How a Comedian’s Obsession Helped Solve One of America’s Biggest Cold Cases
A man named Joseph James DeAngelo was living a double life in the 1970s. By day, he was a California police officer. By night, he was a sadistic criminal who broke into homes, assaulted women, and murdered families across the state. Over a decade, he committed more than 120 burglaries, attacked at least 51 women, and killed 13 people. Then, in 1986, he suddenly stopped. Around that same time, DNA forensics became a thing, and DeAngelo must have realized his luck was about to run out. So, he went quiet and lived out the next few decades like nothing had ever happened.
Fast-forward 20 years. A true crime writer named Michelle McNamara came across the unsolved series of crimes that had haunted California for decades. She was fascinated by how a man could commit so many brutal acts and still vanish into thin air. Running her blog, True Crime Diary, Michelle began researching the case, speaking with survivors, and collaborating closely with criminologist Paul Holes. She even gave the anonymous monster a name that would soon grip the country: the Golden State Killer. That new name helped focus public attention and gave investigators renewed energy to look into the case.
The Writer Who Wouldn’t Let Go
Michelle’s obsession turned into a full-blown mission. She spent years studying files, interviews, and police reports, often losing sleep and pushing herself to finish a book that might help solve the case. Her husband, comedian Patton Oswalt, known for his roles in “The King of Queens,” “Parks and Recreation,” and as the voice of Remy in “Ratatouille,” watched her pour her heart into the project. Sadly, in April 2016, Patton found Michelle dead in their Los Angeles home. She had died from a combination of an undiagnosed heart condition and prescription medication. She was only 46.
Devastated but determined, Patton decided to finish the work Michelle started. He gathered her notes, contacted her research partners, Paul Haynes and Billy Jensen, and ensured the book was published. Two years later, “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer” hit shelves and instantly became a #1 New York Times bestseller. It wasn’t just a true crime story; it was Michelle’s way of giving a voice to victims who had been forgotten.
The Breakthrough That Changed Everything
Around the same time the book was released, Paul Holes and a team of investigators employed a new method to reexamine DNA from the crime scenes. They uploaded genetic material to a genealogy website, tracing family trees until one name stood out: Joseph DeAngelo. Detectives collected his discarded trash, tested the DNA, and got a match. In April 2018, police arrested the 72-year-old former cop outside his Citrus Heights home. His quiet suburban life came crashing down.
Patton was in Chicago on a book tour when the news broke. He said it felt bittersweet. He was thrilled the killer was caught, but heartbroken that Michelle wasn’t there to see it. He later met survivors who attended court hearings, telling him how seeing DeAngelo, frail, handcuffed, and unable to meet their eyes, finally brought them peace. In that moment, Patton knew Michelle’s work had mattered.
Leaving Behind a Legacy
Even though investigators said no single clue from Michelle’s book directly led to the arrest, they admitted her work kept the case alive. Her storytelling reignited public interest and inspired renewed efforts that eventually led to the arrest of the killer. Patton put it best when he said, “You did it, Michelle. The cops are never going to say it, but your book helped get this thing closed.”
Joseph James DeAngelo now spends his days behind bars, while Michelle’s work continues to echo through her book and the 2020 HBO docuseries “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark.” She may not have lived to see justice served, but thanks to her obsession, the Golden State Killer finally lost his shadow.