Renowned true crime author Ann Rule passed away last Sunday at 10:30 in the evening at Highline Medical Center in Washington. Leslie Rule, Ann Rule's daughter, posted on Facebook: "My mom died peacefully last night. She got to see all of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren."
Ann Rule was born on October 22, 1930 in Lowell, Michigan. She was the child of Chester Stackhouse and Sophie Marie Hansen. Her father worked as a sports coach and her mother was a teacher specializing in developmentally-disabled children.
Rule graduated from Coatesville High School and had a Bachelor's Degree in Creative Writing, with minors in psychology, criminology, and penology from the University of Washington. She also has an Associate Degree in crime scene investigation, police administration, arrest, search and seizure, and crime scene photography from Highline Community College. Rule also obtained a Master's Degree in Compassionate Letters from Willamette University.
Ann Rule is the author of 33 best-selling true crime books and has written more than 1,400 articles for magazines such as "True Detective." Her most notable work is a true crime classic entitled "The Stranger Beside Me," a book that features the life of notorious serial killer Ted Bundy, who happened to be her friend and co-worker.
She began her writing career in 1969 after working as a policewoman for the Seattle Police Department when she was 21.
The Seattle Police Department delivered a statement last Monday saying, "We are deeply saddened to learn the news of Ann Rule's passing. Ann was a pioneer in American policing, joining the Seattle Police Department's Women's Bureau prior to pursuing her passion for writing in 1969. As a True Crime author, Ann maintained professional friendships with her former SPD colleagues and remained an outspoken advocate for victims of violent crimes and their families. She will truly be missed."
Ann Rule is said to be the pioneer of the present time true crime genre. "A lot of writers in her genre focused on the predators," says Leslie. "That's what made her special. She had a great empathy for the victims."
The memorial service for Ann Rule is being planned to be held for a few weeks and will be open to the public. Leslie Rule requested for donations to be made to animal charities, specifically Sunny Sky's Animal Rescue in Puyallup, as her mother had a love for animals.
