Police may have caught the Golden State Killer — and people are thanking Patton Oswalt’s late wife, Michelle McNamara
In the 1970s and 1980s, Northern California faced a rash of rapes and murders, all allegedly carried out by the same man: the Golden State Killer. For decades, the case remained one of the most notorious unsolved mysteries in history, but now, Sacramento police have arrested a suspect — and it might be thanks in part to Patton Oswalt’s late wife, Michelle McNamara.
The Sacramento Bee reported today, April 25th, that police have arrested 72-year-old Joseph James DeAngelo in connection to the case. DeAngelo is believed to have raped 45 people and committed 12 murders throughout the state of California from 1976 to 1986.
McNamara, who was married to Oswalt until her death in 2016, had long been intrigued by the case of the Golden State Killer (sometimes called the East Area Rapist). According to The Guardian, she began compiling information about the serial killer in 2007, which she later used to write an article for Los Angeles magazine. At the time of her death, she had been working on a book about the case, and, in late February, Oswalt posthumously released it, titled I’ll Be Gone in the Dark.
The true crime book was a smash success, rocketing to the top of the bestseller charts. And now that Sacramento police may have caught the Golden State Killer, many, including the team behind I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, are lauding McNamara’s investigative reporting.
A huge day for fans of #MichelleMcNamara as it appears that the #GoldenStateKiller aka #EastAreaRapist has been caught! This would not have been possible without her dedication and sleuthing! <3
— Midnight Book Girl (@Midnghtbookgirl) April 25, 2018
When you read the suspect was once arrested for shoplifting “dog repellant and a hammer” in Sacramento. #goldenstatekiller #michellemcnamara #IllBeGoneInTheDark pic.twitter.com/KjWDbwIboH
— Billy Jensen (@Billyjensen) April 25, 2018
On the night when all of Michelle’s collaborators were together for the first time, in Michelle’s hometown, with Michelle’s family present, the monster we sought is simultaneously taken into custody. I’m a rational man, but I can’t help but feel this transcends coincidence.
— Paul Haynes (@ThePaulOfHaynes) April 25, 2018
#MichelleMcNamara you are a true hero. I hope you are looking down and smiling. #IllBeGoneInTheDark .
— Marah Mason (@MarahMason) April 25, 2018
I just want people to spare a thought for Michelle McNamara who tragically passed away while writing 'I'll be gone in the Dark'. She did a lot to help publicise #GSK & get the word out. It would of been fitting for her to see the EARONS unmasked. #goldenstatekiller
— Dabs McGee Now with Booster. (@leighoneills) April 25, 2018
Just read an article crediting Michelle McNamara’s investigation and got choked up. If this is him, she did it. She got him.
— Crown Jules (@juliarosethorn) April 25, 2018
This from Michelle McNamara gave me chills. No doubt her reporting had a huge part in the Golden State killer being caught. pic.twitter.com/ByyyqX1HLf
— Franny Glass (@frannypglass) April 25, 2018
I was listening to #IllBeGoneInTheDark when I read the news that they may have caught the EAR/ONS/GSK and I am FREAKING OUT. #MichelleMcNamara you are one badass lady and this is the best possible tribute you and your amazing work.
— Penysaurous_Rex (@Penysaurous_rex) April 25, 2018
According to the Daily Beast, the Bee reported that DeAngelo’s arrest came in the wake of a “renewed push” to solve the case on the part of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department. Although it’s not clear whether or not the county’s decision was affected by McNamara’s reporting, the true crime book has had an undeniable impact.
Sacramento police will be holding a press conference at 12 p.m. PST today to discuss the arrest. And although McNamara won’t be there to see the efforts of her reporting come to fruition, Oswalt will be there in her place. On Twitter, Oswalt wrote that he would like to meet with DeAngelo face-to-face in order to read the suspected serial killer questions from McNamara’s “Letter to an Old Man” printed at the back of her book.
If they’ve really caught the #GoldenStateKiller I hope I get to visit him. Not to gloat or gawk — to ask him the questions that @TrueCrimeDiary wanted answered in her “Letter To An Old Man” at the end of #IllBeGoneInTheDark. pic.twitter.com/32EHSzBct5
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) April 25, 2018
"Open the door. Show us your face. Walk in to the light." Girl, you did it ❤️#todayintruecrime #MichelleMcNamara #IllBeGoneInTheDark #GoldenStateKiller #EARONS #eastarearapist pic.twitter.com/5DccrSwGB6
— NRWM Podcast (@NRWMpodcast) April 25, 2018
If DeAngelo is convicted, this will mean that one of the most horrific murder cases in history has been closed. We wish McNamara could have lived to see this moment, but thanks to her dedicated reporting, her legacy will live on.
