PITTSBURG, Kan. — The 1982 murder of Velma Collins was a case that stuck with writer Stephen Pierce for decades, so much so that he’s written a series inspired by it. “Expunged” the second novel in the series, will be released Aug. 27. Cover of "Expunged" Upon retirement from marketing, public relations and journalism, Pierce, a Pittsburg High School graduate, sat down to write a book, a goal he had always wanted to achieve.