Shanna Hogan (1982–2020), bestselling true crime author

Shanna Hogan was a New York Times bestselling author of true crime books including “Picture Perfect: The Jodi Arias Story.”

• Died: September 1, 2020 (Who else died on September 1?)
• Details of death: Died by drowning at her home in Phoenix at the age of 37.
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True crime

Hogan published her first true crime book in 2011. “Dancing with Death: The True Story of a Glamorous Showgirl, Her Wealthy Husband, and a Horrifying Murder” told the story of the 2004 murder of art dealer Jay Orbin by his wife, Marjorie Orbin. Hogan’s next book, 2013’s “Picture Perfect,” was a New York Times bestseller, covering the widely publicized case of Travis Alexander’s murder by his ex-girlfriend, Jodi Arias. Hogan went on to publish “The Stranger She Loved” in 2015 and “Secrets of a Marine’s Wife” in 2019. She appeared on TV shows including “The View,” “Dateline NBC,” and “20/20,” and she cohosted the podcast “Case Closed.” Hogan was also an adjunct professor at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.

Hogan on why people like to read true crime

“I think it ties into people’s interest in reality TV. People like watching, reading and hearing about real, true-life stories. And true-crime stories are the most extreme and often the most interesting form of true-life tales. I personally enjoy stories where the bad guy is put away for life and the victim’s family finds justice.” —from a 2019 interview with Hollywood Soapbox

Tributes to Shanna Hogan

Full obituary: Arizona Republic