdbgcxnhgc 1 day ago +35
AFAIK the stats are pretty overwhelmingly that people with mental disorders are far more likely to be the victims of violence than the perpetrator.
35
Mitchell_StephensESQ 1 day ago +9
The second trial testimony stated she was diagnosed with Histrionic Personality Disorder and Narcissistic Personality Disorder. In layman's terms we may call her a murderous drama queen.
9
ElectricalExtreme793 2 days ago +37
Narcissistic Personality Disorder, doesn't excuse a violent double murder and destroying the live of her children 
37
SupraCollider 1 day ago +11
That’s not the only mental illness that exists
11
Worldly-Promise675 1 day ago +90
Considering she was the main breadwinner for her family while her husband went to medical school and then law school. And once he starts making money he has an affair with a 21 yo, to then divorce his wife and used his influence as an attorney to interfere with her retaining counsel to screw her over financially!! It would take a very strong person to endure that and not snap mentally. I don’t agree with what she did, but understand it.
90
LukeSkywalkerDog 1 day ago +27
Few people stop to consider that Betty's selfish behavior might have helped drive Dan out the door. She was far from an angel even prior to the affair. And who cares who the breadwinner was at what point in the marriage? Couples trade that role back and forth all the time. He became the sole breadwinner and remained so for a long time before the divorce. Her fury was that the lifestyle she believed she was entitled to would be reduced with a divorce. I highly recommend Bella Stumbo’s book (The Twelfth of Never) over the movies and TV shows. The latter are short dramatizations that necessarily omit many details.
27
Worldly-Promise675 18 hr ago +3
I have read in-depth articles about the case. I didn’t say that Betty wasn’t wrong, she absolutely was, but Dan was a cheating AH that drove someone who was likely mentally ill over the edge. It was a cliched scenario of when men who become successful and then trade in the wives, who helped them get there, for younger women. When you provoke jealousy in the wrong person this horrible crime happens. Women are more likely to suffer violence from a romantic partner, but men can be victims too. I don’t condone violence, but you understand human behavior when evil and mental illness meet, people get hurt. All of them were wrong and the children were hurt the most.
3
comsessiveobpulsive 16 hr ago +2
this case has always fascinated me with all of its takes and opinions ty for the rec!!
2
purplecactai 1 day ago +17
Wtf are you even saying? 'Snap mentally'? She murdered two people in cold blood, and ruined the lives of her kids and herself. Nothing you said matters in regards to that, you are LITERALLY justifying what she did.
17
DJKittyK 1 day ago +38
> I don’t agree with what she did, but understand it. I'm with you on that. Sounds like he used her and then discarded her once he didn't need her anymore. Murder is obviously wrong, but so is this sort of shitstain behavior from the ex-husband.
38
Treefrogpaint 13 hr ago +2
> Murder is obviously wrong, but so is this sort of shitstain behavior from the ex-husband. Even if this was true, the two aren't even remotely comparable 
2
Electronic-Link-5792 1 day ago +5
He stayed with her fpr years after graduating, gave her a luxury lifestyle and money even after separating, and was on track to pay her nore than 100k year. Also when he left she was being physically abusive. How did he use her?
5
Electronic-Link-5792 1 day ago +19
He didnt screw her over financially. She got a huge amount from him. The claim that he used his influence to interfere with her getting a lawyer is just a claim Betty made in the trial. He was an insurance lawyer its unlikely he had any influence over divorce law. Also do you think women who stay with violent men because they depend on them financially are 'exploiting' the abusers? 
19
Hubert_J_Cumberdale 1 day ago +7
Dan was president of the SD Bar Association. He knew everyone.
7
Electronic-Link-5792 1 day ago +16
And yet somehow Betty was able to get numerous attorneys despute repeatedly firing them and ignoring their advice. Her attorney daniel jaffe testified at the murder trial and talked about her constantly harassing her husbamd and vandalising his property, which we know is true. People didnt want to represent her because she was an abusive monster. These claims about Dan being manipulative are literally just claims betty made to try to get sympathy. Almost all abusers do this.
16
Hubert_J_Cumberdale 20 hr ago +3
I'm not gonna defend Betty but it was [widely reported - even before the murders](https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/1989/jan/12/divorce-trial-murder/) that Dan sabotaged her ability to obtain council. His entire affair was an exercise in gaslighting and manipulation. That was a choice that definitely pushed her over the edge. I have no idea why he didn't just leave her instead of starting an affair and lying about it. Everyone I knew that knew Dan said he was an arrogant prick. Everyone I knew that knew Betty said that she was a narcissistic nutjob. No one that knew them was surprised how things turned out. Neither one of them would back down and honestly the only true victims here were the kids.
3
Electronic-Link-5792 20 hr ago +5
I mean it clearly wasnt that which set her off because her daughter has noted she was violent before the divorce. And honestly even if he did make it initially difficult for her to hire a top attorney in san diego (and she cycled through attorneys and listened to none of them anyway) that's still extremely minor compared to everything she did and the comments acting like he somehow got what was coming when he was stalked and killed by his abuser are still gross victim blaming. Honestly the only reason people find it remotely acceptable to say this shit is because he is male. Nobody except h******* misogynists would be saying a woman murdered by her violent husband got what was coming to her because she made the divorce a bit difficult for him or cheated (on her already physically abusive husband).
5
Venomswindturd 1 day ago +8
This always throws me for a loop. We can understand murder, but can’t understand adultery?
8
johnn48 2 days ago +244
I inadvertently met her at Las Colinas jail in Santee. I was visiting a friend who was in jail and was directed to a window for my visit. Evidently Betty had finished her visit but a deputy wasn’t available to take her back. So I was able to talk with her for a little while before she was picked up and my friend was brought in. I can’t say she was special, She had been in the news alot in San Diego so I recognized her. The conversation was unremarkable and ordinary but still interesting in the way talking with celebrities is interesting.
244
oneofmooseyness 2 days ago +49
What did you talk about?
49
johnn48 1 day ago +76
I apologized for intruding, and indicated I was waiting for my GF to get here. Asked if she minded sitting at the window while I waited. Then it was basically just jibber jabber, the kind you do when you’re just passing the time. I avoided talking about why she was there, I assumed she was tired of answering questions from not only her fellow prisoners but all the other people she had basically told her reason why her ex and his wife had to die. I had seen enough news stories during the trial to tell she was unrepentant and had gripped victim hood with both hands.
76
Advice2Anyone 1 day ago +22
Now im just wondering why your gf was in prison lol
22
johnn48 1 day ago +21
She was innocent!
21
DuckDuckWaffle99 19 hr ago +2
He had it comin’! He had it comin’! Some men just can’t handle their arsenic!
2
NoConflict3231 2 days ago +23
Chocolate milk
23
Sharkey311 2 days ago +15
*takes notes*
15
oneofmooseyness 2 days ago +13
It's wild how much people have in common with each other sometimes
13
EuphoricMidnight3304 1 day ago +35
Meredith Baxter Bernie was a brilliant portrayal
35
trustme1maDR 1 day ago +5
I just rewatched those movies. They are streaming on Prime, I think. The series with Amanda Pete is really good too. A really fucked up story
5
teal_all_over 1 day ago +13
Her son taught at my high school. He was really cool, but some assholes learned about his parents and started spreading it around and making jokes.
13
SnooCakes1148 2 days ago +120
And so, I sneaked back and caught her with my man Laughing and kissing 'til they saw the gun in my hand The next thing I knew they were dead on the floor Dark lady would never turn a card up anymore
120
ThaneofCawdor8 1 day ago +14
"And his cheatin' wife had never left town. And that's one body that'll never be found. See, little sister don't miss when she aims a gun."
14
BigMommaSnikle 2 days ago +14
Great song!
14
PepsiAllDay78 2 days ago +8
Someone else liked Cher back in the day!😉 edit: a word
8
007craft 2 days ago +60
Wait she died in Prison? I thought her sentence was 32 years and handed to her in 1991. I know she was denied parole a couple times but shouldn't she have been released in 2023 for completing the full sentence?
60
AngryKeyLimePie 2 days ago +145
32 years to life. She served 32 years, but was denied parole a few times, so she ended up technically serving life.
145
AnusOprah 1 day ago +33
> technically serving life The best kind of serving life.
33
Mythioso 2 days ago +75
I think she had some behavioral issues and zero real remorse and her kids didn't think it was a good idea.
75
atlantagirl30084 1 day ago +31
Yeah the parole board wants you to be remorseful and she a) likely says the gun went off accidentally (…5 times), b) she pulled the phone off the wall so they couldn’t call the cops (premeditation), and c) even if she shot them on purpose she thought they deserved it for how she was treated.
31
megamoze 1 day ago +23
I was wondering this too. Very interesting that her kids were like, "She should not be released from prison." Yikes.
23
LadyChatterteeth 1 day ago +11
Two of them thought she should be released, and her daughter even said she could live in her home were she to be released.
11
Mitchell_StephensESQ 1 day ago +16
And two said she should never be released.
16
rva23221 1 day ago +6
She never expressed remorse for her actions.
6
Southern-Teaching198 1 day ago +30
"I’m not a murderer. I’m a suburban housewife who had a bad day."
30
Muted_Chard_139 19 hr ago +6
That’s me everyday but no deaths reported.
6
EmotionalSupportBoob 1 day ago +49
One of the best "true crime" cases of all time. Betty was nuts but felt completely justified, and it turns out so did a LOT of other women out there like her. The miniseries starring Meredith Baxter is so freaking good. She clearly studied Cluster Bs really, really well.
49
XcuseMeMisISpeakJive 1 day ago +16
A woman so crazy they had to make multiple tv movies about her. One just wasn't enough. 
16
Electronic-Link-5792 1 day ago +19
Honestly it just shows how many people will happily victim blame and support abusers as long as they are the right gender.
19
LukeSkywalkerDog 1 day ago +31
For those defending "poor Betty": Most humans are assholes to one degree or another, and we can forever debate who was the "worse" a******. But when you purposely drive to someone's home with a loaded gun, let yourself in, quietly climb the stairs, shoot a couple in their bed (instantly killing one but not the other), and rip the phone cord out of the wall so no one can call for help, you become something INFINITELY WORSE than an a******. This was not a "heat of passion" shooting. There was never an *“Oh my God, what have I done?”* moment. Betty's only concern was what Betty felt she was entitled to. I doubt she ever loved Dan much beyond his ability to provide a wealthy lifestyle in the later years of their marriage. So many people saying that Dan and Linda "got what they deserved." Whatever Dan and Linda did, neither committed a cold-blooded double murder as far as I know.
31
sentence-interruptio 14 hr ago +2
The defenders are like the mob in Joker.
2
iwassayingboourns12 2 days ago +49
I always get her confused with the woman that cut off her ex husbands p****.
49
B_Provisional 2 days ago +240
That was Lorena Bobbitt, whose husband John Wayne Bobbitt allegedly liked to beat and violently r*** his wife until she snapped. The p**** was recovered and successfully reattached. John went on to capitalize on his 15 minutes of fame by staring in a couple of p**** flicks and Lorena went on to found a nonprofit foundation for supporting victims of domestic violence.
240
Alternative_Year_340 2 days ago +90
Then he went back to stalking her because he wanted to get back together
90
MOGicantbewitty 2 days ago +24
He also made a p**** after his d*** was cut off and then reattached. I had some friends that made me watch it back in college. Weird, not even a good p***, but still 100% worth watching for the shock value.
24
MelangeBot 1 day ago +2
He also went back to her
2
kaisadilla_0x1 1 day ago +39
I'm amazed that someone can cut your d*** and medicine is still able to not only give it back to you but have it functional for sex; and also disgusted that you can build a career of "I beat and raped my wife so badly she cut my d*** off".
39
B_Provisional 1 day ago +47
The media coverage of the trial was insanely sensational. The whole damned nation was gossiping about it and the details were extremely distorted. Basically people chose to ignore everything the wife said about abuse and r*** and instead invented this "jealousy" motivation because the husband was a known adulterer. The story became about how women are irrational and cheating isn't bad enough to warrant revenge. The early 90s were a fucked up time.
47
boznia 1 day ago +21
As a young boy at the time, after it filtered through pop culture down to us she became something like a Boogeyman for us boys for a few years. Something like "If you don't watch out Lorena Bobbitt's gonna come and cut your p**** off!" Finding out the reality of her situation years later was a depressing experience.
21
drwhogwarts 1 day ago +5
And IIRC, there was an anti-immigrant aspect to the hate she received. She was treated horribly, poor woman.
5
Holiday-Hustle 1 day ago +15
If that case was today, the coverage would be so different but the 90s was awful to women and sexual assault was insanely downplayed. It became a joke rather than the horrific story it was.
15
DuckDuckWaffle99 18 hr ago +3
My dad was on the Community Service Board (different name for the parole board) and Mrs. Bobbitt reported to that board. He wasn’t allowed to say much, but what he did say was very complimentary of her, spoke of her as someone who had much to offer a community. By strange intersection of that county, dad’s urologist who treated him for prostate cancer was the surgeon who sewed the offending organ back on the unrepentant Mr. Bobbitt.
3
IAmWeary 1 day ago +3
He also got busted for being involved in some major clothing theft. I don’t know why any crew would let him in on their heist. Any plan with him is bound to go off half cocked.
3
jxj24 2 days ago +3
Lorena Bobbed-it.
3
platasnatch 2 days ago +60
Just watched the movie with Meredith Baxter and that chomo from 7th Heaven. It sucked.
60
samsaraisdivine 1 day ago +18
The one on Netflix which is part of the Dirty John series is better. 
18
Wendijosie 1 day ago +3
Thanks, just starting it. Says going away May 30th where I am.
3
forman98 1 day ago +3
A woman scorned! My mom watched that multiple times when it came out.
3
ameliehelena 1 day ago +19
Betty was so unhinged without any connection to reality.
19
Simba122504 1 day ago +33
Now, watch people continue to pretend she an innocent helpless victim who was a Saint driven to madness. All three adults were shady and men leave everyday, B.
33
ViperThreat 1 day ago +53
A lady I know who spent the last 30 years of her life tirelessly working for charities died the other day. Not a single mention in the newspaper. But here we are, talking about some murderer who should have been forgotten long ago. This is why our society is in freefall.
53
everybodyBnicepls 1 day ago +8
I hope that wonderful lady you know gets welcomed into heaven with the red carpet she deserves
8
ViperThreat 1 day ago +19
She was firmly atheistic lol, but if there is an afterlife, I'm sure she's being rewarded accordingly haha.
19
chupathingy99 1 day ago +11
I'm atheist as well. I think the fact that you're talking about her in a positive light after she's passed is testament to her kindness. She made a good impression on you. Being remembered fondly after life, just for a brief moment longer, until being ultimately forgotten as we all will be. But, forgotten with a smile. That's a pretty good outcome.
11
SantaCruznonsurfer 1 day ago +3
poster child for "madness is like gravity"
3
pinksavannah01 15 hr ago +3
Since everyone is sharing their opinions, which is fine either way, I will give mine. What she did was awful and unforgivable. Imagine sleeping in your bed and suddenly faced with those circumstances? They were divorced, she had more than enough assets to live nicely, but jealousy always leads to the loss of rational thinking. She should have stayed home and enjoyed her life. After she killed them, it didn't resolve anything. She ruined many lives with her selfishness.
3
Empty_Ad_8303 1 day ago +7
In an alternative universe, she’d be a successful politician and a very wealthy one at that.
7
Successful-Winter237 1 day ago +7
I still think it’s weird the second season of dirty John tried to redeem her… she was deplorable and JFC making a ton in alimony… just move on… she was nuts
7
NoTotal8969 1 day ago +7
Ding dong the witch is dead
7
freakspeely 1 day ago +6
If cheaters and bullies should be punished with death then a lot of people must be falling down on the job because cheaters and bullies are everywhere. I’ve always thought Betty has such a sizable amount of supporters because her story involves the sweetest of vengeance for anyone who’s been wronged. Thing about it is, everything Betty knew from her religious beliefs and her American citizenship was that killing is wrong and against the law. She did her time for America and now she goes on to wherever the religious are judged for their actions in life, just like her husband’s actions in his life are judged. Only she knows if it was really worth killing two people. For me? It wouldn’t be worth it. The satisfaction of seeing the enemies bleed out is not worth my precious freedom. Peace of mind can be found in much more wonderful places than leading a sewing class in prison.
6
Brua_G 2 days ago +9
Heav'n has no rage, like love to hatred turn'd, / Nor Hell a fury, like a woman scorn'd
9
MarkCelery78 1 day ago +3
She was an abusive nut
3
pagesid3 2 days ago +9
It’s like that game where you add “in bed” at the end of a sentence to make it dirty, except it doesn’t really change anything here.
9
flyinwhale 2 days ago +52
It doesn’t make it dirty unless you’re 13, it points out that they were vulnerable and likely sleeping unarmed and unaware, that there’s no chance this was self defense or heat of the moment. That she planned it and killed them in cold blood.
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