A Georgia man is facing murder charges after prosecutors say he knowingly hid his HIV-positive status from his wife — a secret they allege ultimately cost her life.
Cleveland Broadie, a man in his early 60s, was indicted by a grand jury this week on counts of malice murder and felony murder following the death of his wife, Denise Broadie, in April 2022 — just two days after she was diagnosed with AIDS.
Broadie had previously been charged with reckless conduct, but prosecutors now argue that his actions — or lack of disclosure — rose to the level of murder.
Family Suspicion Leads to Investigation
Following Denise’s sudden death, her family grew suspicious. They believed that Cleveland Broadie had known for years that he was HIV-positive — long before marrying Denise in 2014 — and had deliberately kept it from her.
Determined to uncover the truth, her children hired a private investigator, who uncovered evidence suggesting Broadie had been diagnosed with HIV as far back as 2006, yet allegedly continued engaging in relationships without disclosing his status.
“There was malice in what he did,” Denise’s daughter, Karen Young, told WAGA-TV.
“At any time, he could have told her and given her the right to make the decision to stay with him — not that she would have.”
A Battle She Couldn’t Win
Denise had already fought — and beaten — cancer twice, first in 2017 and again in 2019. Yet after going into remission, she continued to suffer from unexplained health issues.
It wasn’t until 2022, when she sought treatment at a different hospital, that doctors ran new tests and made a devastating discovery: Denise had AIDS. She died just two days after her diagnosis.
Her family believes she had unknowingly been living with the disease for years — time that could have been used to manage and treat her condition had she known.
More Victims Come Forward
Court records show that Broadie was first hit with three reckless conduct charges in 2023 after the investigation into Denise’s death began. Prosecutors alleged he had knowingly exposed not only Denise but other women to HIV without informing them.
Following media coverage of the case, additional women came forward with similar accusations, leading to even more reckless conduct charges.
Broadie was arrested in July 2023 and pleaded not guilty to the reckless conduct counts. As of Friday, it remains unclear whether he has entered a plea on the new murder charges.
A Case That Shook the Community
Denise’s family and advocates for victims’ rights have called the case a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers of medical deception in intimate relationships.
“She fought so hard to live — and he took that away from her,” Karen Young said.
Broadie remains in custody as he awaits further court proceedings.