The first episode of HBO’s I’ll Be Gone in the Darkwas released on June 28. The true crime documentaryseries revolves around MichelleMcNamara’s book of the same name. Before her death, McNamara was heavily involvedin investigating the Golden State Killer, a serial rapist, and killer whoterrorized citizens of California between 1974 and 1986 before going dormant. InApril 2018, Joseph DeAngelo was arrested for the crimes, just two months afterMcNamara’s book was released posthumously. He stands accused of at least 13murders, 50 rapes, and 100 burglaries and is expected to plead guilty on June29.
Who is Michelle McNamara?
McNamara, the author of I’llBe Gone In the Dark, was a television writer before starting her blog, TrueCrime Diary. On the blog, McNamara wrote about cold cases but paid specificattention to a series of crimes committed in California between 1974 and 1986. Herattention to detail, and desire to uncover who was behind the string of heinouscrimes spiraled into an obsession.
McNamara, who married PattonOswalt in 2005, is often credited with giving the killer the moniker he isbest known by. Before McNamara dubbed him The Golden State Killer, theperpetrator was known by multiple names, including The Visalia Ransacker, The OriginalNightstalker, and The East Area Rapist.
RELATED: ‘I’ll Be Gone In The Dark’: What Is the New HBO Docuseries About?
McNamara died in April 2016, two years before DeAngelo wascharged with the crimes that occupied so much of her time. Upon theannouncement of his arrest, Oswalt paid tribute to his late wife on socialmedia.
Did Michelle McNamara help capture the Golden State Killer?
The announcement of DeAngelo’s arrest caught the world bysurprise. It was just two months after McNamara’s book was published. Oswaltwas still working on promoting the nonfiction offering, and readers were stillworking their way through the 352 pages of information. One would assume, giventhe timing, that something inside the book led to the capture. According to MarieClaire, that’s not the case. While the Sheriff’s department noted that McNamara’sblog and the book might have renewed interest in the case, they insist therewas nothing inside the pages that led them directly to DeAngelo. Instead, a DNAmatch through a genealogy database helped identify the suspect.
McNamara may not have found DeAngelo herself, but the profileshe developed from countless hours of research was incredibly close to the manwho would eventually be charged with the crimes. McNamara theorized that theperpetrator had a background in the military or the police, for example. DeAngelois a Navy veteran who went on to work as a police officer for a brief time.
Popular blogs and podcasts have led to the closing of highprofiles cases before
While the sheriff’s department has failed to credit McNamarawith helping to solve the case, they have, at least, admitted that McNamara didhelp to bring renewed interest and increased tips. She is not the first, norwill she be the last, citizendetective that has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about long-forgottencases. Occasionally, that awareness kicks investigations into high gear andhelps bring killers to justice.
RELATED: 7True-Crime Podcasts That Will Leave You Convinced Your Neighbor Is a Murderer
Payne Lindsey’spodcast, Upand Vanished, renewed interestin the disappearance of Tara Grinstead. Grinstead, a beauty queen, and teacher vanishedmysteriously in 2005. As Lindsey recorded his podcast, a tip led the Georgia Bureauof Investigations to two friends who were charged in Grinstead’s disappearance andmurder. Investigators credited Lindsey’s podcast for bringing the case backinto focus for locals.
Filmmakers, LanceReenstierna and Tim Pilleri, are hoping for a similar outcome with their podcast,Missing Maura Murray. The duo has spent years combing over theevidence in Murray’s2004 disappearance from a lonely road in New Hampshire. The nursing studenthasn’t been seen since, but Pilleri and Reenstierna are hoping their podcast willhelp jog the memories of locals who have been reluctant to speak.
Source: Read Full Article