Biodun.BBC: Oregon romance novelist charged in husband's murder

Saturday, September 8, 2018

Oregon romance novelist charged in husband's murder

Nancy Crampton-Brophy mug shot — Image captionNancy Crampton-Brophy is scheduled to appear in court later this month

by Kathy DiNuzzo and Biodun Iginla, BBC News, Oregon, USA

A 68-year-old romance novelist has been accused of shooting and killing her husband in the north-western US state of Oregon.

Nancy Crampton Brophy was arraigned on Wednesday, months after her husband, chef Daniel Brophy, 63, was murdered.

A day after his death on 2 June, Mrs Brophy, a self-published author of steamy romance and suspense novels, spoke at a vigil for him.

Police did not reveal a motive or how they determined her to be a suspect.

She was charged with murder and unlawful use of a firearm, according to a police statement.

Mr Brophy was a respected teacher at the Oregon Culinary Institute. He was shot and killed in the kitchen area of the Institute.

His mother, Karen Brophy, told ABC News the family "is in shock".

Mrs Brophy's sister, Holly Crampton, told ABC: "None of us believe it. It's craziness and it's just not true."

Daniel Brophy pictured in kitchen — Image captionDaniel Brophy was an instructor at the Oregon Culinary Institute

After the shooting, neighbours told the Oregonian newspaper that Mrs Brophy seemed largely unaffected. She reportedly admitted that police had marked her as a suspect.

On Facebook, she described her husband as her "best friend" and said she was "struggling to make sense of everything" following his death.

Mrs Brophy also spoke at the vigil held for her late husband the day after the shooting.

The newspaper reported the couple had been married for over 25 years.

Mrs Brophy has authored several novels, including The Wrong Husband, The Wrong Hero and The Wrong Cop.

She called her husband "Mr Right" on her website biography page and said, "like all marriages, we've had our ups and downs, more good times than bad".

Mrs Brophy, who is currently being held at the Multnomah County Jail, is scheduled to appear in court on 17 September.

A judge has sealed a document detailing the prosecution's case at their request, the Oregonian reported. This document would have provided insight into possible motive.

A request to have her released until the trial was rejected due to enough probable cause, according to the newspaper.

Novel cover for The Wrong Husband — Image captionNancy Crampton-Brophy was the author of a series of Romance/Suspense novels

On her site, she describes writing fiction as unearthing "portions of your own life that you've long forgotten or had purposely buried deep. Granted, sometimes it is smarter to change the ending".

She also detailed her life with her husband in the "beautiful, green" Portland area, raising chickens and turkeys in their backyard, adding: "For those of you who have longed for this, let me caution you.

"The old adage is true. Be careful what you wish for, when the gods are truly angry, they grant us our wishes."