The true crime podcast, “Happily Never After: Dan and Nancy,” has been telling the story of a notorious murder case that drew national attention. In 2018, Daniel Brophy, an instructor at the now-closed Oregon Culinary Institute in Portland, was found dead at the Southwest Portland cooking school.
Brophy’s wife, Nancy Crampton Brophy, eventually emerged as a suspect, and the fact that she once wrote an online essay titled, “How to Murder Your Husband,” helped propel the case to national attention.
“Happily Never After: Dan and Nancy,” from Wondery and The Oregonian/OregonLive, brings listeners inside the sensational case, thanks to interviews, including with investigators and those who knew Crampton Brophy, who was found guilty of the crime in 2022.
Related: Hear the full tapes from Nancy Brophy’s interactions with Portland detectives after husband’s murder
The newest episode of “Happily Never After: Dan and Nancy” drops today. The episode is titled “Rabbit Holes,” and features podcast host Heidi Joy Tretheway -- who was acquainted with Crampton Brophy -- in conversation with three special guests, fellow romance writer Carolyn Zane, who shares personal stories about Crampton Brophy; Oregonian/OregonLive reporter Zane Sparling, who discusses parts of the case that weren’t included in the podcast series; and therapist and podcast host Dr. Kirk Honda, who talks about how Crampton Brophy’s fiction might have crossed over into her life.
The first five episodes have explored a case that The Oregonian/OregonLive covered in detail, and which gained national attention. “Happily Never After: Dan and Nancy” revisits the story of Nancy Crampton Brophy, the self-published romance novelist who was accused -- and later found guilty -- of killing her husband, Daniel Brophy, an instructor at the now-closed Oregon Culinary Institute in Portland.
As of today, “Happily Never After: Dan and Nancy” is No. 6 in Apple podcast charts True Crime category, behind “Drowning Creek,” “Dateline NBC,” “Crime Junkie,” “Morbid” and “20/20.”
Stories by Kristi Turnquist
- Emmy Awards 2024 nominations include some Oregon-connected talents
- ‘Portlandia’ co-creator on why the locally filmed comedy series doesn’t feel dated
- ‘Lost Women’ franchise, launched with Oregon true crime story, will return for Season 2
- Surprise horror hit ‘Longlegs’ raises the question, is Oregon safe to live in?
- Stars talk about Oregon-set NBC comedy, ‘St. Denis Medical,’ and the town where it takes place
— Kristi Turnquist covers features and entertainment. Reach her at 503-221-8227, kturnquist@oregonian.com or @Kristiturnquist
Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe