Why Did Brynn Omdahl Kill Phil Hartman? The Shocking Truth Revealed
Brynn Omdahl’s Downfall: The Dark Secrets Behind the Murder-Suicide
Murder-suicides have a way of capturing media attention unlike any other crime. They tend to involve people who knew each other and may have been intertwined, as well as some level of regret. But of course, one of the most famous and tragic examples was when Brynn Omdahl killed her famous husband, Saturday Night Live alum Phil Hartman, a comedian and actor whose likability was universal.
In the early hours of May 28, 1998, Omdahl shot her husband three times while he was sleeping. After confessing to two friends, she took her own life while police were escorting her children out of her and Hartman’s Encino mansion. But what happened that fateful night and why did Omdahl kill Hartman?
Brynn Omdahl’s Dark Secret Uncovered: The Truth Behind Their Relationship
Hartman was a beloved public figure, whose time in the spotlight cemented his legacy as one of his generation’s greatest comedic minds. However, according to various friends and family, his relationship with Omdahl was often fraught with conflict. They met on a blind date in 1986 and married shortly after in 1987.
But throughout the years, while some friends were oblivious to the conflict in their relationship, others knew there were deeper issues. When Phil met Brynn, he may well have been at his most vulnerable state in years—his second marriage’s ending had shaken him, and his performing career wasn’t taking off.
The Shocking Revelation: Omdahl’s Return to Drugs and Alcohol Fueled the Tragic Incident
Omdahl’s friend, songwriter Linda Thompson, told People, “She admitted she’d had a couple of episodes when she’d fallen off the wagon. I remember her saying she didn’t want to be an addict.” So Omdahl checked herself into rehab earlier in 1998 but in the days leading up to her fatal decision, she began using cocaine and drinking more, mixed with a “therapeutic” dose of Zoloft, according to her autopsy and various sources. The combination can cause violent outbursts.
Sometimes she’d call me and she’d be real hurt,” Omdahl’s friend, Jeannie Petersen, added. “He wouldn’t give her a divorce. For two years she was trying to get it.” But Small was familiar with a pattern in the Hartman household. “She had to get amped up to get his attention, and when she got amped up, he would simply go to sleep. He would withdraw. And in the morning he’d wake up, and everything would be fine.”
The Final Act: Brynn Omdahl’s Dramatic End
Guns were kept in the home because of her fear of being alone in a large house so often without Hartman. Now, they were readily available to a woman amped up on cocaine, alcohol, and Zoloft, whose husband wasn’t giving her the attention she desired. And so, she took his life with three bullets as he slept. Whether guilt set in or she panicked because of the police presence, Omdahl then took her own life in the notorious murder-suicide.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.