Crime writer Michelle McNamara, wife of Patton Oswalt, dies at 46

Michelle McNamara and Patton Oswalt
(Image credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Crime writer Michelle McNamara, who was married to comedian Patton Oswalt, died Thursday at 46, her publicist told The Associated Press on Friday. She died in her sleep. No cause was given, and her death came as a "complete shock," said Kevin McLaughlin.

McNamara founded the website True Crime Diary, where she focused mostly on murder cases that didn't garner much public attention.

"It's the ones that really don't get that much attention that interest me because I think what's interesting about them is there's more stuff to be unearthed that hasn't been in the public yet, and you can do it," she wrote.

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McNamara is survived by Oswalt and their 7-year-old daughter, Alice.

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Julie Kliegman

Julie Kliegman is a freelance writer based in New York. Her work has appeared in BuzzFeed, Vox, Mental Floss, Paste, the Tampa Bay Times and PolitiFact. Her cats can do somersaults.