Writer of 'How to Murder Your Husband' goes on trial, accused of killing ex

The trial of a romance writer and Oregon native who once wrote an essay titled "How to Murder Your Husband" began on Monday after she allegedly shot her husband to death over a $1.5 million life insurance payout.

Nancy Crampton Brophy has remained in custody since her arrest in September 2018, facing a murder charge in the death of 63-year-old Daniel Brophy, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.

Oregon romance novelist who wrote ‘How to Murder Your Husband’ goes on trial in fatal shooting of longtime spouse in Portland https://t.co/URBOwFO2YM pic.twitter.com/1Q2U4s9jtU

— The Oregonian (@Oregonian) April 4, 2022

Brophy was killed while preparing for work at the Oregon Culinary Institute in Southwest Portland around 7:30 a.m. on June 2, 2018. He was found dead in the institution's kitchen as students began arriving. He had worked at the school since 2006.

At the start of Crampton Brophy's trial, Judge Christopher Ramras announced that the defendant's trial would be excluded from evidence at trial, KOIN-TV reported.

"Any minimal probationary value of an article written long ago is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice and confusion of the issues," Ramras said.

Brophy's death remained a mystery until the arrest of his wife, and another suspect in the case was never revealed.

Investigators determined there were no signs of force or struggle or signs of robbery. Brophy's body had his wallet, cell phone, and vehicle keys with him, according to documents cited by KOIN-TV.

Traffic cameras show Crampton Brophy's van approaching the institute and subsequently leaving the city streets near the apparent time of the shooting, the documents continue.

At the time of the murder, the woman broke the news to her loved ones on Facebook, writing, "To my Facebook friends and family, I have sad news to tell. My husband and best friend, Chef Dan Brophy, was murdered yesterday morning."

"For those of you who are close to me and feel this deserved a phone call, you're right, but I'm struggling to make sense of it all right now," she added, KGW8 reported.

Days after the shooting, Crampton Brophy had allegedly asked police to provide her with a letter assuring her that she was not a suspect in her husband's murder so that she could collect on her $40,000 life insurance policy.

Court documents indicated that authorities were aware that the woman would earn $1.5 million for her husband's death.

Detectives determined that the couple had been living paycheck to paycheck at the time.

In an online biography cited by CBS News featuring her work, Crampton Brophy said she is "married to a chef whose mantra is: life is a scientific project."

"As a result, there are chickens and turkeys in my backyard. A fabulous orchard that also produces tobacco as an insecticide and puts a hot meal on the table every night," she wrote. "For those of you who have longed for this, let me warn you. The old adage is true. Be careful what you wish for. When the gods are really angry, they grant us our wishes."

The trial is expected to last seven weeks.