Who was Michelle McNamara? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Michelle Eileen McNamara

Died At Age: 46

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Patton Oswalt (m. 2005)

father: Thomas W.McNamara

mother: Rita McNamara

siblings: A brother and four sisters

Born Country: United States

Non-Fiction Writers American Women

Died on: April 21, 2016

place of death: Los Angeles, California, United States

Diseases & Disabilities: Cardiovascular Disease

Cause of Death: Adverse Reaction To Prescription Drugs

Ancestry: Irish American

U.S. State: Illinois

City: Oak Park, Illinois

More Facts

education: University Of Notre Dame, University Of Minnesota

Recommended For You

1

What was Michelle McNamara's book about?

Michelle McNamara's book "I'll Be Gone in the Dark" is about her investigation into the Golden State Killer case.
2

Where did Michelle McNamara attend college?

Michelle McNamara attended the University of Notre Dame for her undergraduate studies.
3

What inspired Michelle McNamara to pursue a career in writing?

Michelle McNamara's interest in true crime and mysteries inspired her to pursue a career in writing about unsolved cases.
4

How did Michelle McNamara contribute to the capture of the Golden State Killer?

Michelle McNamara's book and investigation brought renewed attention to the case, which ultimately contributed to the capture of the Golden State Killer.
5

What impact did Michelle McNamara's work have on the true crime genre?

Michelle McNamara's work helped popularize the genre of true crime writing and brought attention to cold cases that had been forgotten.

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Career

In 1997, after graduation Michelle McNamara moved to Los Angeles to work as a writer in the film and Film and TV Industry. Her longtime fascination and inquisitiveness towards studying and researching true crime made her launch her website named ‘TrueCrimeDiary’, in 2006. The ‘Golden State Killer’ case drew her attention, and she reported several accounts of it in the ‘Los Angeles’ magazine in 2013 and 2014.

Around the same time, ‘SXSW Interactive panel’named ‘Citizen Dicks: Solving Murders with Social Media’ invited her along with her long-time friend and true crime journalist, Billy Jensen, for crime-related discussions. Based on the evidence by the Californian authorities, on the linked DNA profile that connected the ‘East Area Rapist’ and ‘Original Night Stalker’, it was Michelle who coined the term ‘Golden State Killer’. ‘Harper Collins’ rewarded her with a book deal on the same and she began her work on the case.

Due to her untimely death, she could not conclude the project which was then updated and completed by her husband, Patton Oswalt, and crime writer, Paul Haynes. ‘Harper Collins’ posthumously launched the book entitled, ‘I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer’, on February 27, 2018. The book earned number ‘2’ ranking in the ‘New York Times Best Seller List’ in the nonfiction genre and the topmost in the combined e-book and print in nonfiction.

HBO announced a documentary series based on the book on April 2018 and is being directed by notable American documentary filmmaker; Liz Garbus. Californian authorities arrested the alleged ‘Golden State Killer’ known as James DeAngelo on April 25, 2018.

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Death

Michelle McNamara died in her Los Angeles home on April 21, 2016, under strange circumstances precisely one week after her 46th birthday. She was suffering from Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The autopsy report revealed that accidental overdose of various drugs including Xanax, Adderall, Fentanyl, and amphetamines led to her death.

The research regarding the case was consuming her psychologically which was later reported by her husband and can also be read in her book mentioned in her own words. All that stress probably worsened her health and resulted in insomnia too.

Personal Life

Michelle McNamara was born on April 14, 1970, into an Irish-American family. Her father, Thomas W. McNamara, a trial lawyer by profession and her mother, Rita McNamara, was a homemaker. She was the youngest among her four sisters and a brother.

Michelle grew up in Oak Park, Illinois and went to St. Edmunds in Oak Park for elementary schooling and later on moved to William Beye Elementary. She graduated in 1992 with a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Notre Dame. Later on, she did MFA from the University of Minnesota in Creative Writing.

Michelle married Patton Oswalt on September 24, 2005, and they had a daughter, Alice, on April 15, 2009.

Facts About Michelle McNamara

Michelle McNamara was a talented writer and investigative journalist who dedicated her career to uncovering the truth behind unsolved crimes, particularly the case of the Golden State Killer.

She coined the term "Golden State Killer" in her efforts to bring attention to the series of crimes committed by the elusive perpetrator.

Michelle McNamara's book "I'll Be Gone in the Dark," which detailed her investigation into the Golden State Killer, became a bestseller and brought renewed interest to the case.

She was known for her tenacity and dedication to seeking justice for the victims of unsolved crimes, earning the respect of both law enforcement and fellow journalists.

Michelle McNamara's work continues to inspire others to pursue justice and seek closure for victims and their families through her legacy of thorough investigative journalism.

Michelle McNamara Biography

You wanted to know

What was Michelle McNamara's book about?

Where did Michelle McNamara attend college?

What inspired Michelle McNamara to pursue a career in writing?

How did Michelle McNamara contribute to the capture of the Golden State Killer?

What impact did Michelle McNamara's work have on the true crime genre?