Susan Polk

Susan Polk (born Susan Mae Bolling on May 23, 1957) is an American woman convicted on June 16, 2006 of second degree (unpremeditated) murder for the 2002 death of her husband Dr. Frank "Felix" Polk. Polk's trial, described by one correspondent as "circus-like", drew extensive media attention with its sensationalist elements.

Her case is featured on the show Deadly Sins, and the episode is titled "Deadly Desire".

Background Susan Polk met Dr. Polk, a psychotherapist, in 1972 when administrators at her high school recommended she see him to treat her panic attacks and for ditching classes to go home and read Russian classics. Susan Polk later made the "undisputed" claim that Dr. Polk first had sex with her when she was 16 and still under his treatment, a violation of professional ethics in the relationship between therapist and patient, which is now illegal in California. At the time, Dr. Polk had a wife and two children, During their marriage, the couple had three sons. In 2001, Susan Polk filed for divorce, a complicated and contentious proceeding during which each contacted police with allegations of domestic violence. When asked by police whether Ms. Polk had made threats or been violent, Mr. Polk said she hadn't. In 2002, while Susan was living in Montana with her 2 minor sons, the sons returned to California and lived with their dad, therefore Dr. Polk was able to petition the courts, ex parte, without providing Ms. Polk any form of official notice in advance, for reduced temporary alimony and child support. The courts then granted Dr. Polk sole custody of the couple's 2 minor sons and sharply reduced Susan's temporary alimony and child support from $6,500 to $1,500 a month. Dr. Polk also received sole possession of their house.

On Wednesday, October 9, Susan went to the home to retrieve her belongings and complete her dental procedure by having a permanent crown put on her tooth. On October 11, the eldest son Adam came home from UCLA to pick up his dog. On Sunday, October 13, Dr. Polk, Adam, and the youngest son drove Adam and the dog back to UCLA. Dr. Polk and the youngest son returned home at around 9:30 pm. Dr. Polk, then 70, was found dead the following night, Monday, October 14, 2002, by his 15-year-old son who called 911. Dr. Cooper failed to appear in court the following day to continue being cross-examined and to present documents he claimed to have received from Susan Polk, sending a written explanation to the judge. Prosecuting attorneys dismissed Susan Polk's claim, arguing that she had no defensive wounds from her husband's alleged attack, which was disputed by expert testimony for the defense from Dr. Cooper. The middle son, Eli, testified on Susan's behalf, that Felix was the aggressor, controller, manipulator and that he was responsible overall.

Polk became eligible for parole in 2018 but the hearing was postponed and her first parole hearing was held on May 29, 2019. Susan Polk was removed from her parole hearing before it concluded for being disruptive by repeatedly talking over the parole board commissioners, attempting to enter over 100 objections before the parole hearing began, and for attempting to retry the facts of the case. Polk also accused one of the commissioners of throwing a document at Polk which the commissioner denied doing. Polk was denied parole for an additional 10 years. Her request to advance her parole hearing earlier than 10 years was denied on July 29, 2025. Polk will be eligible for her next parole hearing in May 2029.