True-crime author Shanna Hogan, known for Jodi Arias book, dies after falling into pool

PHOENIX — Author Shanna Hogan, best known for her popular true-crime book “Picture Perfect: The Jodi Arias Story,” has died at age 38, multiple news outlets are reporting.

According to her obituary, Hogan suffered a brain injury after falling into her swimming pool Aug. 27 in Phoenix, Arizona. She died Sept. 1 at a nearby hospital, the Arizona Republic reported.

Hogan’s New York Times bestselling book, “Picture Perfect: The Jodi Arias Story,” delved into the widely watched trial of Arias, who was convicted in 2013 of first-degree murder in the 2008 killing of her ex-boyfriend, Travis Alexander, the Republic reported. Arias is now serving a life sentence.

Hogan, a journalist and journalism instructor at Arizona State University, also wrote the true-crime books “Secrets of a Marine’s Wife,” “The Stranger She Loved” and “Dancing With Death,” according to her obituary.

Hogan is survived by her husband, Matt LaRussa, and their toddler son, Zander, the Republic reported.

In a Facebook post Friday, LaRussa remembered Hogan as an “amazing wife” and “best friend to me and thousands.”

“Most people know you as a New York Times best seller, teacher, author, mentor,” he wrote. “And people close to you know you for being happy, kind, thoughtful and a amazing person. I know you as an amazing best friend, wife, mother, confidant, partner, caring, emotional, supporting partner that never judged me, loved me for who I was and made me a better man, nah human. You have touched so many people in the world and they will miss you. But I lost my life.”

LaRussa added that Hogan donated her organs, which have helped save four people.

As of Wednesday morning, a GoFundMe campaign for Hogan’s family had raised more than $18,000. Learn more here.

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Dawn Wells FILE PHOTO: Actress Dawn Wells attends the 2015 TV Land Awards at Saban Theatre on April 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California. Wells died Wednesday of illness related to COVID-19. She was 82. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

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