The HBO Golden State Killer Doco Is Already Shaping Up To Be Your Newest True Crime Obsession
'I'll Be Gone In The Dark' tells the story of the late Michelle McNamara and her journey into finding the killer.
The first trailer for HBO’s I’ll Be Gone In The Dark teases the story of Michelle McNamara’s investigation into the Golden State Killer.
The six-part docu-series, based on the book of the same name written by McNamara, details how the true crime author managed to help catch the notorious serial killer. Sadly, McNamara died of an accidental overdose before the identity of the suspected Golden State Killer was revealed and the murder-rapist was captured.
However, it was McNamara’s research and reporting that peaked public interest in who she coined to be the Golden State Killer — a man responsible for at least 13 murders, 50 rapes and 100 burglaries across California between 1974 to 1986.
But many also believe that it was McNamara’s research that helped investigators track down and arrest Joseph James DeAngelo, a former police officer and the man suspected to be the infamous Golden State Killer. In her own words, heard in the documentary trailer, McNamara says: “After my husband and daughter fell asleep, I hunted the killer with my laptop.”
Using excerpts from the best-selling book read by Amy Ryan, I’ll Be Gone In The Dark features home video, crime scene footage, and interviews with survivors, family of the suspected killer, and even detectives who worked the case. This includes retired detective Paul Holes, who shares in the trailer that “[Michelle] had material that other investigators had never seen.”
The docu-series — directed by Liz Garbus and set to air on June 28 on HBO — focuses on McNamara’s painstaking five-year-long search for the Golden State Killer. Following her death in 2016, McNamara’s husband Patton Oswalt, along with investigative journalists Paul Haynes and Billy Jensen, helped the true crime writer finish and posthumously publish her book — just a few months prior to Joseph James DeAngelo’s arrest.
“What drives me is the need to put a face on an unknown killer,” McNamara says in the trailer. Although not around to see it, McNamara’s dedication to uncovering the Golden State Killer eventually led to DeAngelo being charged with 13 counts of murder and 13 counts of kidnapping.
As expected, fans of McNamara’s work are already online getting excited for what is likely going to be everyone’s next true crime obsession.
Just found out about the HBO trailer/teaser for I'll be gone in the dark by @TrueCrimeDiary , and holy fuck did I need something to be excited about. @PaulHoles and @KarenKilgariff … I saw you guys in it too!!!!
— Caitlin Nannini (@NanniniCaitlin) May 5, 2020
I am SO stoked for this.
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark is a heart-wrenching masterpiece.
so bittersweet that Michelle isn’t here to see her impact. https://t.co/TFZyRNGB7I
— vanessa🦋 (@obsxssi0ns) May 4, 2020
They are doing a Golden State Killer documentary!!
6 parts! Come on HBO!!— Milo Skye | Nashville GFE (@MiloSkye) May 4, 2020
I’ll Be Gone In The Dark premieres on June 28 on HBO — and will likely be accessible via Foxtel.