1 00:00:15,315 --> 00:00:16,616 >>> I'M LESTER HOLT. 2 00:00:16,616 --> 00:00:19,753 TONIGHT ON "DATELINE" -- SHE WROTE AN ESSAY CALLED "HOW 3 00:00:19,753 --> 00:00:22,522 TO MURDER YOUR HUSBAND." THE QUESTION -- DID SHE? 4 00:00:22,522 --> 00:00:25,825 INSIDE THE CASE THAT MADE HEADLINES. 5 00:00:25,825 --> 00:00:27,427 >> HOW MANY YEARS WERE YOU TOGETHER 6 00:00:27,427 --> 00:00:30,930 >> 24 YEARS. IT'S LIKE YOU'VE LOST AN ARM, 7 00:00:30,930 --> 00:00:34,300 YOU KNOW IT'S LIKE YOU'RE JUST NOT AS 8 00:00:34,300 --> 00:00:38,071 GOOD AS YOU WERE WHEN YOU WERE WITH HIM 9 00:00:38,071 --> 00:00:40,940 >> CHEF DANIEL BROPHY WAS SHOT TO DEATH 10 00:00:40,940 --> 00:00:43,476 >> WE BELIEVE THE SUSPECT SNUCK UP AND BASICALLY ASSASSINATED 11 00:00:43,476 --> 00:00:45,879 HIM. >> Reporter: SO HE NEVER SAW IT 12 00:00:45,879 --> 00:00:48,048 COMING >> NO. 13 00:00:48,048 --> 00:00:50,750 >> I LOST A FRIEND, AND A GOOD FRIEND 14 00:00:50,750 --> 00:00:53,353 I WANT THEM TO FIND THE PERSON THAT DID THIS! 15 00:00:53,353 --> 00:00:56,056 >> MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS MAYBE IT WAS A STUDENT WHO DAN DIDN'T RUB 16 00:00:56,056 --> 00:00:59,659 THE RIGHT WAY. >> WHO KNOWS IF SOMEBODY WAS IN 17 00:00:59,659 --> 00:01:01,061 THE BUILDING WHO KNOWS IF SOMEBODY FOLLOWED 18 00:01:01,061 --> 00:01:05,665 HIM IN >> NANCY BROPHY, CHEF BROPHY'S 19 00:01:05,665 --> 00:01:13,740 WIFE -- SHE'S A WRITER >> SHE HAD THIS LIFE WHERE SHE 20 00:01:13,740 --> 00:01:15,241 WAS A NOVELIST AND THEN IT KIND OF ALL CAME 21 00:01:15,241 --> 00:01:16,876 TOGETHER >> Reporter: "HOW TO MURDER YOUR 22 00:01:16,876 --> 00:01:18,945 HUSBAND. THAT CERTAINLY GOT A LOT OF 23 00:01:18,945 --> 00:01:20,647 ATTENTION. >> READING IT AND GOING, "OH, MY 24 00:01:20,647 --> 00:01:22,215 GOSH, SHE KIND OF FOLLOWED HER OWN PLAN." 25 00:01:22,215 --> 00:01:23,550 >> I DON'T THINK SHE DID IT. >> Reporter: NANCY'S NOT CAPABLE 26 00:01:23,550 --> 00:01:25,418 OF PLANNING AND COMMITTING A MURDER 27 00:01:25,418 --> 00:01:26,986 >> ARE YOU KIDDING ME? NO 28 00:01:26,986 --> 00:01:28,388 >> I DID NOT SHOOT MY HUSBAND, AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO 29 00:01:28,388 --> 00:01:29,856 DEFEND MYSELF. >> THE NIGHTMARE'S JUST NOW 30 00:01:29,856 --> 00:01:46,306 BEGINNING. >> HERE'S JOSH MANKIEWICZ WITH 31 00:01:46,306 --> 00:01:51,411 "MURDER IN KITCHEN ONE." >> Reporter: PORTLAND, OREGON. 32 00:01:51,411 --> 00:01:54,647 JUNE 2nd, 2018 >> 911 33 00:01:54,647 --> 00:01:56,916 >> HI, WE ARE AT OREGON CULINARY INSTITUTE. 34 00:01:56,916 --> 00:01:59,119 >> Reporter: A SHOOTING. A MAN DOWN 35 00:01:59,119 --> 00:02:01,054 >> HE'S AN OLDER MAN >> ALL RIGHT 36 00:02:01,054 --> 00:02:03,957 IS HE CONSCIOUS RIGHT NOW? >> NO, HE'S NOT CONSCIOUS. 37 00:02:03,957 --> 00:02:06,359 >> Reporter: 8:24 A.M. ON A SATURDAY 38 00:02:06,359 --> 00:02:11,264 A BUILDING THAT'S VIRTUALLY EMPTY AT THIS HOUR 39 00:02:11,264 --> 00:02:14,701 >> THE BUILDING IS ON LOCKDOWN AND THE SURROUNDING AREA - 40 00:02:14,701 --> 00:02:18,371 >> Reporter: A KILLER IS ON THE LOOSE. 41 00:02:18,371 --> 00:02:20,173 >> THEY HAVE NOT LOCATED THE SUSPECT YET. 42 00:02:20,173 --> 00:02:22,142 >> Reporter: BY THE TIME PORTLAND DETECTIVES 43 00:02:22,142 --> 00:02:24,411 ANTHONY MERRILL AND DARREN POSEY ARRIVED AN HOUR LATER, UNIFORMED 44 00:02:24,411 --> 00:02:28,615 OFFICERS HAD SECURED THE SCENE >> THE WHOLE AREA IS TAPED OFF 45 00:02:28,615 --> 00:02:32,485 I NOTICED OUR CRIMINALISTS WERE VIDEOING THE WHOLE, ENTIRE 46 00:02:32,485 --> 00:02:35,889 SCENE. >> I HAD HEARD OF THE OREGON 47 00:02:35,889 --> 00:02:41,494 CULINARY INSTITUTE, BUT THAT WAS AS MUCH AS I KNEW AT THAT POINT. 48 00:02:41,494 --> 00:02:44,864 >> Reporter: THE OREGON CULINARY INSTITUTE, KNOWN AS OCI. 49 00:02:44,864 --> 00:02:48,535 ITS MOTTO -- "TRAINING KITCHEN PEOPLE." 50 00:02:48,535 --> 00:02:52,272 IT WAS A SCHOOL AS WELL AS A RESTAURANT WHERE THE STUDENTS, 51 00:02:52,272 --> 00:02:56,209 AS PART OF THE CURRICULUM, PREPARED AND SERVED THREE-COURSE 52 00:02:56,209 --> 00:03:00,080 LUNCHES AND FOUR-COURSE DINNERS. DETECTIVES WALKED IN THROUGH A 53 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:03,516 STORAGE AREA, AND THEN INTO AN INSTRUCTIONAL ROOM KNOWN AS 54 00:03:03,516 --> 00:03:10,523 KITCHEN ONE. >> HE WAS LYING ON HIS BACK 55 00:03:10,523 --> 00:03:13,960 RIGHT IN FRONT OF THIS LARGE KITCHEN SINK 56 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:15,795 >> Reporter: NO SURPRISE THERE THE VICTIM WAS A CHEF AND 57 00:03:15,795 --> 00:03:17,597 TEACHER. >> WE'RE GIVING FOUR DOZEN 58 00:03:17,597 --> 00:03:21,334 OYSTERS TO EACH TEAM >> Reporter: CHEF DAN BROPHY WAS 59 00:03:21,334 --> 00:03:24,771 ONE OF OCI'S O.G.s -- ORIGINAL GOURMETS 60 00:03:24,771 --> 00:03:27,607 >> I HAVE BEEN TEACHING SINCE THE OREGON CULINARY INSTITUTE 61 00:03:27,607 --> 00:03:31,878 OPENED >> Reporter: 12 YEARS AT OCI, A 62 00:03:31,878 --> 00:03:36,483 CHEF FOR MORE THAN 4 DECADES, A COMMANDING PRESENCE AT THE 63 00:03:36,483 --> 00:03:42,088 SCHOOL AND A WELL KNOWN FIGURE IN THE PORTLAND CULINARY SCENE, 64 00:03:42,088 --> 00:03:46,993 DAN BROPHY WAS DEAD AT AGE 63. DETECTIVES SOON LEARNED CHEF 65 00:03:46,993 --> 00:03:50,530 BROPHY HAD DRIVEN HIS WHITE PICKUP TO THE SCHOOL, PARKED, 66 00:03:50,530 --> 00:03:54,701 AND THEN DISABLED THE BUILDING'S ALARM AT 7:22 A.M. 67 00:03:54,701 --> 00:03:58,638 IT WAS ABOUT TEN MINUTES LATER WHEN A COLLEAGUE ARRIVED 68 00:03:58,638 --> 00:04:01,608 SHE SOON FOUND CHEF BROPHY LYING ON THE FLOOR, AND A STUDENT MADE 69 00:04:01,608 --> 00:04:06,112 THAT 911 CALL. COULD YOU TELL WHAT DAN BROPHY 70 00:04:06,112 --> 00:04:08,581 WAS DOING WHEN HE WAS MURDERED >> YES 71 00:04:08,581 --> 00:04:13,720 >> HE WAS AT THE SINK GETTING THE ICE WATER READY AND COFFEE 72 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:17,190 READY FOR THE STUDENTS WHO WERE GONNA BE COMING IN 73 00:04:17,190 --> 00:04:19,693 >> Reporter: NOT FAR FROM THE BODY, DETECTIVES SAW THIS. 74 00:04:19,693 --> 00:04:22,762 >> A LARGE ICE SCOOPER SO WE BELIEVE HE WAS UP THERE AT 75 00:04:22,762 --> 00:04:27,434 THE SINK WHEN WHOEVER SHOT HIM CAME IN AND SHOT HIM IN THE BACK 76 00:04:27,434 --> 00:04:31,638 FIRST. HE HAD ANOTHER GUNSHOT DIRECTLY 77 00:04:31,638 --> 00:04:34,507 CENTER MASS TO HIS CHEST >> Reporter: HE'S SHOT 78 00:04:34,507 --> 00:04:38,945 HE FALLS HE DROPS THE ICE SHOVEL. 79 00:04:38,945 --> 00:04:41,548 AND THEN WHOEVER IT IS STANDS OVER HIM AND FINISHES THE JOB. 80 00:04:41,548 --> 00:04:43,783 >> CORRECT >> SOMEBODY JUST WANTED TO 81 00:04:43,783 --> 00:04:46,720 EXECUTE THIS PERSON. >> Reporter: NO GUN WAS PRESENT. 82 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:50,724 INVESTIGATORS DID FIND TWO 9 MILLIMETER SHELL CASINGS 83 00:04:50,724 --> 00:04:53,393 WHEN THEY DON'T PICK UP THE BRASS, THAT SAY ANYTHING TO YOU? 84 00:04:53,393 --> 00:04:56,329 >> THEY WANTED TO GET IN QUICK AND GET OUT QUICK. 85 00:04:56,329 --> 00:05:01,067 IF THIS WAS A PROFESSIONAL HITMAN, THEN YEAH. 86 00:05:01,067 --> 00:05:06,106 MAYBE THEY DO PICK UP THOSE CASINGS. 87 00:05:06,106 --> 00:05:08,174 >> Reporter: AS DETECTIVES WENT ABOUT THEIR WORK, WORD WAS 88 00:05:08,174 --> 00:05:10,377 BEGINNING TO SPREAD. STUDENTS SHOWING UP FOR CLASS 89 00:05:10,377 --> 00:05:12,579 FOUND A MAN SHOT TO DEATH IN THE SCHOOL'S KITCHEN 90 00:05:12,579 --> 00:05:15,882 BY MIDMORNING, CHEF BROPHY'S SON NATHANIEL WAS HEARING THE NEWS 91 00:05:15,882 --> 00:05:18,852 >> MY WIFE AND I TOOK A PHONE CALL FROM MY GRANDMOTHER WHO 92 00:05:18,852 --> 00:05:21,921 SAID THAT IT WAS MY FATHER THAT HAD BEEN -- BEEN KILLED. 93 00:05:21,921 --> 00:05:23,723 >> Reporter: AND WHAT'D YOU THINK? 94 00:05:23,723 --> 00:05:27,861 >> WE WERE IN SHOCK. IT WAS REALLY HARD TO WRAP OUR 95 00:05:27,861 --> 00:05:30,463 MINDS AROUND WHAT COULD HAVE POSSIBLY HAPPENED. 96 00:05:30,463 --> 00:05:33,333 >> Reporter: A COMMON REACTION, AS IT TURNED OUT 97 00:05:33,333 --> 00:05:37,070 THIS IS VANESSA PAZ. SHE USED TO WORK WITH US HERE AT 98 00:05:37,070 --> 00:05:39,773 "DATELINE," AND THEN WENT ON TO OCI AS A MARKETING AND 99 00:05:39,773 --> 00:05:45,478 COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST. SHE AND CHEF BROPHY WERE CLOSE 100 00:05:45,478 --> 00:05:49,916 IN FACT, THESE VIDEOS YOU'RE SEEING OF CHEF BROPHY? 101 00:05:49,916 --> 00:06:00,493 VANESSA WAS BEHIND THE CAMERA. >> I RECEIVED A TEXT MESSAGE 102 00:06:00,493 --> 00:06:02,362 "DAN BROPHY IS DEAD. AND I REMEMBER I STOPPED, AND I 103 00:06:02,362 --> 00:06:04,631 JUST STARTED CRYING. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. 104 00:06:04,631 --> 00:06:07,100 >> Reporter: ABOUT 2 HOURS AFTER THE 911 CALL, AT 10:28 A.M., 105 00:06:07,100 --> 00:06:10,403 DAN BROPHY'S WIFE NANCY HAD DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOME IN NEARBY 106 00:06:10,403 --> 00:06:15,675 BEAVERTON TO OCI AND HAD BEEN USHERED INTO A COMMAND POST FOR 107 00:06:15,675 --> 00:06:17,644 WHAT POLICE CALL A DEATH NOTIFICATION 108 00:06:17,644 --> 00:06:19,279 >> DAN IS YOUR HUSBAND IS THAT CORRECT? 109 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:22,682 >> UH-HUH. >> Reporter: NANCY BROPHY TOLD 110 00:06:22,682 --> 00:06:26,152 POLICE THAT, AS USUAL, THAT MORNING DAN HAD RISEN EARLY AND 111 00:06:26,152 --> 00:06:31,725 LEFT FOR WORK AROUND 7:05 OR 7:10 WHILE SHE WAS STILL IN BED. 112 00:06:31,725 --> 00:06:35,195 SEVEN MINUTES INTO THAT CONVERSATION, DETECTIVE POSEY 113 00:06:35,195 --> 00:06:41,868 FINALLY BROKE THE BAD NEWS >> SO, UH, I JUST WANNA LET YOU 114 00:06:41,868 --> 00:06:44,204 KNOW THAT WE BELIEVE -- IT'S DAN THAT'S-- THAT -- THAT'S BEEN 115 00:06:44,204 --> 00:06:51,111 KILLED OKAY 116 00:06:51,111 --> 00:06:57,183 >> I GOT THAT WHEN EVERYBODY GAVE ME THE SAD SACK LOOK. 117 00:06:57,183 --> 00:07:00,453 >> ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT IS OH MY GOD 118 00:07:00,453 --> 00:07:02,088 >> YEAH, TAKE ONE STEP AT A TIME 119 00:07:02,088 --> 00:07:03,857 OKAY >> I KNOW. 120 00:07:03,857 --> 00:07:05,859 I'M SORRY. >> JUST TAKE IT SLOW 121 00:07:05,859 --> 00:07:08,028 AND -- AND THERE'S NOTHING -- THERE'S NOT A LOT OF THINGS YOU 122 00:07:08,028 --> 00:07:09,629 CAN DO RIGHT NOW YOUR MIND'S GOING A MILLION 123 00:07:09,629 --> 00:07:11,564 MILES PER HOUR AND YOU WANT IT -- 124 00:07:11,564 --> 00:07:13,433 >> IT IS HERE'S THE TERRIBLE THING. 125 00:07:13,433 --> 00:07:15,368 EVEN IF YOU FIND WHO SHOT HIM, IT'S NOT GONNA BRING HIM BACK. 126 00:07:15,368 --> 00:07:17,203 AND I WANT HIM BACK. THAT'S THE PART I WANT 127 00:07:17,203 --> 00:07:20,640 I DON'T CARE ABOUT WHO SHOT HIM. I JUST WANT HIM BACK 128 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:23,109 I DON'T WANT HIM DEAD. >> Reporter: DETECTIVES SOON 129 00:07:23,109 --> 00:07:25,245 SENT NANCY HOME TO GRIEVE. AND SHE CALLED HER BEST FRIEND 130 00:07:25,245 --> 00:07:27,480 TANIA MEDLIN >> SHE SOUNDED LIKE SHE WAS IN 131 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:29,382 SHOCK. SHE COULDN'T FORM A WHOLE 132 00:07:29,382 --> 00:07:31,685 SENTENCE >> Reporter: TANIA HAD BEEN A 133 00:07:31,685 --> 00:07:34,921 FRIEND OF NANCY'S FOR 30 YEARS AND SHE'D KNOWN DAN WELL, TOO. 134 00:07:34,921 --> 00:07:39,926 IN FACT, TO EARN A LITTLE EXTRA MONEY, DAN HAD BEEN MOONLIGHTING 135 00:07:39,926 --> 00:07:42,162 COOKING FOR FELLOW CHEF TANIA AT AN ASSISTED LIVING HOME. 136 00:07:42,162 --> 00:07:44,064 YOU SAW HIM THE NIGHT BEFORE HE DIED 137 00:07:44,064 --> 00:07:46,099 WHAT WAS HE LIKE ON THAT LAST NIGHT? 138 00:07:46,099 --> 00:07:48,101 >> HE WAS HIS SAME OLD SELF. HE WAS HAPPY 139 00:07:48,101 --> 00:07:50,136 HE GAVE ME CRAP ABOUT THE MENU >> Reporter: YOU SAY "SAME OLD 140 00:07:50,136 --> 00:07:52,072 DAN. WHICH IS WHAT? 141 00:07:52,072 --> 00:07:54,507 >> LIKE, WHEN I FIRST MET HIM, I DIDN'T THINK HE LIKED ME 142 00:07:54,507 --> 00:07:56,376 AND I WOULD ALWAYS GO TO NANCY AND ASK HIM, YOU KNOW, "WHAT THE 143 00:07:56,376 --> 00:07:58,745 HECK IS HIS PROBLEM? LIKE, DOES HE NOT LIKE ME? 144 00:07:58,745 --> 00:08:01,648 SHE'S LIKE, "NO, THAT'S JUST DAN. 145 00:08:01,648 --> 00:08:02,782 >> Reporter: BUT YOU DIDN'T SENSE HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT 146 00:08:02,782 --> 00:08:04,651 ANYTHING IN HIS LIFE >> NO, NO. 147 00:08:04,651 --> 00:08:07,787 IT SUCKS 'CAUSE LIKE I SAID, HE WASN'T 148 00:08:07,787 --> 00:08:12,025 JUST MY EMPLOYEE I LOST A FRIEND. 149 00:08:12,025 --> 00:08:14,594 I WANT THEM TO FIND THE PERSON THAT DID THIS. 150 00:08:14,594 --> 00:08:19,833 >> Reporter: SHE WAS NOT ALONE IN WANTING THAT. 151 00:08:19,833 --> 00:08:24,037 >>> WHEN WE COME BACK -- INGREDIENTS FOR A MYSTERY. 152 00:08:24,037 --> 00:08:28,541 >> I'M ALWAYS LOOKING TO LEARN NEW TECHNIQUES, NEW CUISINES 153 00:08:28,541 --> 00:08:31,911 >> HE WAS VERY MUCH INTO TEACHING OTHERS. 154 00:08:31,911 --> 00:08:33,646 >> Reporter: WHO'D WANT TO KILL DAN? 155 00:08:33,646 --> 00:08:35,915 >> MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS MAYBE IT WAS A STUDENT WHO DAN DIDN'T RUB 156 00:08:35,915 --> 00:08:41,054 THE RIGHT WAY. YOU KNOW 157 00:08:41,054 --> 00:08:43,256 >> Reporter: IT WAS TRUE, FRIENDS SAID 158 00:08:43,256 --> 00:08:48,061 DAN BROPHY, LIKE MANY CHEFS, COULD COME OFF A BIT CRUSTY. 159 00:08:48,061 --> 00:08:49,929 AND MAYBE IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE WAY HE HAD BEEN 160 00:08:49,929 --> 00:08:52,665 TRAINED. >> I PROBABLY WORKED FOR TEN 161 00:08:52,665 --> 00:08:55,068 DIFFERENT EUROPEAN CHEFS THEY DON'T REALLY BELIEVE IN 162 00:08:55,068 --> 00:08:59,139 HUMAN RIGHTS >> Reporter: CHEF BROPHY'S 163 00:08:59,139 --> 00:09:02,909 CAREER BEGAN WASHING DISHES IN KANSAS CITY, WHICH LED TO A JOB 164 00:09:02,909 --> 00:09:07,414 AS A GRAVEYARD SHIFT COOK IN A 24-HOUR RESTAURANT 165 00:09:07,414 --> 00:09:12,619 LATER HE'D GONE TO CULINARY SCHOOL, AND THEN BEGUN TEACHING. 166 00:09:12,619 --> 00:09:15,388 HIS MOM SAID HE'D ALWAYS HAD HIS NOSE IN A BOOK 167 00:09:15,388 --> 00:09:20,427 AND THAT NEVER CHANGED >> I'M ALWAYS LOOKING TO LEARN 168 00:09:20,427 --> 00:09:23,363 NEW INGREDIENTS, NEW TECHNIQUES, NEW CUISINES 169 00:09:23,363 --> 00:09:26,499 >> HE WAS VERY MUCH INTO TEACHING OTHERS. 170 00:09:26,499 --> 00:09:29,769 AND THE MORE HE SAW SOMEBODY FEED OFF OF WHAT THEY WERE 171 00:09:29,769 --> 00:09:33,373 LEARNING, THE MORE HE WANTED TO TEACH. 172 00:09:33,373 --> 00:09:36,276 >> Reporter: ONE WAY HE TAUGHT WAS BY TAKING FIELD TRIPS. 173 00:09:36,276 --> 00:09:41,448 HE LOVED THE OREGON COAST, HAD A DEGREE IN MARINE BIOLOGY, AND 174 00:09:41,448 --> 00:09:45,819 WAS A BON VIVANT OF THE BEACH. >> WE'RE TAKIN' A LOOK AT WHAT 175 00:09:45,819 --> 00:09:48,888 WE MIGHT SEE THAT'S EDIBLE IN THE WOODS. 176 00:09:48,888 --> 00:09:51,725 >> Reporter: CHEF BROPHY WAS ALSO AN EXPERT IN FORAGING FOR 177 00:09:51,725 --> 00:09:55,829 AND COOKING EDIBLE MUSHROOMS >> WITH THE PORTABELLA, YOU MAY 178 00:09:55,829 --> 00:09:57,464 NOT WANT - >> Reporter: AND HE WAS A 179 00:09:57,464 --> 00:10:01,167 BEEKEEPER. >> SO WE CAN PULL THESE ASIDE 180 00:10:01,167 --> 00:10:09,275 >> Reporter: A MASTER GARDENER AND AN ENTHUSIASTIC COMPOSTER. 181 00:10:09,275 --> 00:10:13,513 >> OUR FIRST FIELD TRIP, HE GAVE ME THESE BAGS MADE OUT OF 182 00:10:13,513 --> 00:10:15,148 COMPOST, RIGHT, FOR THE KIDS TO THROW TRASH IN 183 00:10:15,148 --> 00:10:17,017 HE SAID, "HERE, DISPERSE THEM TO THE STUDENTS." 184 00:10:17,017 --> 00:10:19,185 AND THEN I SAID, "OH." I SAID, "THESE FEEL REALLY 185 00:10:19,185 --> 00:10:21,054 GOOD." AND HE GOES, "DO YOU WANT ME TO 186 00:10:21,054 --> 00:10:23,089 LEAVE YOU ALONE WITH THEM? LIKE, THAT WAS -- AND THAT WAS 187 00:10:23,089 --> 00:10:25,925 THE FIRST DAY I MET HIM. BUT THAT WAS HIS HUMOR 188 00:10:25,925 --> 00:10:29,295 >> Reporter: THAT HUMOR CAME THROUGH IN WHAT CAME TO BE KNOWN 189 00:10:29,295 --> 00:10:32,866 AS BROPHYISMS. >> "JOB WOULDN'T GO SO SLOW IF 190 00:10:32,866 --> 00:10:35,068 YOU'D ONLY DID IT FASTER." >> "HOW DO YOU FIX A SICK 191 00:10:35,068 --> 00:10:37,003 CHICKEN? WITH A SHOVEL. 192 00:10:37,003 --> 00:10:40,106 "YOU CAN EAT ANY EXOTIC MUSHROOM ONCE." 193 00:10:40,106 --> 00:10:43,810 >> Reporter: THE CHEF ALSO HAD A SOFTER SIDE, DONATING FOOD AND 194 00:10:43,810 --> 00:10:46,846 HELPING HIS PARENTS FEED HUNDREDS OF MEALS A WEEK TO THE 195 00:10:46,846 --> 00:10:51,151 HOMELESS AT A CHURCH NOT FAR FROM OCI 196 00:10:51,151 --> 00:10:54,354 HIS PERSONAL LIFE WAS SIMPLE HIS MARRIAGE TO NANCY WAS HIS 197 00:10:54,354 --> 00:10:58,825 SECOND IN THE EARLY '90s, NANCY, A 198 00:10:58,825 --> 00:11:02,962 TEXAS NATIVE WITH A DEGREE IN ECONOMICS AND A DIVORCE ON HER 199 00:11:02,962 --> 00:11:07,067 RESUME, ENDED UP AS BOTH A STUDENT AT A COOKING SCHOOL 200 00:11:07,067 --> 00:11:10,270 WHERE DAN TAUGHT AND A ROOMMATE OF TANIA MEDLIN. 201 00:11:10,270 --> 00:11:13,239 >> SHE COMES HOME AND SHE SAYS, "DID YOU HAVE DAN BROPHY?" 202 00:11:13,239 --> 00:11:15,208 I SAID, "NO, HE CAME AFTER I LEFT." 203 00:11:15,208 --> 00:11:16,976 SHE GOES, "WELL, WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HIM?" 204 00:11:16,976 --> 00:11:18,912 I SAID, "HE'S MARRIED. SHE GOES, "WELL, YEAH, THAT'S 205 00:11:18,912 --> 00:11:21,715 NOT GONNA LAST." AND I SAID, "DON'T BE DIPPIN' 206 00:11:21,715 --> 00:11:23,383 YOUR CANDLE IN SOMEBODY ELSE'S WAX. 207 00:11:23,383 --> 00:11:25,118 YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN "BE CAREFUL THERE. 208 00:11:25,118 --> 00:11:27,320 AND SHE WAS LIKE, "NO, NO, NO, NO 209 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:29,289 HE'S GOTTA HANDLE HIS BUSINESS." SHE GRADUATED SCHOOL 210 00:11:29,289 --> 00:11:31,691 SHE OPENED UP A CATERING COMPANY. 211 00:11:31,691 --> 00:11:34,961 AND THEN, NEXT THING I KNOW, WE GOT A WEDDING INVITATION 212 00:11:34,961 --> 00:11:37,330 >> Reporter: DAN'S SON NATHANIEL WOULD SOON GO TO WORK FOR 213 00:11:37,330 --> 00:11:40,734 NANCY'S CATERING COMPANY WHEN YOUR DAD FINALLY INTRODUCED 214 00:11:40,734 --> 00:11:43,837 YOU TO NANCY, WAS THAT A MOMENT OF SOME TENSION OR NERVOUSNESS 215 00:11:43,837 --> 00:11:47,140 >> I MEAN, I ASSUMED THAT, YOU KNOW, IF HE'D BROUGHT HER INTO 216 00:11:47,140 --> 00:11:49,709 HIS LIFE, THEN HE WAS -- SHE WAS SOMEONE THAT WAS GONNA BE A GOOD 217 00:11:49,709 --> 00:11:52,712 MATCH FOR HIM. >> Reporter: EVERYONE SAID IT 218 00:11:52,712 --> 00:11:56,750 WAS OBVIOUS NANCY AND DAN LOVED ONE ANOTHER, EVEN IF DAN DID 219 00:11:56,750 --> 00:12:00,687 HAVE A RATHER ODD PET NAME FOR HIS WIFE 220 00:12:00,687 --> 00:12:04,557 >> ANYTIME SOMEONE WAS LIKE, "HEY, DAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF, 221 00:12:04,557 --> 00:12:07,260 YOU KNOW, MAKING IT ON THIS TRIP," HIS RESPONSE WOULD BE, 222 00:12:07,260 --> 00:12:09,562 "OH, I HAVE TO ASK MANAGEMENT," OR, "LET ME CHECK WITH 223 00:12:09,562 --> 00:12:11,698 MANAGEMENT." >> Reporter: SHE WAS IN CHARGE 224 00:12:11,698 --> 00:12:15,402 >> SHE WAS IN CHARGE >> Reporter: NANCY EVENTUALLY 225 00:12:15,402 --> 00:12:17,704 SOLD THE CATERING COMPANY WHEN SHE COULD NO LONGER DO ALL THE 226 00:12:17,704 --> 00:12:21,908 PHYSICAL WORK REQUIRED SHE BEGAN SELLING INSURANCE. 227 00:12:21,908 --> 00:12:25,812 HER REAL PASSION, IT TURNED OUT, WAS WRITING. 228 00:12:25,812 --> 00:12:29,649 SPECIFICALLY MYSTERIES AND ROMANCE NOVELS 229 00:12:29,649 --> 00:12:32,585 BODICE RIPPERS WITH NAMES LIKE "HELL ON THE HEART." 230 00:12:32,585 --> 00:12:35,989 SHE'D WRITTEN A SERIES MOSTLY REVOLVING AROUND NAVY SEALS. 231 00:12:35,989 --> 00:12:38,391 "THE WRONG COP." "THE WRONG LOVER." 232 00:12:38,391 --> 00:12:41,461 "THE WRONG HUSBAND." YOU GET THE IDEA 233 00:12:41,461 --> 00:12:44,097 >> IT'S FUNNY. WE'D GO TO WORK, AND WE'D BUST 234 00:12:44,097 --> 00:12:46,099 DAN'S CHOPS ABOUT IT WE WOULD SAY, "YOU MUST BE A 235 00:12:46,099 --> 00:12:48,368 FIRECRACKER IN BED, BUDDY. HE'D BE LIKE, "SHUT UP." 236 00:12:48,368 --> 00:12:50,503 OH, YEAH, WE USED TO BUST HIS CHOPS CONSTANTLY 237 00:12:50,503 --> 00:12:52,639 >> Reporter: NANCY HAD HER WRITING. 238 00:12:52,639 --> 00:12:55,942 DAN HAD HIS GARDENING, MUSHROOM HUNTING, AND TEACHING. 239 00:12:55,942 --> 00:12:58,211 AND THEY WERE ACTIVE GRANDPARENTS TO NATHANIEL'S 240 00:12:58,211 --> 00:13:00,480 DAUGHTER >> THEY WERE, YOU KNOW -- HAD 241 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:02,749 STARTED MAKING SOME PLANS FOR WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN IN THEIR 242 00:13:02,749 --> 00:13:05,151 RETIREMENT YEARS AND WHILE IT HADN'T BEEN NAILED 243 00:13:05,151 --> 00:13:08,355 DOWN YET, IT SEEMED LIKE THEY WERE ONTO SOME EXCITING IDEAS. 244 00:13:08,355 --> 00:13:12,058 >> Reporter: NOW THERE WOULD BE NO RETIREMENT FOR DAN BROPHY 245 00:13:12,058 --> 00:13:15,895 INSTEAD, EVERYONE WANTED TO KNOW WHO HAD KILLED HIM IN A KITCHEN 246 00:13:15,895 --> 00:13:21,434 DOING WHAT HE LOVED. OR AS A MYSTERY WRITER MIGHT 247 00:13:21,434 --> 00:13:26,606 HAVE ASKED, "WHO HAD DEVELOPED A TASTE FOR MURDER?" 248 00:13:26,606 --> 00:13:28,775 >>> COMING UP -- >> WHO KNOWS IF SOMEBODY WAS IN 249 00:13:28,775 --> 00:13:30,310 THE BUILDING WHO KNOWS IF SOMEBODY FOLLOWED 250 00:13:30,310 --> 00:13:32,712 HIM IN >> DETECTIVES DIG DEEP FOR A 251 00:13:32,712 --> 00:13:34,848 MOTIVE >> Reporter: THERE'S ALCOHOL IN 252 00:13:34,848 --> 00:13:37,417 THERE, AND A LOT OF EXPENSIVE COOKING EQUIPMENT. 253 00:13:37,417 --> 00:13:39,519 ANY OF THAT DISTURBED OR MISSING? 254 00:13:39,519 --> 00:13:43,656 >> WE DID SEVERAL LAYERS OF SEARCHES OF THE BUILDING 255 00:13:43,656 --> 00:13:46,993 >> WHAT WOULD THEY FIND? WHEN "DATELINE" CONTINUES. 256 00:14:17,290 --> 00:14:20,727 >> HE WAS A PERSON WHO DID WHAT HE LOVED 257 00:14:20,727 --> 00:14:23,096 HE LOVED TEACHING. HE LOVED MUSHROOMS 258 00:14:23,096 --> 00:14:25,665 DAN WAS ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE I'VE EVER KNOWN WHO KNEW EXACTLY 259 00:14:25,665 --> 00:14:29,636 WHAT HE WANTED IN LIFE AND LOVED DOING IT 260 00:14:29,636 --> 00:14:31,471 >> Reporter: YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HE TOUCHED THAT MANY PEOPLE? 261 00:14:31,471 --> 00:14:33,306 >> I DO. YEAH 262 00:14:33,306 --> 00:14:35,942 IT NEVER CEASED TO AMAZE ME HOW MANY PEOPLE HE'D -- HE HAD 263 00:14:35,942 --> 00:14:38,611 INTERSECTED WITH THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF HIS CAREER 264 00:14:38,611 --> 00:14:41,381 >> Reporter: DETECTIVES ANTHONY MERRILL AND DARREN POSEY 265 00:14:41,381 --> 00:14:45,552 WERE AWARE THAT DAN'S FRIENDS AND FAMILY WERE ASKING SOME 266 00:14:45,552 --> 00:14:48,388 OBVIOUS QUESTIONS. >> WHO KNOWS IF SOMEBODY WAS IN 267 00:14:48,388 --> 00:14:50,557 THE BUILDING WHO KNOWS IF, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY 268 00:14:50,557 --> 00:14:53,393 FOLLOWED HIM IN? YOU WOULDN'T LOOK AT HIM IN THE 269 00:14:53,393 --> 00:15:01,534 STREET AND SAY, "YEAH, THAT IS SOMEBODY THAT WE SHOULD TAP 270 00:15:01,534 --> 00:15:02,535 FOR MONEY. >> WE FOUND THAT HE HAD HIS 271 00:15:02,535 --> 00:15:04,537 WALLET ON HIM WITH ALL OF HIS CREDIT CARDS 272 00:15:04,537 --> 00:15:06,606 HE HAD 70-SOME DOLLARS IN CASH, A CELL PHONE, A WATCH, KEYS TO 273 00:15:06,606 --> 00:15:08,808 HIS TRUCK THAT WAS PARKED OUTSIDE. 274 00:15:08,808 --> 00:15:10,510 >> Reporter: DETECTIVES WONDERED, "COULD THE KILLER OR 275 00:15:10,510 --> 00:15:14,681 KILLERS HAVE BEEN AFTER SOMETHING ELSE?" 276 00:15:14,681 --> 00:15:16,449 THERE'S ALCOHOL IN THERE, AND THERE'S A LOT OF EXPENSIVE 277 00:15:16,449 --> 00:15:20,487 COOKING EQUIPMENT. ANY OF THAT DISTURBED OR 278 00:15:20,487 --> 00:15:22,288 MISSING? >> WE DID SEVERAL LAYERS OF 279 00:15:22,288 --> 00:15:24,424 SEARCHES OF THE BUILDING >> FROM WHAT WE COULD DETERMINE, 280 00:15:24,424 --> 00:15:26,593 THAT ALL SEEMED TO BE IN PLACE >> Reporter: IN YOUR 281 00:15:26,593 --> 00:15:29,629 INVESTIGATION, I MEAN, WHO DIDN'T LIKE DAN BROPHY 282 00:15:29,629 --> 00:15:32,532 >> THERE WAS PEOPLE THAT WERE LIKE, "HE'S TOUGH. 283 00:15:32,532 --> 00:15:35,669 AND HE, YOU KNOW, KINDA HAS A DRY HUMOR THAT, YOU KNOW, 284 00:15:35,669 --> 00:15:38,605 SOMETIMES MAYBE WOULD RUB SOMEBODY THE WRONG WAY 285 00:15:38,605 --> 00:15:41,841 RIGHT? BUT NOTHING THAT, YOU KNOW, 286 00:15:41,841 --> 00:15:45,345 SOMEBODY HAD IT OUT FOR HIM BECAUSE, LIKE, THEY HAD HAD 287 00:15:45,345 --> 00:15:47,480 THEIR CAREER ENDED BY HIM OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT 288 00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:50,850 >> Reporter: THERE WAS ALSO NO SIGN OF FORCED ENTRY 289 00:15:50,850 --> 00:15:55,488 MAYBE BECAUSE DAN BROPHY'S HABIT AFTER DISARMING THE ALARM WAS TO 290 00:15:55,488 --> 00:15:59,693 RAISE A ROLL-UP DOOR AND LOAD IN SUPPLIES 291 00:15:59,693 --> 00:16:04,464 A KILLER COULD HAVE SIMPLY WALKED IN THAT OPEN DOOR 292 00:16:04,464 --> 00:16:06,633 CLUES FROM THE SCENE WERE HARD TO COME BY 293 00:16:06,633 --> 00:16:12,138 OCI HAD NO SECURITY CAMERAS INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL 294 00:16:12,138 --> 00:16:15,041 MEANTIME, DAN'S WIDOW NANCY HAD BEGUN CLEANING OUT THE HOME 295 00:16:15,041 --> 00:16:18,478 THEY'D SHARED FOR 22 YEARS, GETTING SET TO PUT IT UP FOR 296 00:16:18,478 --> 00:16:21,848 SALE >> NANCY'S EXACT WORDS TO ME 297 00:16:21,848 --> 00:16:24,684 WERE, "EVERYWHERE I LOOK IN THIS HOUSE, TANIA, I SEE DAN. 298 00:16:24,684 --> 00:16:26,553 SHE DID NOT WANNA BE IN THAT BIG HOUSE. 299 00:16:26,553 --> 00:16:30,190 THAT HOUSE WAS THEIRS. >> IT MADE SENSE 300 00:16:30,190 --> 00:16:32,258 IT WAS ALSO A PROJECT THAT THEY HAD EMBARKED UPON BEFORE HIS 301 00:16:32,258 --> 00:16:34,828 DEATH. SO IT DIDN'T SEEM OUT OF THE 302 00:16:34,828 --> 00:16:36,296 ORDINARY >> Reporter: THEY WERE GONNA 303 00:16:36,296 --> 00:16:38,098 SELL ANYHOW. >> CORRECT 304 00:16:38,098 --> 00:16:40,567 >> Reporter: AND AS SUMMER STARTED TO FADE, SO TOO DID 305 00:16:40,567 --> 00:16:45,271 NATHANIEL'S HOPE IT SEEMED LIKE POLICE WEREN'T 306 00:16:45,271 --> 00:16:47,774 MAKIN' ANY PROGRESS. >> HONESTLY, WE WERE COMING WITH 307 00:16:47,774 --> 00:16:54,147 TERMS THAT THIS WOULD BE AN UNSOLVED MURDER. 308 00:16:54,147 --> 00:16:55,882 >> Reporter: WHAT NONE OF DAN BROPHY'S FRIENDS OR FAMILY 309 00:16:55,882 --> 00:16:57,684 MEMBERS KNEW WAS THAT THERE WAS A LOT HAPPENING BEHIND THE 310 00:16:57,684 --> 00:16:59,619 SCENES IN FACT, JUST DAYS AFTER THE 311 00:16:59,619 --> 00:17:02,889 MURDER DETECTIVES HAD RECEIVED A CALL FROM DAN'S WIFE NANCY 312 00:17:02,889 --> 00:17:07,027 SHE HAD A QUESTION ABOUT COLLECTING LIFE INSURANCE. 313 00:17:07,027 --> 00:17:10,830 AND POLICE RECORDED IT >> I DON'T WANT TO BE THE STUPID 314 00:17:10,830 --> 00:17:12,665 QUESTION OF THE DAY. BUT I THINK I NEED TO BE THE 315 00:17:12,665 --> 00:17:14,567 STUPID QUESTION OF THE DAY UH - 316 00:17:14,567 --> 00:17:16,503 [ LAUGHTER ] >> OKAY. 317 00:17:16,503 --> 00:17:19,039 >> SO MY INSURANCE COMPANY SAID JUST HAVE THE DETECTIVES WRITE A 318 00:17:19,039 --> 00:17:21,041 LETTER THAT YOU'RE NO LONGER A SUSPECT. 319 00:17:21,041 --> 00:17:23,510 >> Reporter: NO LONGER A SUSPECT? 320 00:17:23,510 --> 00:17:26,346 AT THAT POINT, SHE WASN'T NAMED A SUSPECT. 321 00:17:26,346 --> 00:17:29,616 AND NEITHER WAS ANYONE ELSE. >> AND I SAID, "MAN, I JUST 322 00:17:29,616 --> 00:17:33,553 DON'T KNOW THAT HE'S THERE, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT HE LOOKS AT IT 323 00:17:33,553 --> 00:17:36,656 THAT WAY." BUT IF YOU DO, I'D GET YOU TO 324 00:17:36,656 --> 00:17:38,825 WRITE THE LETTER >> Reporter: THIS WOULD BE 325 00:17:38,825 --> 00:17:40,660 SOMETHING THAT WOULD GO TO AN INSURANCE COMPANY THAT WOULD 326 00:17:40,660 --> 00:17:42,595 ALLOW THEM TO MAKE A PAYOUT TO HER? 327 00:17:42,595 --> 00:17:46,366 >> WELL, YEAH. >> WHY WOULD YOU NEED THAT 328 00:17:46,366 --> 00:17:50,704 >> BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY IF IT TURNS OUT THAT I 329 00:17:50,704 --> 00:17:54,307 SECRETLY WENT DOWN TO THE SCHOOL AND SHOT MY HUSBAND. 330 00:17:54,307 --> 00:17:56,876 >> OKAY. WELL, WE -- WE WOULD NEVER DO 331 00:17:56,876 --> 00:17:58,611 SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT BEING 332 00:17:58,611 --> 00:18:00,447 DONE >> THIS IS SUCH A STUPID, LITTLE 333 00:18:00,447 --> 00:18:02,449 POLICY I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY'RE MAKING 334 00:18:02,449 --> 00:18:05,685 ME JUMP THROUGH HOOPS LIKE THIS. THIS IS ONLY $40,000 335 00:18:05,685 --> 00:18:08,455 AND AS MY SISTER SAID, YOU KNOW, USUALLY WHEN THEY DO THAT, IT'S 336 00:18:08,455 --> 00:18:10,857 FOR MILLIONS AND I SAID, "YEAH, WE WEREN'T 337 00:18:10,857 --> 00:18:13,593 INSURED FOR MILLIONS." >> Reporter: WELL, AS WE SAY 338 00:18:13,593 --> 00:18:17,130 AROUND HERE -- OR WERE THEY? MORE ON THAT LATER 339 00:18:17,130 --> 00:18:20,533 FOR NOW -- NORMALLY, IN MURDER 340 00:18:20,533 --> 00:18:23,670 INVESTIGATIONS, THE WAY YOU CLEAR SOMEBODY IS YOU ARREST 341 00:18:23,670 --> 00:18:25,472 SOMEBODY ELSE AND TAKE THEM TO TRIAL. 342 00:18:25,472 --> 00:18:27,807 >> CORRECT YOU FIND THE PERPETRATOR, AND 343 00:18:27,807 --> 00:18:30,443 YOU CLEAR THE CASE >> Reporter: AND THAT MEANS 344 00:18:30,443 --> 00:18:32,212 OTHER PEOPLE WHO MIGHT'VE BEEN SUSPECTS EARLIER ARE NOW OFF THE 345 00:18:32,212 --> 00:18:34,647 HOOK >> YES 346 00:18:34,647 --> 00:18:37,283 THAT WOULD HELP. >> Reporter: AND THERE WAS 347 00:18:37,283 --> 00:18:40,754 SOMETHING ELSE INVESTIGATORS DISCOVERED THAT 348 00:18:40,754 --> 00:18:44,624 NANCY, THE ROMANCE NOVELIST, HAD, IN 2011, WRITTEN A BLOG 349 00:18:44,624 --> 00:18:50,630 POST THE TITLE? 350 00:18:50,630 --> 00:18:54,067 "HOW TO MURDER YOUR HUSBAND? >>> COMING UP -- 351 00:18:54,067 --> 00:18:56,970 THAT BLOG POST TONGUE-IN-CHEEK, OR TIPPING HER 352 00:18:56,970 --> 00:18:59,072 HAND >> Reporter: WHAT'D YOU THINK 353 00:18:59,072 --> 00:19:01,207 WHEN YOU SAW THAT? >> IT JUST MAKES YOU WONDER, 354 00:19:01,207 --> 00:19:04,310 >> IT JUST MAKES YOU WONDER, "WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?" 355 00:19:37,444 --> 00:19:40,547 SUPPOSED TO SET ME FREE, I CERTAINLY DON'T WANNA SPEND ANY 356 00:19:40,547 --> 00:19:44,851 TIME IN JAIL AND LET ME SAY CLEARLY FOR THE 357 00:19:44,851 --> 00:19:50,490 RECORD, I DON'T LIKE JUMPSUITS, AND ORANGE ISN'T MY COLOR. 358 00:19:50,490 --> 00:19:54,728 SHE THEN LISTS THE VARIOUS MOTIVES FOR MURDER 359 00:19:54,728 --> 00:19:57,564 "FINANCIAL, LYING, CHEATING," AND, "FELL IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE 360 00:19:57,564 --> 00:20:01,468 ELSE." IN SOME WAYS, THE POST IS LESS 361 00:20:01,468 --> 00:20:05,505 THAN IT SEEMS. NANCY WROTE IT SEVEN YEARS 362 00:20:05,505 --> 00:20:08,341 BEFORE THE MURDER, AND IT WAS DARK HUMOR, CERTAINLY NOT A 363 00:20:08,341 --> 00:20:12,212 BLUEPRINT FOR THE CRIME. THIS IS, AFTER ALL, A WOMAN 364 00:20:12,212 --> 00:20:18,118 WHOSE BOOKS ALL BORE THE TAGLINE "WRONG NEVER FELT SO RIGHT." 365 00:20:18,118 --> 00:20:22,355 STILL, IT COULDN'T BE IGNORED, ESPECIALLY WHEN NANCY LISTED 366 00:20:22,355 --> 00:20:26,326 "OPTIONS TO CONSIDER" FOR KILLING YOUR HUSBAND 367 00:20:26,326 --> 00:20:29,929 NUMBER ONE WAS LABELED "GUNS." WHAT'D YOU THINK WHEN YOU SAW 368 00:20:29,929 --> 00:20:32,298 THAT >> IT WAS REALLY WEIRD 369 00:20:32,298 --> 00:20:43,309 IT JUST MAKES YOU WONDER, "WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?" 370 00:20:43,309 --> 00:20:44,477 >> Reporter: IN ONE OF THE POST'S CLOSING PARAGRAPHS, NANCY 371 00:20:44,477 --> 00:20:45,679 SUMMED UP HER FEELINGS, WRITING, "I FIND IT IS EASIER TO WISH 372 00:20:45,679 --> 00:20:46,513 PEOPLE DEAD THAN TO ACTUALLY KILL THEM. 373 00:20:46,513 --> 00:20:49,883 BUT THE THING I KNOW ABOUT MURDER IS THAT EVERY ONE OF US 374 00:20:49,883 --> 00:20:54,354 HAVE IT IN HIM OR HER WHEN PUSHED FAR ENOUGH. 375 00:20:54,354 --> 00:20:56,890 NANCY BROPHY HAD DEFINITELY WRITTEN A TWIST INTO HER OWN 376 00:20:56,890 --> 00:21:01,661 LIFE STORY EXCEPT THAT BLOG POST WAS NOT 377 00:21:01,661 --> 00:21:05,065 WHAT DETECTIVES HAD FOCUSED ON WHEN THEY WROTE THEIR OWN TWIST 378 00:21:05,065 --> 00:21:09,235 THREE MONTHS AFTER CHEF DAN BROPHY'S MURDER. 379 00:21:09,235 --> 00:21:11,971 >> THE STUNNING BREAK IN THE MURDER OF AN OREGON CULINARY 380 00:21:11,971 --> 00:21:15,275 INSTITUTE INSTRUCTOR POLICE TONIGHT HAVE ARRESTED HIS 381 00:21:15,275 --> 00:21:20,080 WIFE FOR THE CRIME >> Reporter: NANCY BROPHY, DAN'S 382 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:24,084 WIFE OF MORE THAN 20 YEARS, WAS NOW CHARGED WITH MURDERING HIM 383 00:21:24,084 --> 00:21:28,655 IN COLD BLOOD. >> I WAS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED. 384 00:21:28,655 --> 00:21:30,523 IT'S LIKE SOMEBODY HIT ME WITH A BAT. 385 00:21:30,523 --> 00:21:32,192 >> Reporter: THEY LOVED EACH OTHER? 386 00:21:32,192 --> 00:21:34,661 >> YEAH, I DON'T THINK SHE DID IT 387 00:21:34,661 --> 00:21:36,663 AND I WOULD BE EMBARRASSED IF I WAS THEM IF THEY CAN'T PROVE 388 00:21:36,663 --> 00:21:39,232 THIS >> Reporter: I'M SURE THAT, BY 389 00:21:39,232 --> 00:21:41,334 NOW, YOU HAVE REVIEWED ALMOST EVERY MEMORY YOU HAVE OF THE TWO 390 00:21:41,334 --> 00:21:43,503 OF THEM, THINKING TO YOURSELF, "WAS THERE SOMETHING THERE THAT 391 00:21:43,503 --> 00:21:46,239 I DIDN'T SEE?" >> CERTAINLY 392 00:21:46,239 --> 00:21:49,109 AND IT STILL, YOU KNOW, DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE 393 00:21:49,109 --> 00:21:52,112 >> Reporter: AS NANCY BROPHY'S TRIAL BEGAN, THE CASE BECAME A 394 00:21:52,112 --> 00:21:55,181 LATE NIGHT PUNCH LINE. >> THIS IS A WEIRD STORY 395 00:21:55,181 --> 00:21:57,550 YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR A LOT ABOUT LIFE IMITATING ART 396 00:21:57,550 --> 00:22:00,353 BUT RARELY DO YOU HEAR ABOUT DEATH IMITATING IT 397 00:22:00,353 --> 00:22:03,189 >> Reporter: PROSECUTORS NICOLE HERMANN AND 398 00:22:03,189 --> 00:22:05,792 SHAWN OVERSTREET WERE IN CHARGE OF THE MULTNOMAH COUNTY D.A.'S 399 00:22:05,792 --> 00:22:08,862 TEAM IT'S NOT THAT OFTEN, I THINK, 400 00:22:08,862 --> 00:22:11,831 THAT YOU GET SOMEONE WHO'S ACCUSED OF MURDERING THEIR 401 00:22:11,831 --> 00:22:14,534 HUSBAND ATTACHED TO A BLOG POST IN WHICH THEY WRITE ABOUT HOW TO 402 00:22:14,534 --> 00:22:18,505 MURDER THEIR HUSBAND >> NO, IT'S NOT. 403 00:22:18,505 --> 00:22:21,141 AND IT WAS QUITE A PIECE OF INFORMATION TO FIND. 404 00:22:21,141 --> 00:22:24,244 >> WE WERE ALL SHOCKED AND THEN, ESPECIALLY AFTER 405 00:22:24,244 --> 00:22:27,580 READING IT AND KINDA GOIN', "OH, MY GOSH, SHE KIND OF FOLLOWED 406 00:22:27,580 --> 00:22:30,650 HER OWN PLAN." >> Reporter: HOWEVER, ON THE 407 00:22:30,650 --> 00:22:34,621 FIRST DAY OF TRIAL IN APRIL 2022, THE JUDGE DEALT 408 00:22:34,621 --> 00:22:38,425 PROSECUTORS A BIT OF A BLOW, RULING THAT NANCY'S BLOG POST, 409 00:22:38,425 --> 00:22:44,197 "HOW TO MURDER YOUR HUSBAND," COULD NOT BE SEEN BY THE JURY. 410 00:22:44,197 --> 00:22:48,268 >> ANY MINIMAL PROBATIVE VALUE IS SUBSTANTIALLY OUTWEIGHED BY 411 00:22:48,268 --> 00:22:52,272 THE DANGER OF UNFAIR PREJUDICE AND CONFUSION OF THE ISSUES. 412 00:22:52,272 --> 00:22:55,275 >> Reporter: THE BLOG POST WAS YEARS OLD, AND IT'S NOT AS IF IT 413 00:22:55,275 --> 00:22:59,112 DESCRIBED THE CRIME EXACTLY. HOW MUCH OF A ROADBLOCK TO YOUR 414 00:22:59,112 --> 00:23:02,549 CASE IS IT WHEN THE JUDGE WON'T LET THAT BLOG POST IN? 415 00:23:02,549 --> 00:23:04,784 >> WE DECIDED PRETTY EARLY THAT IT WASN'T GOING TO BE A 416 00:23:04,784 --> 00:23:06,453 ROADBLOCK. WE HAD A PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD 417 00:23:06,453 --> 00:23:08,655 WITHOUT IT >> Reporter: AND SO PROSECUTORS 418 00:23:08,655 --> 00:23:12,759 DID. >> ALL OF THE LEADS THE 419 00:23:12,759 --> 00:23:17,230 DETECTIVES FOLLOWED UP WITH ALL POINTED BACK TO NANCY BROPHY 420 00:23:17,230 --> 00:23:19,766 >> Reporter: ONE OF THOSE CAME FROM THE LAPTOP FOUND IN NANCY'S 421 00:23:19,766 --> 00:23:22,602 CLOSET >> THERE'S AN ATTEMPT TO LOG 422 00:23:22,602 --> 00:23:28,908 INTO - >> Reporter: IN NOVEMBER 2017, 423 00:23:28,908 --> 00:23:30,443 SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE MURDER NANCY'S COMPUTER VISITED A 424 00:23:30,443 --> 00:23:34,914 WEBSITE THAT SOLD GHOST GUNS AND SOON ORDERED A GHOST GUN, SOME 425 00:23:34,914 --> 00:23:40,587 ASSEMBLY REQUIRED. >> IT'S AN UNSERIALIZED, 426 00:23:40,587 --> 00:23:42,922 UNREGISTERED FIREARM SHE WAS GONNA BUY IT 427 00:23:42,922 --> 00:23:45,959 SHE WAS GONNA USE IT AND THEN ONCE SHE RECEIVED IT, I 428 00:23:45,959 --> 00:23:48,228 THINK SHE QUICKLY REALIZED THIS IS TOO COMPLICATED FOR HER TO 429 00:23:48,228 --> 00:23:52,098 PUT TOGETHER >> Reporter: RECORDS THEN SHOWED 430 00:23:52,098 --> 00:23:56,703 NANCY GOOGLING ABOUT GLOCK REVOLVERS, ASKING IF GLOCKS HAVE 431 00:23:56,703 --> 00:24:00,573 A "BIG KICKBACK" AND SEARCHING FOR "GUN SHOPS IN PORTLAND." 432 00:24:00,573 --> 00:24:03,877 THEN IN FEBRUARY, FOUR MONTHS BEFORE THE MURDER, NANCY WENT TO 433 00:24:03,877 --> 00:24:08,048 A GUN SHOW AND BOUGHT THIS 9 MILLIMETER GLOCK 17. 434 00:24:08,048 --> 00:24:12,152 SHE REGISTERED IT IN HER OWN NAME AND ADMITTED OWNING THE GUN 435 00:24:12,152 --> 00:24:15,588 TO POLICE THE MORNING OF THE MURDER 436 00:24:15,588 --> 00:24:19,426 WHAT SHE DID NOT TELL POLICE IS THAT SHE ALSO WENT ON eBAY AND 437 00:24:19,426 --> 00:24:23,596 BOUGHT AN EXTRA SLIDE AND BARREL THAT FIT THE GLOCK 438 00:24:23,596 --> 00:24:26,466 THAT'S ONE WAY OF DISGUISING WHETHER A BULLET OR CASING COMES 439 00:24:26,466 --> 00:24:31,438 FROM A PARTICULAR GUN. PROSECUTORS SHOWED THE JURY THIS 440 00:24:31,438 --> 00:24:34,974 VIDEO MADE BY A DETECTIVE SHOWING HOW A SLIDE AND BARREL 441 00:24:34,974 --> 00:24:39,379 CAN BE EASILY SWAPPED OUT. TOGETHER, THEY LEAVE DISTINCTIVE 442 00:24:39,379 --> 00:24:42,582 MARKS ON THE BULLET AS IT MOVES DOWN THE BARREL TOWARD THE 443 00:24:42,582 --> 00:24:46,853 TARGET AND ON THE EMPTY CASINGS AS THEY'RE EJECTED 444 00:24:46,853 --> 00:24:50,256 SO IF YOU SWITCH THE SLIDE AND BARREL, A FIREARMS ANALYSIS WILL 445 00:24:50,256 --> 00:24:51,825 SUGGEST IT'S NOT THE SAME GUN? >> UH-HUH, YES 446 00:24:51,825 --> 00:24:54,361 ABSOLUTELY >> EXACTLY 447 00:24:54,361 --> 00:24:56,730 >> Reporter: WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED TO THAT EXTRA SLIDE AND 448 00:24:56,730 --> 00:24:58,498 BARREL >> WE HAVE A LOT OF BODIES OF 449 00:24:58,498 --> 00:25:02,035 WATER HERE IN OREGON COULD BE IN ANY ONE OF 'EM 450 00:25:02,035 --> 00:25:04,537 >> Reporter: MISSING EVIDENCE, CLAIMED PROSECUTORS, DID NOT 451 00:25:04,537 --> 00:25:08,308 CLEAR NANCY BROPHY HER ATTORNEYS, HOWEVER, WERE 452 00:25:08,308 --> 00:25:11,444 ABOUT TO REVEAL THE IDENTITY OF A MAN THEY THOUGHT JUST MIGHT DO 453 00:25:11,444 --> 00:25:17,751 EXACTLY THAT >>> COMING UP -- 454 00:25:17,751 --> 00:25:21,755 >> NANCY CRAMPTON-BROPHY HAS ALWAYS BEEN THOROUGHLY, MADLY, 455 00:25:21,755 --> 00:25:25,658 CRAZY IN LOVE WITH DANIEL BROPHY, AND SHE STILL IS TODAY 456 00:25:25,658 --> 00:25:29,062 >> THE DEFENSE SERVES UP AN ALTERNATE SUSPECT. 457 00:25:29,062 --> 00:25:33,066 COULD THIS BE DAN BROPHY'S REAL KILLER?! 458 00:25:33,066 --> 00:25:35,869 KILLER?! WHEN "DATELINE" CONTINUES. 459 00:26:07,701 --> 00:26:09,669 T HIM BACK DETECTIVES SENT NANCY HOME IN THE COMPANY OF TWO 460 00:26:09,669 --> 00:26:13,306 T HIM BACK INVESTIGATORS. THEY WATCHED NANCY'S GRAY TOYOTA 461 00:26:13,306 --> 00:26:17,844 T HIM BACK VAN DISAPPEAR DOWN THE STREET. AND THEN THEY BEGAN TO LOOK FOR 462 00:26:17,844 --> 00:26:22,349 T HIM BACK EVIDENCE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD >> WE DON'T HAVE A MOTIVE. 463 00:26:22,349 --> 00:26:24,517 T HIM BACK WE HAVE NO EYEWITNESS. AND WE HAVE NO VIDEO CAMERA AT 464 00:26:24,517 --> 00:26:27,287 T HIM BACK THE SCENE. SO ANY OF THE SURROUNDING 465 00:26:27,287 --> 00:26:30,657 T HIM BACK BUSINESSES THAT HAVE VIDEO IS GONNA BE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO 466 00:26:30,657 --> 00:26:34,794 T HIM BACK US AT THIS POINT >> Reporter: THE FIRST STOP WAS 467 00:26:34,794 --> 00:26:39,833 T HIM BACK A PIZZA PLACE CALLED BELLAGIOS >> IT HAD A VIDEO SURVEILLANCE 468 00:26:39,833 --> 00:26:44,704 T HIM BACK CAMERA INSIDE, BEHIND THE COUNTER, THAT FACED THE WINDOWS. 469 00:26:44,704 --> 00:26:47,707 T HIM BACK >> Reporter: DETECTIVES LOOKED AT THE STORE'S VIDEO STARTING 470 00:26:47,707 --> 00:26:51,111 T HIM BACK ABOUT 10 MINUTES BEFORE CHEF DAN BROPHY ARRIVED AT OCI THAT 471 00:26:51,111 --> 00:26:56,950 T HIM BACK MORNING AT 7:20. >> WATCHING IT, AND I SEE THIS 472 00:26:56,950 --> 00:26:58,651 T HIM BACK VAN DRIVE BY AND I'M, LIKE, GOING, "WAIT A 473 00:26:58,651 --> 00:27:03,757 T HIM BACK SECOND THAT LOOKS JUST LIKE HER VAN." 474 00:27:03,757 --> 00:27:06,359 T HIM BACK >> Reporter: HERS MEANING THAT GRAY TOYOTA VAN OWNED BY 475 00:27:06,359 --> 00:27:09,496 T HIM BACK NANCY BROPHY >> I SAID, "YEAH, IT LOOKS JUST 476 00:27:09,496 --> 00:27:11,798 T HIM BACK LIKE IT. AND WE WERE LIKE, "OKAY, THERE'S 477 00:27:11,798 --> 00:27:13,600 T HIM BACK SOMETHING PROBABLY WRONG." >> Reporter: PORTLAND'S A BIG 478 00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:15,368 T HIM BACK CITY THERE'S PROBABLY A LOT OF GRAY 479 00:27:15,368 --> 00:27:17,404 T HIM BACK TOYOTA MINIVANS IN THERE >> EXACTLY 480 00:27:17,404 --> 00:27:20,240 T HIM BACK >> LET'S DOUBLE-CHECK THIS BECAUSE THIS DOESN'T ADD UP. 481 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:23,543 T HIM BACK >> Reporter: BECAUSE HERE'S HER VAN AT THE CRIME SCENE AT A TIME 482 00:27:23,543 --> 00:27:26,379 T HIM BACK WHEN SHE SHOULDN'T BE THERE, AND SHE TOLD YOU SHE WAS AT HOME 483 00:27:26,379 --> 00:27:30,316 T HIM BACK >> CORRECT >> Reporter: SO TO MAKE SURE IT 484 00:27:30,316 --> 00:27:33,153 T HIM BACK WAS THE SAME VAN, THE DETECTIVES ASKED THOSE INVESTIGATORS WHO'D 485 00:27:33,153 --> 00:27:38,458 T HIM BACK TAKEN NANCY HOME TO SNAP SOME PICTURES OF THE VAN. 486 00:27:38,458 --> 00:27:42,562 T HIM BACK AND NANCY'S VAN AND THE VAN ON THE SURVEILLANCE TAPE EACH HAD A 487 00:27:42,562 --> 00:27:45,865 T HIM BACK VISIBLE SCRATCH BELOW THE GAS CAP. 488 00:27:45,865 --> 00:27:47,767 T HIM BACK IN THE DETECTIVE BUSINESS, THAT'S WHAT YOU GUYS CALL A 489 00:27:47,767 --> 00:27:49,969 T HIM BACK CLUE >> ABSOLUTELY. 490 00:27:49,969 --> 00:27:52,906 T HIM BACK >> Reporter: DETECTIVES IMMEDIATELY BEGAN LOOKING FOR 491 00:27:52,906 --> 00:27:55,075 T HIM BACK MORE SECURITY FOOTAGE FROM THE AREA 492 00:27:55,075 --> 00:27:59,446 T HIM BACK AND THEY FOUND PLENTY, ALL OF IT PROVIDING A CLEARER PICTURE OF 493 00:27:59,446 --> 00:28:05,085 T HIM BACK THE TIMELINE ON THE MORNING OF DAN'S MURDER 494 00:28:05,085 --> 00:28:11,024 T HIM BACK AT 6:39 A.M., A FULL 41 MINUTES BEFORE DAN BROPHY ARRIVED AT 495 00:28:11,024 --> 00:28:15,228 T HIM BACK OCI, THERE IS NANCY'S GRAY VAN >> AND I THINK SHE LEFT HER 496 00:28:15,228 --> 00:28:17,664 T HIM BACK HOUSE ABOUT 6:30, I THINK TRYING TO FIND A VANTAGE POINT WHERE 497 00:28:17,664 --> 00:28:20,266 T HIM BACK SHE COULD SEE DAN COMING IN THAT MORNING. 498 00:28:20,266 --> 00:28:23,737 T HIM BACK >> Reporter: AT 7:08 A.M., THERE'S NANCY'S GRAY VAN DRIVING 499 00:28:23,737 --> 00:28:28,508 T HIM BACK BY THAT PIZZA PLACE ACROSS THE STREET FROM OCI. 500 00:28:28,508 --> 00:28:32,245 T HIM BACK THEN, AT 7:20, DAN BROPHY DROVE BY IN HIS WHITE PICKUP AND 501 00:28:32,245 --> 00:28:35,048 T HIM BACK PARKED AT THE CURB NEXT TO THE SCHOOL 502 00:28:35,048 --> 00:28:42,355 T HIM BACK AND WE ALREADY KNOW THAT TWO MINUTES LATER AT 7:22, DAN 503 00:28:42,355 --> 00:28:44,057 T HIM BACK ENTERED OCI AND DISABLED THE ALARM ON THE WALL. 504 00:28:44,057 --> 00:28:46,526 T HIM BACK >> HE PROBABLY WENT IN AND OUT OF THE BUILDING A COUPLE OF 505 00:28:46,526 --> 00:28:48,661 T HIM BACK TIMES. AND SO I THINK SHE PROBABLY 506 00:28:48,661 --> 00:28:52,399 T HIM BACK WAITED AND THEN SHE WALKED UP RIGHT 507 00:28:52,399 --> 00:28:56,069 T HIM BACK BEHIND HIM AND SHOT HIM THROUGH THE BACK FIRST 508 00:28:56,069 --> 00:28:58,605 T HIM BACK HE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DEAD YET SO SHE HAD TO TAKE THAT SECOND 509 00:28:58,605 --> 00:29:00,707 T HIM BACK SHOT AND THEN I THINK SHE VERY 510 00:29:00,707 --> 00:29:03,143 T HIM BACK CASUALLY WALKED OUT OF THE BUILDING, GOT IN HER VAN, AND 511 00:29:03,143 --> 00:29:09,015 T HIM BACK WENT HOME. >> Reporter: AND ON THE ROUTE 512 00:29:09,015 --> 00:29:12,085 T HIM BACK BACK TO THE COUPLE'S HOME, NANCY'S VAN IS AGAIN CAUGHT ON 513 00:29:12,085 --> 00:29:15,355 T HIM BACK CAMERA JUST BEFORE 7:29 A.M. YOU KNOW THIS IS SOMEWHERE IN A 514 00:29:15,355 --> 00:29:18,158 T HIM BACK SEVEN-MINUTE WINDOW? >> PROBABLY -- 515 00:29:18,158 --> 00:29:22,095 T HIM BACK >> Reporter: 7:22 TO 7:29? >> PROBABLY ABOUT A 5 1/2 TO 516 00:29:22,095 --> 00:29:23,730 T HIM BACK 6 MINUTE WINDOW. VERY TIGHT 517 00:29:23,730 --> 00:29:27,133 T HIM BACK VERY TIGHT FRAME >> SHE HAD TO HAVE FIGURED THERE 518 00:29:27,133 --> 00:29:29,836 T HIM BACK WERE GOING TO BE SOME CAMERAS IN THE AREA 519 00:29:29,836 --> 00:29:32,739 T HIM BACK SHE EITHER MISCALCULATED OR SHE THOUGHT WE JUST WOULDN'T BE 520 00:29:32,739 --> 00:29:36,843 T HIM BACK LOOKING FOR IT >> Reporter: PROSECUTORS ARGUED 521 00:29:36,843 --> 00:29:40,814 T HIM BACK NANCY HAD MEANS AND OPPORTUNITY TO KILL DAN. 522 00:29:40,814 --> 00:29:44,818 T HIM BACK SO THEN WHAT ABOUT MOTIVE? WHY WOULD NANCY BROPHY KILL THE 523 00:29:44,818 --> 00:29:49,055 T HIM BACK MAN EVERYONE SAID SHE LOVED AND ADORED 524 00:29:49,055 --> 00:29:52,659 T HIM BACK WELL, THEY SAID MAYBE THE OLDEST MOTIVE IN THE BOOK 525 00:29:52,659 --> 00:29:57,063 T HIM BACK THEY'D HAD MONEY TROUBLES. REMEMBER, NANCY SOLD LIFE 526 00:29:57,063 --> 00:29:59,532 T HIM BACK INSURANCE AND KNEW THAT BUSINESS 527 00:29:59,532 --> 00:30:03,203 T HIM BACK IT TURNED OUT THAT AFTER DAN'S DEATH, PROSECUTORS REVEALED 528 00:30:03,203 --> 00:30:08,341 T HIM BACK NANCY HAD PUT IN CLAIMS ON MULTIPLE POLICIES THAT WOULD PAY 529 00:30:08,341 --> 00:30:13,513 T HIM BACK OUT IF DAN DIED -- A LITTLE MORE THAN $800,000. 530 00:30:13,513 --> 00:30:17,584 T HIM BACK THE STATE THEORIZED THIS WASN'T AS MUCH ABOUT THE MONEY AS WHAT 531 00:30:17,584 --> 00:30:22,589 T HIM BACK IT COULD BUY >> YOU KNOW, NANCY WANTED MORE 532 00:30:22,589 --> 00:30:26,426 T HIM BACK NANCY WANTED A LIFESTYLE THAT DAN COULDN'T GIVE HER. 533 00:30:26,426 --> 00:30:31,631 T HIM BACK AND SO I THINK THAT SHE THOUGHT, "IF I COULD DO THIS, I'LL GET 534 00:30:31,631 --> 00:30:35,535 T HIM BACK ENOUGH MONEY THAT WILL ALLOW ME TO CHANGE THAT LIFESTYLE 535 00:30:35,535 --> 00:30:37,804 T HIM BACK AND BECAUSE DAN DOESN'T WANNA GO ON THAT RIDE WITH ME, HE DOESN'T 536 00:30:37,804 --> 00:30:40,206 T HIM BACK NEED TO BE THERE." >> Reporter: "AND HE'S KIND OF A 537 00:30:40,206 --> 00:30:42,075 T HIM BACK CURMUDGEON, SO I'LL BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT HIM" 538 00:30:42,075 --> 00:30:44,678 T HIM BACK >> WE NEVER THOUGHT THAT SHE DIDN'T LOVE HIM. 539 00:30:44,678 --> 00:30:46,646 T HIM BACK I THINK SHE PROBABLY HOPED THINGS HAD WORKED OUT 540 00:30:46,646 --> 00:30:49,082 T HIM BACK DIFFERENTLY. BUT WHEN THEY DIDN'T, HE WAS A 541 00:30:49,082 --> 00:30:53,520 T HIM BACK PROBLEM FOR HER. >> Reporter: AFTER 11 DAYS AND 542 00:30:53,520 --> 00:30:56,723 T HIM BACK 47 PROSECUTION WITNESSES, NANCY BROPHY'S DEFENSE WOULD 543 00:30:56,723 --> 00:31:00,460 T HIM BACK HAVE ITS TURN. HER ATTORNEYS HAD SAID IN THEIR 544 00:31:00,460 --> 00:31:03,063 T HIM BACK OPENING THAT PROSECUTORS HAD IT WRONG. 545 00:31:03,063 --> 00:31:07,067 T HIM BACK DEAD WRONG >> NANCY CRAMPTON-BROPHY HAS 546 00:31:07,067 --> 00:31:10,804 T HIM BACK ALWAYS BEEN THOROUGHLY, MADLY, CRAZY IN LOVE WITH 547 00:31:10,804 --> 00:31:13,073 T HIM BACK DANIEL BROPHY, AND SHE STILL IS TODAY. 548 00:31:13,073 --> 00:31:16,209 T HIM BACK >> Reporter: WHEN NANCY BROPHY'S DEFENSE TEAM BEGAN OFFERING ITS 549 00:31:16,209 --> 00:31:19,646 T HIM BACK THEORY OF THE CASE, THE STRATEGY WAS ONE YOU'VE HEARD ON 550 00:31:19,646 --> 00:31:26,086 T HIM BACK "DATELINE" BEFORE. IT'S THE SODDI DEFENSE 551 00:31:26,086 --> 00:31:32,359 T HIM BACK "SOME OTHER DUDE DID IT. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE 552 00:31:32,359 --> 00:31:35,729 T HIM BACK TO SUPPORT IT, THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE SUSPECT THE DEFENSE 553 00:31:35,729 --> 00:31:39,099 T HIM BACK OFFERED WAS A HOMELESS MAN PICKING UP CANS AROUND OCI THE 554 00:31:39,099 --> 00:31:42,569 T HIM BACK MORNING OF THE MURDER, THE DEFENSE SAYING HE MIGHT HAVE 555 00:31:42,569 --> 00:31:45,939 T HIM BACK BEEN THE KILLER. THEY DISMISSED MONEY AS A 556 00:31:45,939 --> 00:31:49,109 T HIM BACK POSSIBLE MOTIVE. >> THEY HAD ABSOLUTELY TURNED 557 00:31:49,109 --> 00:31:52,479 T HIM BACK AROUND THEIR FINANCIAL HEALTH. >> Reporter: THE DEFENSE 558 00:31:52,479 --> 00:31:56,383 T HIM BACK ADMITTED THE BROPHYS HAD SOME FINANCIAL PROBLEMS IN THE PAST 559 00:31:56,383 --> 00:31:59,586 T HIM BACK NOW FINANCIAL EXPERTS TESTIFIED DAN AND NANCY WERE WELL ON THEIR 560 00:31:59,586 --> 00:32:03,757 T HIM BACK WAY TO STRAIGHTENING THOSE OUT BY PAYING OFF DEBTS AND MAKING 561 00:32:03,757 --> 00:32:10,063 T HIM BACK PLANS TO SELL THEIR HOME AND AS FOR THE SUGGESTION THAT 562 00:32:10,063 --> 00:32:12,966 T HIM BACK NANCY HAD FAR MORE LIFE INSURANCE ON DAN THAN WAS NEEDED 563 00:32:12,966 --> 00:32:15,969 T HIM BACK OR NORMAL? THE DEFENSE SAID THAT WAS 564 00:32:15,969 --> 00:32:20,573 T HIM BACK HOGWASH. >> I'D SAY HE WAS ADEQUATELY 565 00:32:20,573 --> 00:32:25,612 T HIM BACK INSURED, NOT UNDER INSURED AND NOT OVER INSURED 566 00:32:25,612 --> 00:32:32,318 T HIM BACK >> Reporter: ALL THIS WAS A PRELUDE TO THE MAIN EVENT, AN 567 00:32:32,318 --> 00:32:34,654 T HIM BACK HORS D'OEUVRE, ON DAY 20 OF THE TRIAL, WHEN NANCY BROPHY BROKE 568 00:32:34,654 --> 00:32:37,090 T HIM BACK HER SILENCE ON THE WITNESS STAND. 569 00:32:37,090 --> 00:32:42,562 T HIM BACK FROM THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE 570 00:32:42,562 --> 00:32:46,833 T HIM BACK >>> COMING UP -- >> I DID NOT SHOOT MY HUSBAND, 571 00:32:46,833 --> 00:32:50,570 T HIM BACK AND I DON'T KNOW EVEN HOW TO DEFEND MYSELF. 572 00:32:50,570 --> 00:32:53,940 T HIM BACK >> NANCY'S STORY FROM THE STAND. >> YOU'VE CONSTRUCTED A CASE, 573 00:32:53,940 --> 00:32:56,609 T HIM BACK BUT I THINK YOUR CASE IS HELD TOGETHER WITH REAL -- FRANKLY, 574 00:32:56,609 --> 00:32:59,612 T HIM BACK BAND-AIDS. >> A JURY IS ABOUT TO WRITE THE 575 00:32:59,612 --> 00:33:02,782 T HIM BACK >> A JURY IS ABOUT TO WRITE THE FINAL CHAPTER. 576 00:33:36,516 --> 00:33:39,652 HIM NOW? >> IT'S LIKE YOU'VE LOST AN ARM, 577 00:33:39,652 --> 00:33:43,656 YOU KNOW LIKE, YOU'RE JUST NOT AS GOOD AS 578 00:33:43,656 --> 00:33:48,194 YOU WERE WHEN YOU WERE WITH HIM. >> Reporter: SO IF NANCY HADN'T 579 00:33:48,194 --> 00:33:52,132 KILLED DAN, WHY HAD SHE PURCHASED THAT GHOST GUN KIT AND 580 00:33:52,132 --> 00:33:55,902 THE GLOCK 17 MONTHS BEFORE THE MURDER 581 00:33:55,902 --> 00:34:01,107 WELL, SAID THE ROMANTIC SUSPENSE WRITER, IT ALL STARTED WITH A 582 00:34:01,107 --> 00:34:02,909 STORY. >> I READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT A GUY 583 00:34:02,909 --> 00:34:08,515 IN CALIFORNIA WHO BOUGHT A GUN ONLINE, PUT IT TOGETHER, AND 584 00:34:08,515 --> 00:34:12,419 KILLED HIS FAMILY. I'M SITTING THERE THINKING, "YOU 585 00:34:12,419 --> 00:34:15,455 KNOW, WHAT IF IT WAS A WOMAN WHO WAS AFRAID?" 586 00:34:15,455 --> 00:34:18,258 AND SO ONCE I KINDA FLIPPED THE STORY IN MY MIND, I STARTED 587 00:34:18,258 --> 00:34:23,563 BUILDING IT. >> Reporter: THAT'S WHY, SHE 588 00:34:23,563 --> 00:34:27,434 TESTIFIED, SHE VISITED THE GHOST GUN WEBSITE AND BOUGHT A KIT -- 589 00:34:27,434 --> 00:34:40,914 TO RESEARCH A NEW NOVEL. THEN SIX WEEKS LATER IN FEBRUARY 590 00:34:40,914 --> 00:34:46,219 2018, A MASS SHOOTING TOOK THE LIVES OF 17 STUDENT AND FACULTY 591 00:34:46,219 --> 00:34:47,454 AT A FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOL AND NANCY SAID THAT ONCE AGAIN 592 00:34:47,454 --> 00:34:49,756 BROUGHT GUNS TO THE FOREFRONT OF HER MIND 593 00:34:49,756 --> 00:34:51,691 AFTER ALL, DAN TAUGHT AT A SCHOOL 594 00:34:51,691 --> 00:34:55,295 >> I SAID, "DAN, IT'S TIME." AND HE SAID OKAY 595 00:34:55,295 --> 00:34:58,498 >> Reporter: IN OTHER WORDS, NANCY TESTIFIED, IT WAS THEIR 596 00:34:58,498 --> 00:35:01,768 IDEA, NOT JUST HERS. DAN BROPHY, SHE SAID, SIGNED OFF 597 00:35:01,768 --> 00:35:04,804 ON GETTING THE GLOCK FOR PROTECTION 598 00:35:04,804 --> 00:35:08,641 NANCY, THOUGH, SAID SHE WENT ON eBAY AND BOUGHT THAT EXTRA SLIDE 599 00:35:08,641 --> 00:35:11,945 AND BARREL THAT POLICE BELIEVE WAS USED IN THE MURDER AS SHE 600 00:35:11,945 --> 00:35:14,848 GOT BACK TO RESEARCHING THAT NEW NOVEL. 601 00:35:14,848 --> 00:35:17,484 WHERE WAS THE SLIDE AND BARREL NOW? 602 00:35:17,484 --> 00:35:22,389 "WHO KNOWS," WAS HER ANSWER. AS FOR JUNE 2nd, THE DAY DAN WAS 603 00:35:22,389 --> 00:35:25,792 MURDERED, NANCY SAID SHE REMEMBERS WAKING UP AND TALKING 604 00:35:25,792 --> 00:35:29,696 BRIEFLY WITH DAN AND THEN 605 00:35:29,696 --> 00:35:33,333 >> DO YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING ELSE FROM THAT MORNING? 606 00:35:33,333 --> 00:35:36,803 >> NO. NO 607 00:35:36,803 --> 00:35:39,606 THE NEXT THING I REMEMBER FROM THAT MORNING IS THE PHONE 608 00:35:39,606 --> 00:35:42,909 RINGING. >> Reporter: YOU HEARD RIGHT 609 00:35:42,909 --> 00:35:46,813 NANCY TESTIFIED SHE HAS NO RECOLLECTION OF THE TIME FROM 610 00:35:46,813 --> 00:35:51,918 SOMEWHERE AROUND 7:00 A.M. UNTIL THAT PHONE CALL AROUND 10 A.M. 611 00:35:51,918 --> 00:35:56,990 STRESS INDUCED TRAUMATIC MEMORY LOSS, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT 612 00:35:56,990 --> 00:36:00,694 BECAUSE WHEN POLICE LATER TOLD NANCY THEY HAD VIDEOS OF HER 613 00:36:00,694 --> 00:36:09,369 DRIVING HER GREY VAN AROUND OCI THE MORNING DAN WAS KILLED 614 00:36:09,369 --> 00:36:10,370 >> I THOUGHT THEY ARE MAKING THIS UP. 615 00:36:10,370 --> 00:36:12,405 THIS ISN'T TRUE. >> Reporter: NANCY BROPHY 616 00:36:12,405 --> 00:36:14,040 TESTIFIED THAT SHE NOW BELIEVES THAT DURING THE MISSING PERIODS 617 00:36:14,040 --> 00:36:18,078 OF MEMORY, SHE DROVE TO STARBUCKS AND THEN DISAPPEARED 618 00:36:18,078 --> 00:36:22,649 INTO A WORLD OF HER OWN MAKING, THE WORLD OF A WRITER SKETCHING 619 00:36:22,649 --> 00:36:27,854 OUT A STORY IN HER HEAD, DRIVING AROUND AIMLESSLY UNTIL, JUST BY 620 00:36:27,854 --> 00:36:30,724 COINCIDENCE, SHE DROVE RIGHT BY OCI RIGHT AROUND THE TIME OF THE 621 00:36:30,724 --> 00:36:35,762 MURDER STRANGELY, THE ONLY TIME NANCY'S 622 00:36:35,762 --> 00:36:42,235 VAN WASN'T ON CAMERA WAS BETWEEN 7:22 AND 7:28, THE EXACT WINDOW 623 00:36:42,235 --> 00:36:47,741 OF TIME TIME IN WHICH POLICE BELIEVE DAN BROPHY WAS MURDERED. 624 00:36:47,741 --> 00:36:51,811 AS CROSS-EXAMINATION BEGAN, THAT COINCIDENCE OF NANCY HAVING NO 625 00:36:51,811 --> 00:36:56,916 MEMORY OF THE VERY TIME PERIOD THE MURDER OCCURRED WENT OVER 626 00:36:56,916 --> 00:37:01,187 LIKE SWEET'N LOW IN CHEF BROPHY'S ORGANIC KITCHEN 627 00:37:01,187 --> 00:37:03,656 >> ISN'T IT POSSIBLE, WITH YOUR MEMORY PROBLEMS IN THE MORNING, 628 00:37:03,656 --> 00:37:07,293 THAT YOU ACTUALLY WENT INTO THE BUILDING AND SHOT YOUR HUSBAND 629 00:37:07,293 --> 00:37:10,530 AND YOU JUST DON'T REMEMBER IT >> NO, IT IS NOT 630 00:37:10,530 --> 00:37:14,334 I DID NOT SHOOT MY HUSBAND, AND I DON'T KNOW EVEN HOW TO DEFEND 631 00:37:14,334 --> 00:37:18,872 MYSELF AGAINST THE TRUTH >> YOU WERE THERE IN THE AREA AT 632 00:37:18,872 --> 00:37:23,176 THE SAME TIME THAT SOMEONE HAPPENS TO BE SHOOTING YOUR 633 00:37:23,176 --> 00:37:26,913 HUSBAND, WITHIN A SIX MINUTE WINDOW, WITH THE EXACT TYPE OF 634 00:37:26,913 --> 00:37:29,949 GUN THAT YOU OWN >> THAT'S YOUR VERSION OF WHAT 635 00:37:29,949 --> 00:37:34,254 HAPPENED THAT IS NOT MY VERSION 636 00:37:34,254 --> 00:37:36,222 THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE MANAGED TO CONSTRUCT A CASE AGAINST ME 637 00:37:36,222 --> 00:37:40,593 OUT OF THAT -- YOU'VE CONSTRUCTED A CASE, BUT I 638 00:37:40,593 --> 00:37:44,264 THINK YOUR CASE IS HELD TOGETHER WITH REAL -- FRANKLY, BAND-AIDS. 639 00:37:44,264 --> 00:37:48,101 >> Reporter: AND THEN? ALTHOUGH THE JUDGE HAD NOT 640 00:37:48,101 --> 00:37:52,405 ALLOWED THE BLOG POST "HOW TO MURDER YOUR HUSBAND" TO BE USED, 641 00:37:52,405 --> 00:37:55,408 PROSECUTOR OVERSTREET COULD USE THE INFORMATION IN IT AS THE 642 00:37:55,408 --> 00:37:58,745 BASIS FOR HIS QUESTIONS. >> DO YOU AGREE THAT DIVORCE IS 643 00:37:58,745 --> 00:38:01,581 EXPENSIVE? >> DIVORCE IS EXPENSIVE. 644 00:38:01,581 --> 00:38:04,384 I DON'T THINK THAT IS A MYSTERY TO ANYBODY HERE. 645 00:38:04,384 --> 00:38:07,020 >> YOU ACTUALLY FIND IT EASIER TO WISH PEOPLE DEAD INSTEAD OF 646 00:38:07,020 --> 00:38:08,788 ACTUALLY KILLING THEM. CORRECT? 647 00:38:08,788 --> 00:38:12,025 >> OH, YEAH. >> MY LAST QUESTION TO YOU, 648 00:38:12,025 --> 00:38:16,496 MS. BROPHY, IS IF THERE'S ONE THING THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT 649 00:38:16,496 --> 00:38:20,934 MURDER, IS IT THAT ANYONE IS CAPABLE OF DOING IT? 650 00:38:20,934 --> 00:38:24,504 >> I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT I THINK PEOPLE GET PUSHED INTO A 651 00:38:24,504 --> 00:38:26,606 CORNER WHERE THEY HAVE NO OTHER OPTIONS. 652 00:38:26,606 --> 00:38:29,809 GOING BACK TO MY CASE, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH FINANCIAL REASONS 653 00:38:29,809 --> 00:38:32,112 THERE TO MAKE IT I DO BETTER WITH DAN ALIVE 654 00:38:32,112 --> 00:38:44,257 FINANCIALLY THAN I DO WITH DAN DEAD 655 00:38:44,257 --> 00:38:46,059 WE HAD SOLVED OUR PROBLEM! >> SHE WENT ON AND ON AND ON 656 00:38:46,059 --> 00:38:48,061 ABOUT WHY PEOPLE COMMIT MURDER AND I THOUGHT THAT, "WELL, 657 00:38:48,061 --> 00:38:50,063 THAT'S ALL THE JURY NEEDS TO HEAR FROM HER. 658 00:38:50,063 --> 00:38:52,098 >> Reporter: YOU GUYS FEEL CONFIDENT AS THE JURY GOES OUT 659 00:38:52,098 --> 00:38:54,067 >> I THINK WE FELT LIKE WE DID THE BEST JOB THAT WE COULD DO. 660 00:38:54,067 --> 00:38:56,069 >> IF WE CAN HAVE MRS. BROPHY RISE 661 00:38:56,069 --> 00:38:57,737 >> Reporter: AFTER JUST EIGHT HOURS OF DELIBERATION, THE JURY 662 00:38:57,737 --> 00:38:59,873 WAS BACK >> COUNT ONE, MURDER IN THE 663 00:38:59,873 --> 00:39:05,412 SECOND DEGREE, GUILTY >> Reporter: WHEN SHE'S 664 00:39:05,412 --> 00:39:08,615 SENTENCED THIS COMING MONDAY, NANCY BROPHY FACES A MANDATORY 665 00:39:08,615 --> 00:39:13,620 TERM OF LIFE IN PRISON SHE'LL BE ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE AT 666 00:39:13,620 --> 00:39:21,361 AGE 92 HER BEST FRIEND TANIA WHO ONCE 667 00:39:21,361 --> 00:39:24,898 STUCK BY NANCY NOW BELIEVES PRISON IS NOT PUNISHMENT ENOUGH. 668 00:39:24,898 --> 00:39:26,466 >> I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN AN EYE FOR AN EYE 669 00:39:26,466 --> 00:39:29,803 I KNOW THAT SOUNDS CRUEL BUT I -- I -- IF THAT WAS -- IF 670 00:39:29,803 --> 00:39:31,771 THAT WAS MY MOTHER OR FATHER, I'D -- I'D WANT -- I'D WANT 671 00:39:31,771 --> 00:39:34,874 JUSTICE. I WOULD DEMAND IT. 672 00:39:34,874 --> 00:39:37,677 >> IT HAS DEFINITELY BROUGHT SOME MODICUM OF CLOSURE. 673 00:39:37,677 --> 00:39:43,717 THERE WAS CERTAINLY A TIME WHERE WE WERE CONCERNED IF SHE WAS 674 00:39:43,717 --> 00:39:46,920 ACQUITTED THAT THERE WOULD BE A VERY REAL THREAT TO THE SAFETY 675 00:39:46,920 --> 00:39:53,526 OF OUR FAMILY. THAT RELIEF IS PRICELESS 676 00:39:53,526 --> 00:39:56,963 >> Reporter: FOR DAN'S SON NATHANIEL, IT'S FINALLY TIME TO 677 00:39:56,963 --> 00:40:01,201 SEND THE ASHES OF HIS FATHER, THE ORGANIC FARMER, BACK TO THE 678 00:40:01,201 --> 00:40:05,872 TO THE PLACE HE LOVED. >> I PLAN TO TAKE MY CHILDREN IN 679 00:40:05,872 --> 00:40:08,608 THE FALL TO GO MUSHROOM FORAGING 680 00:40:08,608 --> 00:40:12,078 AND WE'RE GONNA FIND A LITTLE BED OF CHANTERELLE MUSHROOMS 681 00:40:12,078 --> 00:40:14,114 GROWING SOMEWHERE AND -- AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE PERFECT 682 00:40:14,114 --> 00:40:16,449 SPOT IT SEEMS LIKE A FITTING PLACE TO 683 00:40:16,449 --> 00:40:23,156 RETURN HIM >>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION 684 00:40:23,156 --> 00:40:26,426 OF "DATELINE." WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY 685 00:40:26,426 --> 00:40:29,229 AT 10:00, 9:00 CENTRAL AND, OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU 686 00:40:29,229 --> 00:40:31,164 EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS." 687 00:40:31,164 --> 00:40:34,768 I'M LESTER HOLT. FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS, GOOD 688 00:40:34,768 --> 00:40:35,935 FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS, GOOD NIGHT.