Podcaster
True Crime Author
Broken Butterflies – Forthcoming Book
True Crime Author
Podcaster
Broken Butterflies – Forthcoming Book
Broken Butterflies: The Vanishing of Suzanne Morphew
By Caroline Stella.
Forthcoming | February 2026
True Crime | Investigative Nonfiction | Trauma Psychology
About the Book
In Broken Butterflies, debut author Caroline Stella unspools one of the most haunting unsolved disappearances in modern American true crime: the Mother’s Day vanishing of Colorado wife and mother Suzanne Morphew.
Drawing on over three years of obsessive case analysis, leaked forensic data, court transcripts, and psychological profiling, Caroline dissects the narrative America was fed, and reveals the obscured truths behind the bureaucracy, mishandling of case evidence, and distracting media circus. Through meticulous storytelling and deep empathy, she reconstructs Suzanne’s final known days, explores the complex dynamics of intimate betrayal, and follows the volatile legal rollercoaster that left a family shattered and a nation divided.
More than a whodunit, Broken Butterflies is a study in silencing: the silencing of women, of trauma, and of uncomfortable truths that don’t fit the mainstream narrative. With the piercing insight of a seasoned psychological researcher and the restrained lyricism of a literary craftsman, Caroline paints a portrait of Suzanne not as a symbol, but as a soul.
What Makes Broken Butterflies Different
A Woman-Centered Lens
This book is not just about what happened to Suzanne Morphew. It is about what we allow to happen to women, evidence, and justice when power and perception collide.
Multi-Layered Storytelling
Part legal thriller, part psychological autopsy, and part cultural reflection, Broken Butterflies bridges true crime and trauma narrative in a form rarely attempted with such literary and emotional rigor.
For Readers of…
If you were captivated by I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, shaken by The Five, or unable to put down Know My Name, this book belongs on your shelf.
Advance Praise (Early Interest)
“Haunting, hypnotic, and human. Caroline reframes the entire case without spectacle or agenda — just empathy, precision, and the courage to ask the questions lost in the shuffle.”
— Alyssia J., Avid True Crime Reader
“A rare true crime debut that balances journalistic edge with poetic intuition. A new voice to watch.”
— Rachel Whited, Photojournalist and Social Justice Warrior
Features & Bonus Content
Annotated maps and digital timeline of key events
Court transcripts & suppressed exhibits woven into narrative
Psychological archetypes applied to key figures
QR codes with case metadata and media links
Companion podcast (coming Summer 2026): The Metamorphosis: How Innocents Become Victims
About the Author
Caroline Stella is a trauma-informed writer and researcher focused on the intersection of law, psychology, and storytelling. With academic roots in legal studies and firsthand experience in advocacy, she brings unique sensitivity to stories where silence, shame, and power intersect. Broken Butterflies is her first full-length work and is the inquiry process, seeking literary representation.
She lives in Florida and can usually be found with a legal pad, a strong espresso, and a list of questions nobody wants to answer. She plans to attend law school in Spring of 2026 to make a difference from within the legal system while growing her audience and coverage of the victims without a voice.
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