Patton Oswalt Reflects On Late Wife's Legacy 10 Years After Her Death

Patton Oswalt Reflects On Late Wifes Legacy 10 Years After Her Death...

Comedian Patton Oswalt is trending today as fans commemorate the 10-year anniversary of his wife Michelle McNamara's unexpected death. The true crime writer and creator of the "Golden State Killer" investigative blog died in her sleep on April 21, 2016, at age 46 from an undiagnosed heart condition mixed with prescription medications.

Oswalt, 56, shared a heartfelt Instagram post this week honoring McNamara's enduring influence. He posted a black-and-white photo of her writing with the caption: "10 years without you. Still teaching me, still making me laugh." The tribute has garnered over 120,000 likes since Wednesday.

McNamara's posthumous book "I'll Be Gone in the Dark" became a New York Times bestseller and HBO docuseries after Oswalt helped complete her unfinished manuscript about the Golden State Killer case. Her work directly contributed to the 2018 arrest of Joseph James DeAngelo, the serial rapist and murderer who terrorized California from 1974-1986.

The couple married in 2005 and had one daughter, Alice, now 14. Oswalt has since remarried to actress Meredith Salenger in 2017, who frequently shares blended family moments with Alice on social media.

Fans are flooding social media with support for Oswalt this week, praising how he's kept McNamara's memory alive while rebuilding his life. Many note how openly he's discussed grief, including in his 2017 Netflix special "Annihilation," which addressed losing McNamara just two years into their marriage.

True crime communities are also recognizing McNamara's groundbreaking investigative work today. The Los Angeles Times republished her original 2013 article that first connected the Golden State Killer cases, while the podcast "My Favorite Murder" dedicated today's episode to her legacy.

Oswalt told The New York Times in 2018 that completing McNamara's book was "the hardest creative experience" of his life. He worked with journalist Billy Jensen and researcher Paul Haynes to finish the manuscript, which became a cultural phenomenon upon its July 2018 release - just months after DeAngelo's arrest.

The anniversary comes as Oswalt prepares for his new comedy tour "Who's Ready to Laugh?" launching May 12 in Chicago. Promotional materials suggest he'll address grief, parenting, and moving forward - themes that have defined his stand-up since McNamara's passing.