What Caused Betty Broderick's Death? Inside The Double Murderer's Final Days And Family At 78

Betty Broderick, who was found guilty of murdering her ex-husband and his new wife, has suddenly passed away at 78.

By Saakshi Gupta Last Updated: May 9, 2026 | 23:26:23 IST

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Betty Broderick, the woman who rose to fame for a double murder case, has passed away at 78. She was found guilty in one of America's most widely followed criminal stories. In turn, she spent multiple decades behind bars after being found guilty in the 1989 killings. Incidentally, she killed her ex-husband and his wife, which started a new debate in the country over divorce and betrayal. Now, her sudden death has once again brought the story into the public discussion with fresh details.

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What caused Betty Broderick's death? 

According to reports, Betty Broderick died on May 8, 2026. Before her death, she was serving her prison sentence at the California Institution for Women in Chino, California. The initial medical findings from her case revealed that she died from natural causes. But, eventually, her family revealed that some health complications led to her death. Her son, Daniel Broderick, told TMZ that Betty was battling with repeated septic infections for the last few years. 

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However, one of those infections reportedly returned after earlier treatment. In fact, it became more severe. For those unaware, Sepsis is a dangerous condition that can quickly spread through the body and affect major organs. The threat is even greater in older patients. Daniel also revealed that Betty had suffered a major fall inside her prison nearly three weeks ago. In turn, the accident allegedly left her with broken ribs, hampering her fragile condition.

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According to the family, the injury caused extra medical complications. At the same time, it made her recovery more difficult. After the fall, Betty was sent from prison to an outside hospital for advanced treatment. She was admitted to the intensive care unit and placed on life support. Daniel mentioned that Betty was unable to communicate during her final days and remained in critical condition in her final days before death.

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Betty Broderick's family stayed by her side in her final days

Despite her complex history of crimes, her family got together with her during her final days. Daniel confirmed that he and his siblings, Kim, Lee and Rhett, were beside Betty when she took her last breath. Some were physically present, while others joined via FaceTime. Betty had a complex relationship with her kids. In fact, her kids appeared to be divided over her parole. Lee and Rhett supported her release, claiming she had spent enough time in prison. But Kim and Daniel opposed it, alleging that she never took responsibility for it. 

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More about Betty Broderick 

Elisabeth Anne Bisceglia, better known as Betty Broderick, was born in 1947. She grew up in New York and married Don Broderick in 1969. She supported him financially when he completed his education and established a legal career. Eventually, they settled in San Diego, where Don became a successful attorney. But, he soon began to cheat on her with his assistant, Linda Kolkena Broderick, in the 1980s. Later, they had a bitter divorce battle in public. Things took an even wilder turn when Betty shot Don and Linda dead in their home in November 1989. Therefore, she was sentenced to 32 years in prison.

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Rest in peace, Betty Broderick. We send our heartfelt condolences to her family in this difficult time. 

Next Read: Betty Broderick's Children, Lives Of Dan Broderick's Kids After Their Convicted Mother Dies At 78

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