Excelsior Springs, Mo. (August 23, 2025) – Excelsior Springs welcomed award-winning author Ernie W. Webb III over the weekend for a book signing and discussion at Infinitea Magik. Fans of true crime and local readers gathered to meet Webb, hear his insights, and take home signed copies of his book Goodbye, Butterfly.
The book recounts the harrowing 1991 abduction, rape, and murder of 12-year-old Brenda Keller in small-town Dover, Kansas. Webb, who grew up nearby and was a sophomore at Burlingame High School at the time of the tragedy, revisits the crime and its aftermath through the lens of justice, forgiveness, and the resilience of a close-knit community. Goodbye, Butterfly explores how Brenda’s killer slipped through the cracks of the legal system, the grief carried by her family, and the faith and compassion shown by her father, a beloved local pastor.
At Infinitea Magik, readers had the chance to ask questions, discuss the story’s impact, and connect personally with Webb. The author, a former newspaper reporter and current marketing director at Washburn University, called the project a labor of love that has been with him since his student days. He began writing Goodbye, Butterfly as a graduate school project, pouring decades of reflection and research into the work.
For fans of true crime and those interested in stories of heartbreak, justice, and forgiveness, Webb’s visit was a rare chance to connect directly with the storyteller behind a powerful work.
Readers can learn more about Ernie W. Webb III and his writing by visiting his official website at erniewebbiii.com. There, you’ll find details about Goodbye, Butterfly, upcoming events, and his other writing projects.
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