Heidi Joy Tretheway was shocked to discover that a romance writer had been arrested on suspicion of murdering her spouse. The writer in question was Nancy Crampton Brophy, a fellow member of the Rose City Romance Writers group. Tretheway, who is now hosting a true-crime podcast about the case, described Crampton Brophy as someone who enjoyed being in the spotlight but never mentioned any marital issues.
Despite outward appearances of a loving marriage, investigators revealed that the Brophys were facing financial struggles. Nancy, known for her romance novels with provocative titles like 'How to Murder Your Husband,' allegedly stood to gain financially from her husband's death. She had taken out multiple life insurance policies on him and was planning to move to Portugal.
The case took a dark turn on June 2, 2018, when Dan Brophy was shot and killed in his kitchen. Forensic evidence linked the murder weapon to Crampton Brophy, who had purchased a gun and researched 'ghost gun' kits prior to the crime. Prosecutors argued that greed was the motive behind the murder, as Nancy stood to inherit a substantial sum from her husband's life insurance policy.
Despite Crampton Brophy's claims of innocence and lack of memory regarding the crime scene, she was arrested in September 2018. The trial raised questions about her intentions and the extent of her involvement in her husband's death. The defense suggested alternative theories, including a robbery gone wrong, but the prosecution maintained that Nancy orchestrated the murder to secure financial gain.
In the end, the court excluded Crampton Brophy's controversial essay from the trial, emphasizing that it was written years before the crime. Tretheway reflected on the case, pondering whether financial desperation and a desire for a different lifestyle led Nancy to commit the unthinkable act. Despite her attempts to outsmart the system, Crampton Brophy's actions ultimately caught up with her, resulting in a tragic end to a once seemingly happy marriage.
