Jodi Arias: Betty Broderick Redux

Betty Broderick was the defendant in one of the first trials ever covered by TV, gavel to gavel. In 1989, she shot her ex-husband Dan and his younger, second wife Linda as they slept. Five times. Pre-dawn. In their own bed. In their own home. That she snuck into, using a key stolen from their eldest daughter.

Her defense? They drove her to it. By sleeping in their own bed in their own home before sunrise on a Sunday morning. I can see why she felt threatened.

There is no evidence of any abuse at the hands of ex-husband Dan. There is however, record of the $9,000/month he gave her. Even though she had relinquished custody of their children to him. With inflation, that's $18,900/month in today's dollars ... or $228,000/year. All for herself (remember, he had their kids.) In exchange, all he wanted was to be left alone. He took out restraining orders against Betty and she violated each and every once, once driving her Suburban (paid for by Dan) through his front door.

Believe it or not, there are women out there who don't revile Betty. They sympathize with and idolize her! Betty is big on jailhouse interviews and loves answering her "fan mail." Shudder.

Don't take my word for what a narcissistic, murderous bitch Betty is. 

Read CNN's account of her most recent and very colorful parole hearing here.

Jodi Arias is the 2013 model of Betty Broderick. I can't help but notice the similarities between these two high profile killers. Jodi murdered her former boyfriend, Travis Alexander because he drove her to it. While Dan and Linda put Betty in imminent physical peril by sleeping in their own bed, Travis terrified Jodi by being nude and vulnerable in his own shower. Just as Dan's real sin was growing weary of his batshit crazy, wildly self-centered ex-wife, Travis' was choosing to go to Cancun with someone other than his batshit crazy, wildly self-centered ex-girlfriend. Like Betty, Jodi has never met a TV camera she didn't like and like Betty, she can't stop sliming the man she murdered.

While Jodi's crime was more savage and hands-on (she used a knife), Betty's body count was double and through her monstrously selfish act she left her children parent-less. So which cold-blooded murderer is "worse?" I'll leave that for God to sort out.

As an old school feminist, I'm glad that Jodi isn't garnering the fan base Betty did. Maybe the times, they are finally a-changing, and women are beginning to own their lives and their choices. "Poor little me. He made me do it!" doesn't seem to wash anymore.

Both photos are from CNN

Blog Every Day in May -- Day 16

Day 16, Thursday: Something difficult about your "lot in life" and how you're working to overcome it

I survived physical abuse. When I was a teen, I was sexually molested by a revered older male relative. For the first 17 years of my life I was regularly beaten by my bigger, older sister. These two realities set the stage for a long, abusive relationship when I was in my 20s. I somehow came to believe that was my "lot in life," that somehow it's OK to handle me and treat me anyway you wish.

That is not the case. I deserve dignity, respect and kindness.

When I turned 30, I ended that abusive relationship, entered therapy and joined a church.

More than 20 years later, I still struggle. I ended a relationship with a good man perhaps prematurely, I was so worried about walking down that doormat road again. I have problems with intimacy -- I am more honest on this blog than I am in life. My shrink said my past has made me too reluctant to let people see my "backstage." And I worry about what is my fault, what is my responsibility, and what is not. 

But I am, for the most part, a happy woman. I have a solid sense of humor and many good friends whom I treasure. I find joy in the world around me. My past has made me strong, independent and resilient, and those are all things I'm grateful to God for.