Betty Broderick Denied Parole: Ryan John

I think the biggest factor to consider when evaluating a prisoner for parole is how they currently view the action that landed them in jail.  I’m sure some people fake regret and compassion for their victims when they’re in front of the parole board, but hopefully they can see through this.  Betty Broderick admits she didn’t plan to kill anybody and she just wanted to be heard by her husband.  First of all, anyone who thinks they can have an honest, civilized exchange at gunpoint is horribly mistaken.  My guess is that Betty probably wanted to put the fear of God into her husband and mistress and probably thought, if things get out of hand and she had to shoot them, than so be it.  Obviously, things got out of hand. 
 
In fact, I feel no sympathy for this woman who doesn’t appear regretful over the fact that she killed her children’s father and step-mother.  No doubt, I don’t know, and hopefully will never know, the pain, rejection, hurt and depression this woman felt when her husband moved out and started another life for himself with his new younger woman.  However, a mentally stable person doesn’t then commit her life to ruining that of her husbands and new wife.  She lost custody of her children, had a restraining order against her, would say incredibly mean things to her children, and God knows what else.  I’m not making an excuse for infidelity.  But, Daniel Broderick seemed pretty revered by the community both personally and professionally.  I know there can be a disconnect between personal and public persona as we saw in the Edwards family for instance. But, his wife was still getting a good alimony payment every month and could continue to enjoy the luxuries made possible by marrying her husband.  She could have afforded to pick up, move on, better herself and get her life back on track.  However, she was obsessed with her ex husband’s life and seemed committed to destroying it. 
 
Obviously, what Betty Broderick did was wrong.  She doesn’t express regret or remorse according to the parole board.  That means she still justifies her actions.  What if she is released and happens to meet another man who knows nothing of her murderous history who happens to wrong Betty in a similar fashion.  Maybe this guy is likely to fall victim to the same fate her husband did.  I’m a compassionate person.  If she seemed to understand that what she did was wrong, I’d feel like she should be released after twenty years.  In fact that was my first impression as I read the question posed by American Currents because I never knew about this case.  But, for her to not realize her own mental instability at the time means she still doesn’t grasp reality.  It means to me that other people shouldn’t be subjected to her potentially fatal wrath.