Michelle Mcnamara wife to actor Patton Oswalt dies @ age 46

NEW YORK (AP) — Michelle McNamara, a crime writer and wife of comedian and actor Patton Oswalt, has died at her home in Los Angeles, according to Oswalt's publicist. McNamara was 46.

Kevin McLaughlin of Main Stage Public Relations said Friday that McNamara died in her sleep Thursday. No cause was given.

McNamara graduated from the University of Notre Dame and received a master's degree in creative writing from the University of Minnesota. She founded the website True Crime Diary, which covers both breaking stories and cold cases.

In a 2007 online interview, McNamara said she started the blog almost as a lark. "I wanted to get more involved in the cases that were fueling my own curiosity," she said.

She didn't focus on the big celebrity murder case but ones that were smaller and out of the public eye. She wrote about the Golden State Killer and the 1976 murder of nurse Melanie Howell.

"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."

Oswalt is a comedian whose TV credits include "Veep," ''Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." and "The King of Queens" and films including "Magnolia," ''Starsky & Hutch" and "Ratatouille." McNamara and Oswalt married in 2005.

Besides her husband, McNamara is survived by 7-year-old daughter Alice.

Michelle Mcnamara wife to actor Patton Oswalt dies @ age 46

What a shame. So young.

Re: Michelle Mcnamara wife to actor Patton Oswalt dies @ age 46

I couldn't believe this! I really like Patton Oswalt and feel terrible for him and their daughter. I wonder what happened...

Michelle Mcnamara wife to actor Patton Oswalt dies @ age 46

I can't imagine going to bed thinking it's just like every other night and waking up to your spouse being dead. As awful as cancer is, you at least have the chance to get affairs in order and say good bye. Such a sad time for their family.