S1E3: Killing for Custody

Killing for Custody: The Rosa Hill Case

The third episode of Worst Ex Ever on Netflix reconstructs one of the most disturbing custody-related crimes in California history. In Dublin, California, a bitter divorce and custody battle escalated to murder when Rosa Hill and her mother Mei Li attacked Eric Hill at the home of his 91-year-old grandmother, Selma "Sally" Hill, in 2009.

Episode Synopsis

"Killing for Custody" opens with the backdrop of a contentious divorce between Eric and Rosa Hill in the San Francisco Bay Area suburb of Dublin, California. The couple's custody dispute over their young children had grown increasingly hostile. On the night of the attack, Rosa Hill and her mother Mei Li went to the home of Eric's grandmother Selma Hill. They killed the 91-year-old woman and severely wounded Eric in a premeditated assault. The episode traces the investigation by the Dublin Police Department and the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, the subsequent trial, and the legal complexities that followed — including appeals and sentence reversals that kept the case in the courts for years.

Key Facts

This true crime episode runs 51 minutes — the shortest of Season 1 — and was directed by Cynthia Childs. It premiered on Netflix on August 28, 2024. The case dates to 2009, making it one of the older cases in the docuseries, and the legal proceedings extended well into the 2010s.

Why This Case Matters

The Rosa Hill case illustrates how custody disputes can escalate to lethal violence, and how the family court system sometimes fails to identify escalating danger signs. The murder of a 91-year-old grandmother — a bystander to the custody conflict — shocked the Dublin community and raised questions about protective measures for extended family members caught in domestic disputes. The case also highlights the role of family dynamics in intimate-partner violence, with Mei Li's involvement demonstrating how abuse can be a collaborative act.

Documentary Techniques

Director Cynthia Childs takes a measured approach in this episode, allowing Eric Hill's survivor testimony to carry much of the emotional weight. The episode incorporates footage from the crime scene investigation, court proceedings in the Alameda County Superior Court, and family photographs that establish the normalcy of life before the attack. The 2D animated reenactments reconstruct the night of the assault with restraint, focusing on the sequence of events rather than graphic violence. Legal experts provide commentary on the unusual appellate history of the case.

Production and Reception

"Killing for Custody" was produced by Blumhouse Television and ITV America under director Cynthia Childs. The production team worked with Eric Hill and his family to reconstruct the events of 2009, drawing on crime scene documentation and Alameda County court records. The animated reenactment sequences for this episode were developed with particular restraint given the involvement of an elderly victim, focusing on the sequence of events rather than graphic violence. Bodycam footage was limited due to the case's age, so the episode relied more heavily on survivor testimony and legal expert commentary. Upon its premiere as part of Worst Ex Ever Season 1, the episode resonated with audiences concerned about how custody disputes can escalate to lethal outcomes. Critics noted that the episode expanded the definition of intimate-partner violence by showing how family members become co-perpetrators. The Worst Ex Ever treatment of this case renewed public interest in California's handling of domestic violence within family court proceedings, and the episode remains one of the most discussed installments in the series.

Where to Watch

"Killing for Custody" is available to stream exclusively on Netflix as Episode 3 of Worst Ex Ever Season 1. The episode is rated TV-MA for depictions of domestic violence and murder.

Viewer Guide and Context

Before watching "Killing for Custody," viewers should be aware that this Worst Ex Ever episode involves the murder of an elderly woman and a violent attack on a family member during a custody dispute. The episode discusses premeditated violence within a family context, which may be particularly distressing for viewers who have experienced custody-related conflicts or family violence. Netflix provides content warnings at the episode's start, and viewers are encouraged to take breaks if needed.

This episode connects to the broader Worst Ex Ever series by expanding the definition of intimate-partner violence beyond the couple relationship. The Dublin, California case demonstrates how domestic abuse can draw in extended family members as both co-perpetrators and victims — a theme that distinguishes this Worst Ex Ever installment from others in the Netflix docuseries. The episode also introduces the legal complexity theme, with appeals and reversals that kept the case in courts for years. For viewers watching the Worst Ex Ever series in order on Netflix, "Killing for Custody" provides important context about how custody disputes can become lethal, a dynamic referenced in later episodes of the docuseries.

Featured people

• Rosa Pui Hill — Perpetrator
• Mei Li — Perpetrator
• Eric Hill — Survivor
• Selma "Sally" Merling Hill — Victim

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