Michelle McNamara

Michelle McNamara was an American true-crime writer whose posthumously published book, I'll Be Gone in the Dark, renewed attention to the Golden State Killer case.

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I'll Be Gone in the Dark: A true-crime book by Michelle McNamara about the serial rapist and murderer later identified as the Golden State Killer. McNamara’s posthumously published investigation brought the case to a broad audience.
True Crime Diary: Michelle McNamara’s blog about real crimes and criminal investigations. The blog established her voice and audience before her book-length investigation.
Forensic genealogy: The use of DNA and genealogical records to identify people or investigate biological relationships. Investigators used genetic genealogy to identify DeAngelo, complementing public attention generated by the book.
HBO: An American television network and media company known for subscription programming. HBO adapted McNamara’s book into a documentary series after its publication.
Golden State Killer: The serial rapist and murderer identified as Joseph James DeAngelo, whose crimes spanned California from 1974 to 1986. McNamara’s book focused on the crimes and the unresolved identity of their perpetrator.
Patton Oswalt: An American comedian, actor, and writer, and Michelle McNamara’s husband. Oswalt supported the completion and publication of McNamara’s unfinished book after her death.
GEDmatch: A public genealogy website that allows users to compare DNA profiles and explore family relationships. A profile uploaded to GEDmatch helped investigators trace the Golden State Killer through relatives.
I'll Be Gone in the Dark (TV series): A 2020 HBO documentary series about Michelle McNamara’s investigation and the Golden State Killer case. The series presented McNamara’s work and its aftermath to a television audience.
Joseph James DeAngelo: A former California police officer convicted of crimes attributed to the Golden State Killer. Investigators identified the offender McNamara had written about as DeAngelo in 2018.
Los Angeles: A major city in Southern California and the setting for much of McNamara’s life and work. McNamara lived and wrote in Los Angeles, where her interest in crime reporting developed.