>>> I'M LESTER HOLT.
TONIGHT ON "DATELINE" -- SHE WROTE AN ESSAY CALLED "HOW
TO MURDER YOUR HUSBAND." THE QUESTION -- DID SHE?
INSIDE THE CASE THAT MADE HEADLINES.
>> HOW MANY YEARS WERE YOU TOGETHER
>> 24 YEARS. IT'S LIKE YOU'VE LOST AN ARM,
YOU KNOW IT'S LIKE YOU'RE JUST NOT AS
GOOD AS YOU WERE WHEN YOU WERE WITH HIM
>> CHEF DANIEL BROPHY WAS SHOT TO DEATH
>> WE BELIEVE THE SUSPECT SNUCK UP AND BASICALLY ASSASSINATED
HIM. >> Reporter: SO HE NEVER SAW IT
COMING >> NO.
>> I LOST A FRIEND, AND A GOOD FRIEND
I WANT THEM TO FIND THE PERSON THAT DID THIS!
>> MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS MAYBE IT WAS A STUDENT WHO DAN DIDN'T RUB
THE RIGHT WAY. >> WHO KNOWS IF SOMEBODY WAS IN
THE BUILDING WHO KNOWS IF SOMEBODY FOLLOWED
HIM IN >> NANCY BROPHY, CHEF BROPHY'S
WIFE -- SHE'S A WRITER >> SHE HAD THIS LIFE WHERE SHE
WAS A NOVELIST AND THEN IT KIND OF ALL CAME
TOGETHER >> Reporter: "HOW TO MURDER YOUR
HUSBAND. THAT CERTAINLY GOT A LOT OF
ATTENTION. >> READING IT AND GOING, "OH, MY
GOSH, SHE KIND OF FOLLOWED HER OWN PLAN."
>> I DON'T THINK SHE DID IT. >> Reporter: NANCY'S NOT CAPABLE
OF PLANNING AND COMMITTING A MURDER
>> ARE YOU KIDDING ME? NO
>> I DID NOT SHOOT MY HUSBAND, AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO
DEFEND MYSELF. >> THE NIGHTMARE'S JUST NOW
BEGINNING. >> HERE'S JOSH MANKIEWICZ WITH
"MURDER IN KITCHEN ONE." >> Reporter: PORTLAND, OREGON.
JUNE 2nd, 2018 >> 911
>> HI, WE ARE AT OREGON CULINARY INSTITUTE.
>> Reporter: A SHOOTING. A MAN DOWN
>> HE'S AN OLDER MAN >> ALL RIGHT
IS HE CONSCIOUS RIGHT NOW? >> NO, HE'S NOT CONSCIOUS.
>> Reporter: 8:24 A.M. ON A SATURDAY
A BUILDING THAT'S VIRTUALLY EMPTY AT THIS HOUR
>> THE BUILDING IS ON LOCKDOWN AND THE SURROUNDING AREA -
>> Reporter: A KILLER IS ON THE LOOSE.
>> THEY HAVE NOT LOCATED THE SUSPECT YET.
>> Reporter: BY THE TIME PORTLAND DETECTIVES
ANTHONY MERRILL AND DARREN POSEY ARRIVED AN HOUR LATER, UNIFORMED
OFFICERS HAD SECURED THE SCENE >> THE WHOLE AREA IS TAPED OFF
I NOTICED OUR CRIMINALISTS WERE VIDEOING THE WHOLE, ENTIRE
SCENE. >> I HAD HEARD OF THE OREGON
CULINARY INSTITUTE, BUT THAT WAS AS MUCH AS I KNEW AT THAT POINT.
>> Reporter: THE OREGON CULINARY INSTITUTE, KNOWN AS OCI.
ITS MOTTO -- "TRAINING KITCHEN PEOPLE."
IT WAS A SCHOOL AS WELL AS A RESTAURANT WHERE THE STUDENTS,
AS PART OF THE CURRICULUM, PREPARED AND SERVED THREE-COURSE
LUNCHES AND FOUR-COURSE DINNERS. DETECTIVES WALKED IN THROUGH A
STORAGE AREA, AND THEN INTO AN INSTRUCTIONAL ROOM KNOWN AS
KITCHEN ONE. >> HE WAS LYING ON HIS BACK
RIGHT IN FRONT OF THIS LARGE KITCHEN SINK
>> Reporter: NO SURPRISE THERE THE VICTIM WAS A CHEF AND
TEACHER. >> WE'RE GIVING FOUR DOZEN
OYSTERS TO EACH TEAM >> Reporter: CHEF DAN BROPHY WAS
ONE OF OCI'S O.G.s -- ORIGINAL GOURMETS
>> I HAVE BEEN TEACHING SINCE THE OREGON CULINARY INSTITUTE
OPENED >> Reporter: 12 YEARS AT OCI, A
CHEF FOR MORE THAN 4 DECADES, A COMMANDING PRESENCE AT THE
SCHOOL AND A WELL KNOWN FIGURE IN THE PORTLAND CULINARY SCENE,
DAN BROPHY WAS DEAD AT AGE 63. DETECTIVES SOON LEARNED CHEF
BROPHY HAD DRIVEN HIS WHITE PICKUP TO THE SCHOOL, PARKED,
AND THEN DISABLED THE BUILDING'S ALARM AT 7:22 A.M.
IT WAS ABOUT TEN MINUTES LATER WHEN A COLLEAGUE ARRIVED
SHE SOON FOUND CHEF BROPHY LYING ON THE FLOOR, AND A STUDENT MADE
THAT 911 CALL. COULD YOU TELL WHAT DAN BROPHY
WAS DOING WHEN HE WAS MURDERED >> YES
>> HE WAS AT THE SINK GETTING THE ICE WATER READY AND COFFEE
READY FOR THE STUDENTS WHO WERE GONNA BE COMING IN
>> Reporter: NOT FAR FROM THE BODY, DETECTIVES SAW THIS.
>> A LARGE ICE SCOOPER SO WE BELIEVE HE WAS UP THERE AT
THE SINK WHEN WHOEVER SHOT HIM CAME IN AND SHOT HIM IN THE BACK
FIRST. HE HAD ANOTHER GUNSHOT DIRECTLY
CENTER MASS TO HIS CHEST >> Reporter: HE'S SHOT
HE FALLS HE DROPS THE ICE SHOVEL.
AND THEN WHOEVER IT IS STANDS OVER HIM AND FINISHES THE JOB.
>> CORRECT >> SOMEBODY JUST WANTED TO
EXECUTE THIS PERSON. >> Reporter: NO GUN WAS PRESENT.
INVESTIGATORS DID FIND TWO 9 MILLIMETER SHELL CASINGS
WHEN THEY DON'T PICK UP THE BRASS, THAT SAY ANYTHING TO YOU?
>> THEY WANTED TO GET IN QUICK AND GET OUT QUICK.
IF THIS WAS A PROFESSIONAL HITMAN, THEN YEAH.
MAYBE THEY DO PICK UP THOSE CASINGS.
>> Reporter: AS DETECTIVES WENT ABOUT THEIR WORK, WORD WAS
BEGINNING TO SPREAD. STUDENTS SHOWING UP FOR CLASS
FOUND A MAN SHOT TO DEATH IN THE SCHOOL'S KITCHEN
BY MIDMORNING, CHEF BROPHY'S SON NATHANIEL WAS HEARING THE NEWS
>> MY WIFE AND I TOOK A PHONE CALL FROM MY GRANDMOTHER WHO
SAID THAT IT WAS MY FATHER THAT HAD BEEN -- BEEN KILLED.
>> Reporter: AND WHAT'D YOU THINK?
>> WE WERE IN SHOCK. IT WAS REALLY HARD TO WRAP OUR
MINDS AROUND WHAT COULD HAVE POSSIBLY HAPPENED.
>> Reporter: A COMMON REACTION, AS IT TURNED OUT
THIS IS VANESSA PAZ. SHE USED TO WORK WITH US HERE AT
"DATELINE," AND THEN WENT ON TO OCI AS A MARKETING AND
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST. SHE AND CHEF BROPHY WERE CLOSE
IN FACT, THESE VIDEOS YOU'RE SEEING OF CHEF BROPHY?
VANESSA WAS BEHIND THE CAMERA. >> I RECEIVED A TEXT MESSAGE
"DAN BROPHY IS DEAD. AND I REMEMBER I STOPPED, AND I
JUST STARTED CRYING. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
>> Reporter: ABOUT 2 HOURS AFTER THE 911 CALL, AT 10:28 A.M.,
DAN BROPHY'S WIFE NANCY HAD DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOME IN NEARBY
BEAVERTON TO OCI AND HAD BEEN USHERED INTO A COMMAND POST FOR
WHAT POLICE CALL A DEATH NOTIFICATION
>> DAN IS YOUR HUSBAND IS THAT CORRECT?
>> UH-HUH. >> Reporter: NANCY BROPHY TOLD
POLICE THAT, AS USUAL, THAT MORNING DAN HAD RISEN EARLY AND
LEFT FOR WORK AROUND 7:05 OR 7:10 WHILE SHE WAS STILL IN BED.
SEVEN MINUTES INTO THAT CONVERSATION, DETECTIVE POSEY
FINALLY BROKE THE BAD NEWS >> SO, UH, I JUST WANNA LET YOU
KNOW THAT WE BELIEVE -- IT'S DAN THAT'S-- THAT -- THAT'S BEEN
KILLED OKAY
>> I GOT THAT WHEN EVERYBODY GAVE ME THE SAD SACK LOOK.
>> ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT IS OH MY GOD
>> YEAH, TAKE ONE STEP AT A TIME
OKAY >> I KNOW.
I'M SORRY. >> JUST TAKE IT SLOW
AND -- AND THERE'S NOTHING -- THERE'S NOT A LOT OF THINGS YOU
CAN DO RIGHT NOW YOUR MIND'S GOING A MILLION
MILES PER HOUR AND YOU WANT IT --
>> IT IS HERE'S THE TERRIBLE THING.
EVEN IF YOU FIND WHO SHOT HIM, IT'S NOT GONNA BRING HIM BACK.
AND I WANT HIM BACK. THAT'S THE PART I WANT
I DON'T CARE ABOUT WHO SHOT HIM. I JUST WANT HIM BACK
I DON'T WANT HIM DEAD. >> Reporter: DETECTIVES SOON
SENT NANCY HOME TO GRIEVE. AND SHE CALLED HER BEST FRIEND
TANIA MEDLIN >> SHE SOUNDED LIKE SHE WAS IN
SHOCK. SHE COULDN'T FORM A WHOLE
SENTENCE >> Reporter: TANIA HAD BEEN A
FRIEND OF NANCY'S FOR 30 YEARS AND SHE'D KNOWN DAN WELL, TOO.
IN FACT, TO EARN A LITTLE EXTRA MONEY, DAN HAD BEEN MOONLIGHTING
COOKING FOR FELLOW CHEF TANIA AT AN ASSISTED LIVING HOME.
YOU SAW HIM THE NIGHT BEFORE HE DIED
WHAT WAS HE LIKE ON THAT LAST NIGHT?
>> HE WAS HIS SAME OLD SELF. HE WAS HAPPY
HE GAVE ME CRAP ABOUT THE MENU >> Reporter: YOU SAY "SAME OLD
DAN. WHICH IS WHAT?
>> LIKE, WHEN I FIRST MET HIM, I DIDN'T THINK HE LIKED ME
AND I WOULD ALWAYS GO TO NANCY AND ASK HIM, YOU KNOW, "WHAT THE
HECK IS HIS PROBLEM? LIKE, DOES HE NOT LIKE ME?
SHE'S LIKE, "NO, THAT'S JUST DAN.
>> Reporter: BUT YOU DIDN'T SENSE HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT
ANYTHING IN HIS LIFE >> NO, NO.
IT SUCKS 'CAUSE LIKE I SAID, HE WASN'T
JUST MY EMPLOYEE I LOST A FRIEND.
I WANT THEM TO FIND THE PERSON THAT DID THIS.
>> Reporter: SHE WAS NOT ALONE IN WANTING THAT.
>>> WHEN WE COME BACK -- INGREDIENTS FOR A MYSTERY.
>> I'M ALWAYS LOOKING TO LEARN NEW TECHNIQUES, NEW CUISINES
>> HE WAS VERY MUCH INTO TEACHING OTHERS.
>> Reporter: WHO'D WANT TO KILL DAN?
>> MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS MAYBE IT WAS A STUDENT WHO DAN DIDN'T RUB
THE RIGHT WAY. YOU KNOW
>> Reporter: IT WAS TRUE, FRIENDS SAID
DAN BROPHY, LIKE MANY CHEFS, COULD COME OFF A BIT CRUSTY.
AND MAYBE IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE WAY HE HAD BEEN
TRAINED. >> I PROBABLY WORKED FOR TEN
DIFFERENT EUROPEAN CHEFS THEY DON'T REALLY BELIEVE IN
HUMAN RIGHTS >> Reporter: CHEF BROPHY'S
CAREER BEGAN WASHING DISHES IN KANSAS CITY, WHICH LED TO A JOB
AS A GRAVEYARD SHIFT COOK IN A 24-HOUR RESTAURANT
LATER HE'D GONE TO CULINARY SCHOOL, AND THEN BEGUN TEACHING.
HIS MOM SAID HE'D ALWAYS HAD HIS NOSE IN A BOOK
AND THAT NEVER CHANGED >> I'M ALWAYS LOOKING TO LEARN
NEW INGREDIENTS, NEW TECHNIQUES, NEW CUISINES
>> HE WAS VERY MUCH INTO TEACHING OTHERS.
AND THE MORE HE SAW SOMEBODY FEED OFF OF WHAT THEY WERE
LEARNING, THE MORE HE WANTED TO TEACH.
>> Reporter: ONE WAY HE TAUGHT WAS BY TAKING FIELD TRIPS.
HE LOVED THE OREGON COAST, HAD A DEGREE IN MARINE BIOLOGY, AND
WAS A BON VIVANT OF THE BEACH. >> WE'RE TAKIN' A LOOK AT WHAT
WE MIGHT SEE THAT'S EDIBLE IN THE WOODS.
>> Reporter: CHEF BROPHY WAS ALSO AN EXPERT IN FORAGING FOR
AND COOKING EDIBLE MUSHROOMS >> WITH THE PORTABELLA, YOU MAY
NOT WANT - >> Reporter: AND HE WAS A
BEEKEEPER. >> SO WE CAN PULL THESE ASIDE
>> Reporter: A MASTER GARDENER AND AN ENTHUSIASTIC COMPOSTER.
>> OUR FIRST FIELD TRIP, HE GAVE ME THESE BAGS MADE OUT OF
COMPOST, RIGHT, FOR THE KIDS TO THROW TRASH IN
HE SAID, "HERE, DISPERSE THEM TO THE STUDENTS."
AND THEN I SAID, "OH." I SAID, "THESE FEEL REALLY
GOOD." AND HE GOES, "DO YOU WANT ME TO
LEAVE YOU ALONE WITH THEM? LIKE, THAT WAS -- AND THAT WAS
THE FIRST DAY I MET HIM. BUT THAT WAS HIS HUMOR
>> Reporter: THAT HUMOR CAME THROUGH IN WHAT CAME TO BE KNOWN
AS BROPHYISMS. >> "JOB WOULDN'T GO SO SLOW IF
YOU'D ONLY DID IT FASTER." >> "HOW DO YOU FIX A SICK
CHICKEN? WITH A SHOVEL.
"YOU CAN EAT ANY EXOTIC MUSHROOM ONCE."
>> Reporter: THE CHEF ALSO HAD A SOFTER SIDE, DONATING FOOD AND
HELPING HIS PARENTS FEED HUNDREDS OF MEALS A WEEK TO THE
HOMELESS AT A CHURCH NOT FAR FROM OCI
HIS PERSONAL LIFE WAS SIMPLE HIS MARRIAGE TO NANCY WAS HIS
SECOND IN THE EARLY '90s, NANCY, A
TEXAS NATIVE WITH A DEGREE IN ECONOMICS AND A DIVORCE ON HER
RESUME, ENDED UP AS BOTH A STUDENT AT A COOKING SCHOOL
WHERE DAN TAUGHT AND A ROOMMATE OF TANIA MEDLIN.
>> SHE COMES HOME AND SHE SAYS, "DID YOU HAVE DAN BROPHY?"
I SAID, "NO, HE CAME AFTER I LEFT."
SHE GOES, "WELL, WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HIM?"
I SAID, "HE'S MARRIED. SHE GOES, "WELL, YEAH, THAT'S
NOT GONNA LAST." AND I SAID, "DON'T BE DIPPIN'
YOUR CANDLE IN SOMEBODY ELSE'S WAX.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN "BE CAREFUL THERE.
AND SHE WAS LIKE, "NO, NO, NO, NO
HE'S GOTTA HANDLE HIS BUSINESS." SHE GRADUATED SCHOOL
SHE OPENED UP A CATERING COMPANY.
AND THEN, NEXT THING I KNOW, WE GOT A WEDDING INVITATION
>> Reporter: DAN'S SON NATHANIEL WOULD SOON GO TO WORK FOR
NANCY'S CATERING COMPANY WHEN YOUR DAD FINALLY INTRODUCED
YOU TO NANCY, WAS THAT A MOMENT OF SOME TENSION OR NERVOUSNESS
>> I MEAN, I ASSUMED THAT, YOU KNOW, IF HE'D BROUGHT HER INTO
HIS LIFE, THEN HE WAS -- SHE WAS SOMEONE THAT WAS GONNA BE A GOOD
MATCH FOR HIM. >> Reporter: EVERYONE SAID IT
WAS OBVIOUS NANCY AND DAN LOVED ONE ANOTHER, EVEN IF DAN DID
HAVE A RATHER ODD PET NAME FOR HIS WIFE
>> ANYTIME SOMEONE WAS LIKE, "HEY, DAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF,
YOU KNOW, MAKING IT ON THIS TRIP," HIS RESPONSE WOULD BE,
"OH, I HAVE TO ASK MANAGEMENT," OR, "LET ME CHECK WITH
MANAGEMENT." >> Reporter: SHE WAS IN CHARGE
>> SHE WAS IN CHARGE >> Reporter: NANCY EVENTUALLY
SOLD THE CATERING COMPANY WHEN SHE COULD NO LONGER DO ALL THE
PHYSICAL WORK REQUIRED SHE BEGAN SELLING INSURANCE.
HER REAL PASSION, IT TURNED OUT, WAS WRITING.
SPECIFICALLY MYSTERIES AND ROMANCE NOVELS
BODICE RIPPERS WITH NAMES LIKE "HELL ON THE HEART."
SHE'D WRITTEN A SERIES MOSTLY REVOLVING AROUND NAVY SEALS.
"THE WRONG COP." "THE WRONG LOVER."
"THE WRONG HUSBAND." YOU GET THE IDEA
>> IT'S FUNNY. WE'D GO TO WORK, AND WE'D BUST
DAN'S CHOPS ABOUT IT WE WOULD SAY, "YOU MUST BE A
FIRECRACKER IN BED, BUDDY. HE'D BE LIKE, "SHUT UP."
OH, YEAH, WE USED TO BUST HIS CHOPS CONSTANTLY
>> Reporter: NANCY HAD HER WRITING.
DAN HAD HIS GARDENING, MUSHROOM HUNTING, AND TEACHING.
AND THEY WERE ACTIVE GRANDPARENTS TO NATHANIEL'S
DAUGHTER >> THEY WERE, YOU KNOW -- HAD
STARTED MAKING SOME PLANS FOR WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN IN THEIR
RETIREMENT YEARS AND WHILE IT HADN'T BEEN NAILED
DOWN YET, IT SEEMED LIKE THEY WERE ONTO SOME EXCITING IDEAS.
>> Reporter: NOW THERE WOULD BE NO RETIREMENT FOR DAN BROPHY
INSTEAD, EVERYONE WANTED TO KNOW WHO HAD KILLED HIM IN A KITCHEN
DOING WHAT HE LOVED. OR AS A MYSTERY WRITER MIGHT
HAVE ASKED, "WHO HAD DEVELOPED A TASTE FOR MURDER?"
>>> COMING UP -- >> WHO KNOWS IF SOMEBODY WAS IN
THE BUILDING WHO KNOWS IF SOMEBODY FOLLOWED
HIM IN >> DETECTIVES DIG DEEP FOR A
MOTIVE >> Reporter: THERE'S ALCOHOL IN
THERE, AND A LOT OF EXPENSIVE COOKING EQUIPMENT.
ANY OF THAT DISTURBED OR MISSING?
>> WE DID SEVERAL LAYERS OF SEARCHES OF THE BUILDING
>> WHAT WOULD THEY FIND? WHEN "DATELINE" CONTINUES.
>> HE WAS A PERSON WHO DID WHAT HE LOVED
HE LOVED TEACHING. HE LOVED MUSHROOMS
DAN WAS ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE I'VE EVER KNOWN WHO KNEW EXACTLY
WHAT HE WANTED IN LIFE AND LOVED DOING IT
>> Reporter: YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HE TOUCHED THAT MANY PEOPLE?
>> I DO. YEAH
IT NEVER CEASED TO AMAZE ME HOW MANY PEOPLE HE'D -- HE HAD
INTERSECTED WITH THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF HIS CAREER
>> Reporter: DETECTIVES ANTHONY MERRILL AND DARREN POSEY
WERE AWARE THAT DAN'S FRIENDS AND FAMILY WERE ASKING SOME
OBVIOUS QUESTIONS. >> WHO KNOWS IF SOMEBODY WAS IN
THE BUILDING WHO KNOWS IF, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY
FOLLOWED HIM IN? YOU WOULDN'T LOOK AT HIM IN THE
STREET AND SAY, "YEAH, THAT IS SOMEBODY THAT WE SHOULD TAP
FOR MONEY. >> WE FOUND THAT HE HAD HIS
WALLET ON HIM WITH ALL OF HIS CREDIT CARDS
HE HAD 70-SOME DOLLARS IN CASH, A CELL PHONE, A WATCH, KEYS TO
HIS TRUCK THAT WAS PARKED OUTSIDE.
>> Reporter: DETECTIVES WONDERED, "COULD THE KILLER OR
KILLERS HAVE BEEN AFTER SOMETHING ELSE?"
THERE'S ALCOHOL IN THERE, AND THERE'S A LOT OF EXPENSIVE
COOKING EQUIPMENT. ANY OF THAT DISTURBED OR
MISSING? >> WE DID SEVERAL LAYERS OF
SEARCHES OF THE BUILDING >> FROM WHAT WE COULD DETERMINE,
THAT ALL SEEMED TO BE IN PLACE >> Reporter: IN YOUR
INVESTIGATION, I MEAN, WHO DIDN'T LIKE DAN BROPHY
>> THERE WAS PEOPLE THAT WERE LIKE, "HE'S TOUGH.
AND HE, YOU KNOW, KINDA HAS A DRY HUMOR THAT, YOU KNOW,
SOMETIMES MAYBE WOULD RUB SOMEBODY THE WRONG WAY
RIGHT? BUT NOTHING THAT, YOU KNOW,
SOMEBODY HAD IT OUT FOR HIM BECAUSE, LIKE, THEY HAD HAD
THEIR CAREER ENDED BY HIM OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT
>> Reporter: THERE WAS ALSO NO SIGN OF FORCED ENTRY
MAYBE BECAUSE DAN BROPHY'S HABIT AFTER DISARMING THE ALARM WAS TO
RAISE A ROLL-UP DOOR AND LOAD IN SUPPLIES
A KILLER COULD HAVE SIMPLY WALKED IN THAT OPEN DOOR
CLUES FROM THE SCENE WERE HARD TO COME BY
OCI HAD NO SECURITY CAMERAS INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL
MEANTIME, DAN'S WIDOW NANCY HAD BEGUN CLEANING OUT THE HOME
THEY'D SHARED FOR 22 YEARS, GETTING SET TO PUT IT UP FOR
SALE >> NANCY'S EXACT WORDS TO ME
WERE, "EVERYWHERE I LOOK IN THIS HOUSE, TANIA, I SEE DAN.
SHE DID NOT WANNA BE IN THAT BIG HOUSE.
THAT HOUSE WAS THEIRS. >> IT MADE SENSE
IT WAS ALSO A PROJECT THAT THEY HAD EMBARKED UPON BEFORE HIS
DEATH. SO IT DIDN'T SEEM OUT OF THE
ORDINARY >> Reporter: THEY WERE GONNA
SELL ANYHOW. >> CORRECT
>> Reporter: AND AS SUMMER STARTED TO FADE, SO TOO DID
NATHANIEL'S HOPE IT SEEMED LIKE POLICE WEREN'T
MAKIN' ANY PROGRESS. >> HONESTLY, WE WERE COMING WITH
TERMS THAT THIS WOULD BE AN UNSOLVED MURDER.
>> Reporter: WHAT NONE OF DAN BROPHY'S FRIENDS OR FAMILY
MEMBERS KNEW WAS THAT THERE WAS A LOT HAPPENING BEHIND THE
SCENES IN FACT, JUST DAYS AFTER THE
MURDER DETECTIVES HAD RECEIVED A CALL FROM DAN'S WIFE NANCY
SHE HAD A QUESTION ABOUT COLLECTING LIFE INSURANCE.
AND POLICE RECORDED IT >> I DON'T WANT TO BE THE STUPID
QUESTION OF THE DAY. BUT I THINK I NEED TO BE THE
STUPID QUESTION OF THE DAY UH -
[ LAUGHTER ] >> OKAY.
>> SO MY INSURANCE COMPANY SAID JUST HAVE THE DETECTIVES WRITE A
LETTER THAT YOU'RE NO LONGER A SUSPECT.
>> Reporter: NO LONGER A SUSPECT?
AT THAT POINT, SHE WASN'T NAMED A SUSPECT.
AND NEITHER WAS ANYONE ELSE. >> AND I SAID, "MAN, I JUST
DON'T KNOW THAT HE'S THERE, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT HE LOOKS AT IT
THAT WAY." BUT IF YOU DO, I'D GET YOU TO
WRITE THE LETTER >> Reporter: THIS WOULD BE
SOMETHING THAT WOULD GO TO AN INSURANCE COMPANY THAT WOULD
ALLOW THEM TO MAKE A PAYOUT TO HER?
>> WELL, YEAH. >> WHY WOULD YOU NEED THAT
>> BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY IF IT TURNS OUT THAT I
SECRETLY WENT DOWN TO THE SCHOOL AND SHOT MY HUSBAND.
>> OKAY. WELL, WE -- WE WOULD NEVER DO
SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT BEING
DONE >> THIS IS SUCH A STUPID, LITTLE
POLICY I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY'RE MAKING
ME JUMP THROUGH HOOPS LIKE THIS. THIS IS ONLY $40,000
AND AS MY SISTER SAID, YOU KNOW, USUALLY WHEN THEY DO THAT, IT'S
FOR MILLIONS AND I SAID, "YEAH, WE WEREN'T
INSURED FOR MILLIONS." >> Reporter: WELL, AS WE SAY
AROUND HERE -- OR WERE THEY? MORE ON THAT LATER
FOR NOW -- NORMALLY, IN MURDER
INVESTIGATIONS, THE WAY YOU CLEAR SOMEBODY IS YOU ARREST
SOMEBODY ELSE AND TAKE THEM TO TRIAL.
>> CORRECT YOU FIND THE PERPETRATOR, AND
YOU CLEAR THE CASE >> Reporter: AND THAT MEANS
OTHER PEOPLE WHO MIGHT'VE BEEN SUSPECTS EARLIER ARE NOW OFF THE
HOOK >> YES
THAT WOULD HELP. >> Reporter: AND THERE WAS
SOMETHING ELSE INVESTIGATORS DISCOVERED THAT
NANCY, THE ROMANCE NOVELIST, HAD, IN 2011, WRITTEN A BLOG
POST THE TITLE?
"HOW TO MURDER YOUR HUSBAND? >>> COMING UP --
THAT BLOG POST TONGUE-IN-CHEEK, OR TIPPING HER
HAND >> Reporter: WHAT'D YOU THINK
WHEN YOU SAW THAT? >> IT JUST MAKES YOU WONDER,
"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?"
SUPPOSED TO SET ME FREE, I CERTAINLY DON'T WANNA SPEND ANY
TIME IN JAIL AND LET ME SAY CLEARLY FOR THE
RECORD, I DON'T LIKE JUMPSUITS, AND ORANGE ISN'T MY COLOR.
SHE THEN LISTS THE VARIOUS MOTIVES FOR MURDER
"FINANCIAL, LYING, CHEATING," AND, "FELL IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE
ELSE." IN SOME WAYS, THE POST IS LESS
THAN IT SEEMS. NANCY WROTE IT SEVEN YEARS
BEFORE THE MURDER, AND IT WAS DARK HUMOR, CERTAINLY NOT A
BLUEPRINT FOR THE CRIME. THIS IS, AFTER ALL, A WOMAN
WHOSE BOOKS ALL BORE THE TAGLINE "WRONG NEVER FELT SO RIGHT."
STILL, IT COULDN'T BE IGNORED, ESPECIALLY WHEN NANCY LISTED
"OPTIONS TO CONSIDER" FOR KILLING YOUR HUSBAND
NUMBER ONE WAS LABELED "GUNS." WHAT'D YOU THINK WHEN YOU SAW
THAT >> IT WAS REALLY WEIRD
IT JUST MAKES YOU WONDER, "WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?"
>> Reporter: IN ONE OF THE POST'S CLOSING PARAGRAPHS, NANCY
SUMMED UP HER FEELINGS, WRITING, "I FIND IT IS EASIER TO WISH
PEOPLE DEAD THAN TO ACTUALLY KILL THEM.
BUT THE THING I KNOW ABOUT MURDER IS THAT EVERY ONE OF US
HAVE IT IN HIM OR HER WHEN PUSHED FAR ENOUGH.
NANCY BROPHY HAD DEFINITELY WRITTEN A TWIST INTO HER OWN
LIFE STORY EXCEPT THAT BLOG POST WAS NOT
WHAT DETECTIVES HAD FOCUSED ON WHEN THEY WROTE THEIR OWN TWIST
THREE MONTHS AFTER CHEF DAN BROPHY'S MURDER.
>> THE STUNNING BREAK IN THE MURDER OF AN OREGON CULINARY
INSTITUTE INSTRUCTOR POLICE TONIGHT HAVE ARRESTED HIS
WIFE FOR THE CRIME >> Reporter: NANCY BROPHY, DAN'S
WIFE OF MORE THAN 20 YEARS, WAS NOW CHARGED WITH MURDERING HIM
IN COLD BLOOD. >> I WAS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED.
IT'S LIKE SOMEBODY HIT ME WITH A BAT.
>> Reporter: THEY LOVED EACH OTHER?
>> YEAH, I DON'T THINK SHE DID IT
AND I WOULD BE EMBARRASSED IF I WAS THEM IF THEY CAN'T PROVE
THIS >> Reporter: I'M SURE THAT, BY
NOW, YOU HAVE REVIEWED ALMOST EVERY MEMORY YOU HAVE OF THE TWO
OF THEM, THINKING TO YOURSELF, "WAS THERE SOMETHING THERE THAT
I DIDN'T SEE?" >> CERTAINLY
AND IT STILL, YOU KNOW, DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE
>> Reporter: AS NANCY BROPHY'S TRIAL BEGAN, THE CASE BECAME A
LATE NIGHT PUNCH LINE. >> THIS IS A WEIRD STORY
YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR A LOT ABOUT LIFE IMITATING ART
BUT RARELY DO YOU HEAR ABOUT DEATH IMITATING IT
>> Reporter: PROSECUTORS NICOLE HERMANN AND
SHAWN OVERSTREET WERE IN CHARGE OF THE MULTNOMAH COUNTY D.A.'S
TEAM IT'S NOT THAT OFTEN, I THINK,
THAT YOU GET SOMEONE WHO'S ACCUSED OF MURDERING THEIR
HUSBAND ATTACHED TO A BLOG POST IN WHICH THEY WRITE ABOUT HOW TO
MURDER THEIR HUSBAND >> NO, IT'S NOT.
AND IT WAS QUITE A PIECE OF INFORMATION TO FIND.
>> WE WERE ALL SHOCKED AND THEN, ESPECIALLY AFTER
READING IT AND KINDA GOIN', "OH, MY GOSH, SHE KIND OF FOLLOWED
HER OWN PLAN." >> Reporter: HOWEVER, ON THE
FIRST DAY OF TRIAL IN APRIL 2022, THE JUDGE DEALT
PROSECUTORS A BIT OF A BLOW, RULING THAT NANCY'S BLOG POST,
"HOW TO MURDER YOUR HUSBAND," COULD NOT BE SEEN BY THE JURY.
>> ANY MINIMAL PROBATIVE VALUE IS SUBSTANTIALLY OUTWEIGHED BY
THE DANGER OF UNFAIR PREJUDICE AND CONFUSION OF THE ISSUES.
>> Reporter: THE BLOG POST WAS YEARS OLD, AND IT'S NOT AS IF IT
DESCRIBED THE CRIME EXACTLY. HOW MUCH OF A ROADBLOCK TO YOUR
CASE IS IT WHEN THE JUDGE WON'T LET THAT BLOG POST IN?
>> WE DECIDED PRETTY EARLY THAT IT WASN'T GOING TO BE A
ROADBLOCK. WE HAD A PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD
WITHOUT IT >> Reporter: AND SO PROSECUTORS
DID. >> ALL OF THE LEADS THE
DETECTIVES FOLLOWED UP WITH ALL POINTED BACK TO NANCY BROPHY
>> Reporter: ONE OF THOSE CAME FROM THE LAPTOP FOUND IN NANCY'S
CLOSET >> THERE'S AN ATTEMPT TO LOG
INTO - >> Reporter: IN NOVEMBER 2017,
SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE MURDER NANCY'S COMPUTER VISITED A
WEBSITE THAT SOLD GHOST GUNS AND SOON ORDERED A GHOST GUN, SOME
ASSEMBLY REQUIRED. >> IT'S AN UNSERIALIZED,
UNREGISTERED FIREARM SHE WAS GONNA BUY IT
SHE WAS GONNA USE IT AND THEN ONCE SHE RECEIVED IT, I
THINK SHE QUICKLY REALIZED THIS IS TOO COMPLICATED FOR HER TO
PUT TOGETHER >> Reporter: RECORDS THEN SHOWED
NANCY GOOGLING ABOUT GLOCK REVOLVERS, ASKING IF GLOCKS HAVE
A "BIG KICKBACK" AND SEARCHING FOR "GUN SHOPS IN PORTLAND."
THEN IN FEBRUARY, FOUR MONTHS BEFORE THE MURDER, NANCY WENT TO
A GUN SHOW AND BOUGHT THIS 9 MILLIMETER GLOCK 17.
SHE REGISTERED IT IN HER OWN NAME AND ADMITTED OWNING THE GUN
TO POLICE THE MORNING OF THE MURDER
WHAT SHE DID NOT TELL POLICE IS THAT SHE ALSO WENT ON eBAY AND
BOUGHT AN EXTRA SLIDE AND BARREL THAT FIT THE GLOCK
THAT'S ONE WAY OF DISGUISING WHETHER A BULLET OR CASING COMES
FROM A PARTICULAR GUN. PROSECUTORS SHOWED THE JURY THIS
VIDEO MADE BY A DETECTIVE SHOWING HOW A SLIDE AND BARREL
CAN BE EASILY SWAPPED OUT. TOGETHER, THEY LEAVE DISTINCTIVE
MARKS ON THE BULLET AS IT MOVES DOWN THE BARREL TOWARD THE
TARGET AND ON THE EMPTY CASINGS AS THEY'RE EJECTED
SO IF YOU SWITCH THE SLIDE AND BARREL, A FIREARMS ANALYSIS WILL
SUGGEST IT'S NOT THE SAME GUN? >> UH-HUH, YES
ABSOLUTELY >> EXACTLY
>> Reporter: WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED TO THAT EXTRA SLIDE AND
BARREL >> WE HAVE A LOT OF BODIES OF
WATER HERE IN OREGON COULD BE IN ANY ONE OF 'EM
>> Reporter: MISSING EVIDENCE, CLAIMED PROSECUTORS, DID NOT
CLEAR NANCY BROPHY HER ATTORNEYS, HOWEVER, WERE
ABOUT TO REVEAL THE IDENTITY OF A MAN THEY THOUGHT JUST MIGHT DO
EXACTLY THAT >>> COMING UP --
>> NANCY CRAMPTON-BROPHY HAS ALWAYS BEEN THOROUGHLY, MADLY,
CRAZY IN LOVE WITH DANIEL BROPHY, AND SHE STILL IS TODAY
>> THE DEFENSE SERVES UP AN ALTERNATE SUSPECT.
COULD THIS BE DAN BROPHY'S REAL KILLER?!
WHEN "DATELINE" CONTINUES.
T HIM BACK DETECTIVES SENT NANCY HOME IN THE COMPANY OF TWO
T HIM BACK INVESTIGATORS. THEY WATCHED NANCY'S GRAY TOYOTA
T HIM BACK VAN DISAPPEAR DOWN THE STREET. AND THEN THEY BEGAN TO LOOK FOR
T HIM BACK EVIDENCE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD >> WE DON'T HAVE A MOTIVE.
T HIM BACK WE HAVE NO EYEWITNESS. AND WE HAVE NO VIDEO CAMERA AT
T HIM BACK THE SCENE. SO ANY OF THE SURROUNDING
T HIM BACK BUSINESSES THAT HAVE VIDEO IS GONNA BE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO
T HIM BACK US AT THIS POINT >> Reporter: THE FIRST STOP WAS
T HIM BACK A PIZZA PLACE CALLED BELLAGIOS >> IT HAD A VIDEO SURVEILLANCE
T HIM BACK CAMERA INSIDE, BEHIND THE COUNTER, THAT FACED THE WINDOWS.
T HIM BACK >> Reporter: DETECTIVES LOOKED AT THE STORE'S VIDEO STARTING
T HIM BACK ABOUT 10 MINUTES BEFORE CHEF DAN BROPHY ARRIVED AT OCI THAT
T HIM BACK MORNING AT 7:20. >> WATCHING IT, AND I SEE THIS
T HIM BACK VAN DRIVE BY AND I'M, LIKE, GOING, "WAIT A
T HIM BACK SECOND THAT LOOKS JUST LIKE HER VAN."
T HIM BACK >> Reporter: HERS MEANING THAT GRAY TOYOTA VAN OWNED BY
T HIM BACK NANCY BROPHY >> I SAID, "YEAH, IT LOOKS JUST
T HIM BACK LIKE IT. AND WE WERE LIKE, "OKAY, THERE'S
T HIM BACK SOMETHING PROBABLY WRONG." >> Reporter: PORTLAND'S A BIG
T HIM BACK CITY THERE'S PROBABLY A LOT OF GRAY
T HIM BACK TOYOTA MINIVANS IN THERE >> EXACTLY
T HIM BACK >> LET'S DOUBLE-CHECK THIS BECAUSE THIS DOESN'T ADD UP.
T HIM BACK >> Reporter: BECAUSE HERE'S HER VAN AT THE CRIME SCENE AT A TIME
T HIM BACK WHEN SHE SHOULDN'T BE THERE, AND SHE TOLD YOU SHE WAS AT HOME
T HIM BACK >> CORRECT >> Reporter: SO TO MAKE SURE IT
T HIM BACK WAS THE SAME VAN, THE DETECTIVES ASKED THOSE INVESTIGATORS WHO'D
T HIM BACK TAKEN NANCY HOME TO SNAP SOME PICTURES OF THE VAN.
T HIM BACK AND NANCY'S VAN AND THE VAN ON THE SURVEILLANCE TAPE EACH HAD A
T HIM BACK VISIBLE SCRATCH BELOW THE GAS CAP.
T HIM BACK IN THE DETECTIVE BUSINESS, THAT'S WHAT YOU GUYS CALL A
T HIM BACK CLUE >> ABSOLUTELY.
T HIM BACK >> Reporter: DETECTIVES IMMEDIATELY BEGAN LOOKING FOR
T HIM BACK MORE SECURITY FOOTAGE FROM THE AREA
T HIM BACK AND THEY FOUND PLENTY, ALL OF IT PROVIDING A CLEARER PICTURE OF
T HIM BACK THE TIMELINE ON THE MORNING OF DAN'S MURDER
T HIM BACK AT 6:39 A.M., A FULL 41 MINUTES BEFORE DAN BROPHY ARRIVED AT
T HIM BACK OCI, THERE IS NANCY'S GRAY VAN >> AND I THINK SHE LEFT HER
T HIM BACK HOUSE ABOUT 6:30, I THINK TRYING TO FIND A VANTAGE POINT WHERE
T HIM BACK SHE COULD SEE DAN COMING IN THAT MORNING.
T HIM BACK >> Reporter: AT 7:08 A.M., THERE'S NANCY'S GRAY VAN DRIVING
T HIM BACK BY THAT PIZZA PLACE ACROSS THE STREET FROM OCI.
T HIM BACK THEN, AT 7:20, DAN BROPHY DROVE BY IN HIS WHITE PICKUP AND
T HIM BACK PARKED AT THE CURB NEXT TO THE SCHOOL
T HIM BACK AND WE ALREADY KNOW THAT TWO MINUTES LATER AT 7:22, DAN
T HIM BACK ENTERED OCI AND DISABLED THE ALARM ON THE WALL.
T HIM BACK >> HE PROBABLY WENT IN AND OUT OF THE BUILDING A COUPLE OF
T HIM BACK TIMES. AND SO I THINK SHE PROBABLY
T HIM BACK WAITED AND THEN SHE WALKED UP RIGHT
T HIM BACK BEHIND HIM AND SHOT HIM THROUGH THE BACK FIRST
T HIM BACK HE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DEAD YET SO SHE HAD TO TAKE THAT SECOND
T HIM BACK SHOT AND THEN I THINK SHE VERY
T HIM BACK CASUALLY WALKED OUT OF THE BUILDING, GOT IN HER VAN, AND
T HIM BACK WENT HOME. >> Reporter: AND ON THE ROUTE
T HIM BACK BACK TO THE COUPLE'S HOME, NANCY'S VAN IS AGAIN CAUGHT ON
T HIM BACK CAMERA JUST BEFORE 7:29 A.M. YOU KNOW THIS IS SOMEWHERE IN A
T HIM BACK SEVEN-MINUTE WINDOW? >> PROBABLY --
T HIM BACK >> Reporter: 7:22 TO 7:29? >> PROBABLY ABOUT A 5 1/2 TO
T HIM BACK 6 MINUTE WINDOW. VERY TIGHT
T HIM BACK VERY TIGHT FRAME >> SHE HAD TO HAVE FIGURED THERE
T HIM BACK WERE GOING TO BE SOME CAMERAS IN THE AREA
T HIM BACK SHE EITHER MISCALCULATED OR SHE THOUGHT WE JUST WOULDN'T BE
T HIM BACK LOOKING FOR IT >> Reporter: PROSECUTORS ARGUED
T HIM BACK NANCY HAD MEANS AND OPPORTUNITY TO KILL DAN.
T HIM BACK SO THEN WHAT ABOUT MOTIVE? WHY WOULD NANCY BROPHY KILL THE
T HIM BACK MAN EVERYONE SAID SHE LOVED AND ADORED
T HIM BACK WELL, THEY SAID MAYBE THE OLDEST MOTIVE IN THE BOOK
T HIM BACK THEY'D HAD MONEY TROUBLES. REMEMBER, NANCY SOLD LIFE
T HIM BACK INSURANCE AND KNEW THAT BUSINESS
T HIM BACK IT TURNED OUT THAT AFTER DAN'S DEATH, PROSECUTORS REVEALED
T HIM BACK NANCY HAD PUT IN CLAIMS ON MULTIPLE POLICIES THAT WOULD PAY
T HIM BACK OUT IF DAN DIED -- A LITTLE MORE THAN $800,000.
T HIM BACK THE STATE THEORIZED THIS WASN'T AS MUCH ABOUT THE MONEY AS WHAT
T HIM BACK IT COULD BUY >> YOU KNOW, NANCY WANTED MORE
T HIM BACK NANCY WANTED A LIFESTYLE THAT DAN COULDN'T GIVE HER.
T HIM BACK AND SO I THINK THAT SHE THOUGHT, "IF I COULD DO THIS, I'LL GET
T HIM BACK ENOUGH MONEY THAT WILL ALLOW ME TO CHANGE THAT LIFESTYLE
T HIM BACK AND BECAUSE DAN DOESN'T WANNA GO ON THAT RIDE WITH ME, HE DOESN'T
T HIM BACK NEED TO BE THERE." >> Reporter: "AND HE'S KIND OF A
T HIM BACK CURMUDGEON, SO I'LL BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT HIM"
T HIM BACK >> WE NEVER THOUGHT THAT SHE DIDN'T LOVE HIM.
T HIM BACK I THINK SHE PROBABLY HOPED THINGS HAD WORKED OUT
T HIM BACK DIFFERENTLY. BUT WHEN THEY DIDN'T, HE WAS A
T HIM BACK PROBLEM FOR HER. >> Reporter: AFTER 11 DAYS AND
T HIM BACK 47 PROSECUTION WITNESSES, NANCY BROPHY'S DEFENSE WOULD
T HIM BACK HAVE ITS TURN. HER ATTORNEYS HAD SAID IN THEIR
T HIM BACK OPENING THAT PROSECUTORS HAD IT WRONG.
T HIM BACK DEAD WRONG >> NANCY CRAMPTON-BROPHY HAS
T HIM BACK ALWAYS BEEN THOROUGHLY, MADLY, CRAZY IN LOVE WITH
T HIM BACK DANIEL BROPHY, AND SHE STILL IS TODAY.
T HIM BACK >> Reporter: WHEN NANCY BROPHY'S DEFENSE TEAM BEGAN OFFERING ITS
T HIM BACK THEORY OF THE CASE, THE STRATEGY WAS ONE YOU'VE HEARD ON
T HIM BACK "DATELINE" BEFORE. IT'S THE SODDI DEFENSE
T HIM BACK "SOME OTHER DUDE DID IT. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE
T HIM BACK TO SUPPORT IT, THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE SUSPECT THE DEFENSE
T HIM BACK OFFERED WAS A HOMELESS MAN PICKING UP CANS AROUND OCI THE
T HIM BACK MORNING OF THE MURDER, THE DEFENSE SAYING HE MIGHT HAVE
T HIM BACK BEEN THE KILLER. THEY DISMISSED MONEY AS A
T HIM BACK POSSIBLE MOTIVE. >> THEY HAD ABSOLUTELY TURNED
T HIM BACK AROUND THEIR FINANCIAL HEALTH. >> Reporter: THE DEFENSE
T HIM BACK ADMITTED THE BROPHYS HAD SOME FINANCIAL PROBLEMS IN THE PAST
T HIM BACK NOW FINANCIAL EXPERTS TESTIFIED DAN AND NANCY WERE WELL ON THEIR
T HIM BACK WAY TO STRAIGHTENING THOSE OUT BY PAYING OFF DEBTS AND MAKING
T HIM BACK PLANS TO SELL THEIR HOME AND AS FOR THE SUGGESTION THAT
T HIM BACK NANCY HAD FAR MORE LIFE INSURANCE ON DAN THAN WAS NEEDED
T HIM BACK OR NORMAL? THE DEFENSE SAID THAT WAS
T HIM BACK HOGWASH. >> I'D SAY HE WAS ADEQUATELY
T HIM BACK INSURED, NOT UNDER INSURED AND NOT OVER INSURED
T HIM BACK >> Reporter: ALL THIS WAS A PRELUDE TO THE MAIN EVENT, AN
T HIM BACK HORS D'OEUVRE, ON DAY 20 OF THE TRIAL, WHEN NANCY BROPHY BROKE
T HIM BACK HER SILENCE ON THE WITNESS STAND.
T HIM BACK FROM THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE
T HIM BACK >>> COMING UP -- >> I DID NOT SHOOT MY HUSBAND,
T HIM BACK AND I DON'T KNOW EVEN HOW TO DEFEND MYSELF.
T HIM BACK >> NANCY'S STORY FROM THE STAND. >> YOU'VE CONSTRUCTED A CASE,
T HIM BACK BUT I THINK YOUR CASE IS HELD TOGETHER WITH REAL -- FRANKLY,
T HIM BACK BAND-AIDS. >> A JURY IS ABOUT TO WRITE THE
T HIM BACK >> A JURY IS ABOUT TO WRITE THE FINAL CHAPTER.
HIM NOW? >> IT'S LIKE YOU'VE LOST AN ARM,
YOU KNOW LIKE, YOU'RE JUST NOT AS GOOD AS
YOU WERE WHEN YOU WERE WITH HIM. >> Reporter: SO IF NANCY HADN'T
KILLED DAN, WHY HAD SHE PURCHASED THAT GHOST GUN KIT AND
THE GLOCK 17 MONTHS BEFORE THE MURDER
WELL, SAID THE ROMANTIC SUSPENSE WRITER, IT ALL STARTED WITH A
STORY. >> I READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT A GUY
IN CALIFORNIA WHO BOUGHT A GUN ONLINE, PUT IT TOGETHER, AND
KILLED HIS FAMILY. I'M SITTING THERE THINKING, "YOU
KNOW, WHAT IF IT WAS A WOMAN WHO WAS AFRAID?"
AND SO ONCE I KINDA FLIPPED THE STORY IN MY MIND, I STARTED
BUILDING IT. >> Reporter: THAT'S WHY, SHE
TESTIFIED, SHE VISITED THE GHOST GUN WEBSITE AND BOUGHT A KIT --
TO RESEARCH A NEW NOVEL. THEN SIX WEEKS LATER IN FEBRUARY
2018, A MASS SHOOTING TOOK THE LIVES OF 17 STUDENT AND FACULTY
AT A FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOL AND NANCY SAID THAT ONCE AGAIN
BROUGHT GUNS TO THE FOREFRONT OF HER MIND
AFTER ALL, DAN TAUGHT AT A SCHOOL
>> I SAID, "DAN, IT'S TIME." AND HE SAID OKAY
>> Reporter: IN OTHER WORDS, NANCY TESTIFIED, IT WAS THEIR
IDEA, NOT JUST HERS. DAN BROPHY, SHE SAID, SIGNED OFF
ON GETTING THE GLOCK FOR PROTECTION
NANCY, THOUGH, SAID SHE WENT ON eBAY AND BOUGHT THAT EXTRA SLIDE
AND BARREL THAT POLICE BELIEVE WAS USED IN THE MURDER AS SHE
GOT BACK TO RESEARCHING THAT NEW NOVEL.
WHERE WAS THE SLIDE AND BARREL NOW?
"WHO KNOWS," WAS HER ANSWER. AS FOR JUNE 2nd, THE DAY DAN WAS
MURDERED, NANCY SAID SHE REMEMBERS WAKING UP AND TALKING
BRIEFLY WITH DAN AND THEN
>> DO YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING ELSE FROM THAT MORNING?
>> NO. NO
THE NEXT THING I REMEMBER FROM THAT MORNING IS THE PHONE
RINGING. >> Reporter: YOU HEARD RIGHT
NANCY TESTIFIED SHE HAS NO RECOLLECTION OF THE TIME FROM
SOMEWHERE AROUND 7:00 A.M. UNTIL THAT PHONE CALL AROUND 10 A.M.
STRESS INDUCED TRAUMATIC MEMORY LOSS, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT
BECAUSE WHEN POLICE LATER TOLD NANCY THEY HAD VIDEOS OF HER
DRIVING HER GREY VAN AROUND OCI THE MORNING DAN WAS KILLED
>> I THOUGHT THEY ARE MAKING THIS UP.
THIS ISN'T TRUE. >> Reporter: NANCY BROPHY
TESTIFIED THAT SHE NOW BELIEVES THAT DURING THE MISSING PERIODS
OF MEMORY, SHE DROVE TO STARBUCKS AND THEN DISAPPEARED
INTO A WORLD OF HER OWN MAKING, THE WORLD OF A WRITER SKETCHING
OUT A STORY IN HER HEAD, DRIVING AROUND AIMLESSLY UNTIL, JUST BY
COINCIDENCE, SHE DROVE RIGHT BY OCI RIGHT AROUND THE TIME OF THE
MURDER STRANGELY, THE ONLY TIME NANCY'S
VAN WASN'T ON CAMERA WAS BETWEEN 7:22 AND 7:28, THE EXACT WINDOW
OF TIME TIME IN WHICH POLICE BELIEVE DAN BROPHY WAS MURDERED.
AS CROSS-EXAMINATION BEGAN, THAT COINCIDENCE OF NANCY HAVING NO
MEMORY OF THE VERY TIME PERIOD THE MURDER OCCURRED WENT OVER
LIKE SWEET'N LOW IN CHEF BROPHY'S ORGANIC KITCHEN
>> ISN'T IT POSSIBLE, WITH YOUR MEMORY PROBLEMS IN THE MORNING,
THAT YOU ACTUALLY WENT INTO THE BUILDING AND SHOT YOUR HUSBAND
AND YOU JUST DON'T REMEMBER IT >> NO, IT IS NOT
I DID NOT SHOOT MY HUSBAND, AND I DON'T KNOW EVEN HOW TO DEFEND
MYSELF AGAINST THE TRUTH >> YOU WERE THERE IN THE AREA AT
THE SAME TIME THAT SOMEONE HAPPENS TO BE SHOOTING YOUR
HUSBAND, WITHIN A SIX MINUTE WINDOW, WITH THE EXACT TYPE OF
GUN THAT YOU OWN >> THAT'S YOUR VERSION OF WHAT
HAPPENED THAT IS NOT MY VERSION
THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE MANAGED TO CONSTRUCT A CASE AGAINST ME
OUT OF THAT -- YOU'VE CONSTRUCTED A CASE, BUT I
THINK YOUR CASE IS HELD TOGETHER WITH REAL -- FRANKLY, BAND-AIDS.
>> Reporter: AND THEN? ALTHOUGH THE JUDGE HAD NOT
ALLOWED THE BLOG POST "HOW TO MURDER YOUR HUSBAND" TO BE USED,
PROSECUTOR OVERSTREET COULD USE THE INFORMATION IN IT AS THE
BASIS FOR HIS QUESTIONS. >> DO YOU AGREE THAT DIVORCE IS
EXPENSIVE? >> DIVORCE IS EXPENSIVE.
I DON'T THINK THAT IS A MYSTERY TO ANYBODY HERE.
>> YOU ACTUALLY FIND IT EASIER TO WISH PEOPLE DEAD INSTEAD OF
ACTUALLY KILLING THEM. CORRECT?
>> OH, YEAH. >> MY LAST QUESTION TO YOU,
MS. BROPHY, IS IF THERE'S ONE THING THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT
MURDER, IS IT THAT ANYONE IS CAPABLE OF DOING IT?
>> I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT I THINK PEOPLE GET PUSHED INTO A
CORNER WHERE THEY HAVE NO OTHER OPTIONS.
GOING BACK TO MY CASE, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH FINANCIAL REASONS
THERE TO MAKE IT I DO BETTER WITH DAN ALIVE
FINANCIALLY THAN I DO WITH DAN DEAD
WE HAD SOLVED OUR PROBLEM! >> SHE WENT ON AND ON AND ON
ABOUT WHY PEOPLE COMMIT MURDER AND I THOUGHT THAT, "WELL,
THAT'S ALL THE JURY NEEDS TO HEAR FROM HER.
>> Reporter: YOU GUYS FEEL CONFIDENT AS THE JURY GOES OUT
>> I THINK WE FELT LIKE WE DID THE BEST JOB THAT WE COULD DO.
>> IF WE CAN HAVE MRS. BROPHY RISE
>> Reporter: AFTER JUST EIGHT HOURS OF DELIBERATION, THE JURY
WAS BACK >> COUNT ONE, MURDER IN THE
SECOND DEGREE, GUILTY >> Reporter: WHEN SHE'S
SENTENCED THIS COMING MONDAY, NANCY BROPHY FACES A MANDATORY
TERM OF LIFE IN PRISON SHE'LL BE ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE AT
AGE 92 HER BEST FRIEND TANIA WHO ONCE
STUCK BY NANCY NOW BELIEVES PRISON IS NOT PUNISHMENT ENOUGH.
>> I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN AN EYE FOR AN EYE
I KNOW THAT SOUNDS CRUEL BUT I -- I -- IF THAT WAS -- IF
THAT WAS MY MOTHER OR FATHER, I'D -- I'D WANT -- I'D WANT
JUSTICE. I WOULD DEMAND IT.
>> IT HAS DEFINITELY BROUGHT SOME MODICUM OF CLOSURE.
THERE WAS CERTAINLY A TIME WHERE WE WERE CONCERNED IF SHE WAS
ACQUITTED THAT THERE WOULD BE A VERY REAL THREAT TO THE SAFETY
OF OUR FAMILY. THAT RELIEF IS PRICELESS
>> Reporter: FOR DAN'S SON NATHANIEL, IT'S FINALLY TIME TO
SEND THE ASHES OF HIS FATHER, THE ORGANIC FARMER, BACK TO THE
TO THE PLACE HE LOVED. >> I PLAN TO TAKE MY CHILDREN IN
THE FALL TO GO MUSHROOM FORAGING
AND WE'RE GONNA FIND A LITTLE BED OF CHANTERELLE MUSHROOMS
GROWING SOMEWHERE AND -- AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE PERFECT
SPOT IT SEEMS LIKE A FITTING PLACE TO
RETURN HIM >>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION
OF "DATELINE." WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY
AT 10:00, 9:00 CENTRAL AND, OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU
EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS."
I'M LESTER HOLT. FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS, GOOD
NIGHT.