10 Fiction Authors Who Committed Very Real Crimes

10. Blake Leibel

Blake Leibel was a Canadian comic book creator and writer who co-created the graphic novel Syndrome. In 2016, his life took a dark turn when he was convicted of torturing and murdering his fiancée, Iana Kasian. Prosecutors argued disturbing similarities between his fictional work and the crime, and he was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

9. Anne Perry

As a teenager in 1954, Anne Perry (then Juliet Hulme) took part in the murder of her friend’s mother in New Zealand. After serving time in juvenile detention, she reinvented herself in Scotland and became a successful crime novelist with dozens of books. Her past resurfaced decades later through public scrutiny.

8. William S. Burroughs

Beat Generation writer William S. Burroughs, known for Naked Lunch, accidentally shot and killed his wife during a drunken game in 1951. He fled the country afterward, received minimal punishment, and continued his literary career despite a long struggle with addiction.

7. Issei Sagawa

Issei Sagawa murdered and cannibalized a classmate in Paris in 1981. Declared legally insane in France, he avoided trial and was later released in Japan. Shockingly, he went on to publish books and media commentary after his release.

6. María Carolina Geel

Chilean author María Carolina Geel gained literary recognition in the mid-20th century but shocked the public in 1955 when she shot and killed her lover. While imprisoned, she continued writing and later resumed her literary career after being pardoned.

5. Krystian Bala

Polish writer Krystian Bala published a novel that appeared to mirror details of an unsolved murder. Years later, investigators linked him to the real crime described in his fiction, leading to his conviction and a 25-year prison sentence.

4. Alice B. Sheldon (James Tiptree Jr.)

Writing under the male pseudonym James Tiptree Jr., Alice Sheldon became a celebrated science fiction author. In 1987, she killed her ailing husband and then herself, ending the life of a deeply influential but troubled writer.

3. Michael Peterson

Author and columnist Michael Peterson, known for military and historical writing, was convicted of killing his wife in 2001. After years of legal battles and a retrial, he was eventually released under an Alford plea.

2. Albert Nussbaum

Once a bank robber and FBI Most Wanted fugitive, Albert Nussbaum later turned to writing while in prison. With guidance from novelist Dan J. Marlowe, he produced crime fiction and scripts, becoming an unlikely literary figure.

1. E. Richard Johnson

E. Richard Johnson was a criminal who turned to writing while incarcerated. His debut novel won an Edgar Award, but later drug use, escape attempts, and renewed criminal behavior derailed his literary career.