History of Patricia Cornwell in Timeline
Patricia Cornwell is a renowned American crime writer, best known for her Kay Scarpetta series. These novels, primarily set in Richmond, Virginia, follow the medical examiner as she solves crimes using forensic science. The series, inspired by real-life murders, has sold over 120 million copies and influenced the portrayal of police work on television. Cornwell has also undertaken independent research into the Jack the Ripper case, suggesting Walter Sickert as a suspect.
June 9, 1956: Birth of Patricia Cornwell
Patricia Cornwell was born Patricia Carroll Daniels on June 9, 1956, in Miami, Florida.
1961: Taken in by Ruth Bell Graham
Following the family's relocation to Montreat in 1961, Ruth Bell Graham took in Patricia Cornwell and her brothers, arranging for them to be raised by Lenore and Manfred Saunders.
1961: Family Separation and Relocation
In 1961, Patricia Cornwell's father left the family, and her mother, Marilyn, moved with her three children to Montreat, North Carolina.
1979: Graduation from Davidson College
Patricia Cornwell graduated from Davidson College with a B.A. in English in 1979.
1979: Career Begins at The Charlotte Observer
Patricia Cornwell started working as a reporter for The Charlotte Observer in 1979.
June 14, 1980: Marriage to Charles L. Cornwell
On June 14, 1980, Patricia Cornwell married Charles L. Cornwell, her former professor.
1980: Investigative Reporting Award and Marriage
In 1980, Cornwell received the North Carolina Press Association's Investigative Reporting Award and married Charles Cornwell.
1981: Move to Richmond and Start of Biography
Cornwell moved to Richmond, Virginia, with her husband in 1981 and began working on Ruth Bell Graham's biography.
1983: Publication of Ruth Bell Graham Biography
Cornwell published the biography "A Time for Remembering: The Ruth Bell Graham Story" in 1983.
1984: Begins First Novel and Meets Marcella Farinelli Fierro
Cornwell began working on her first novel in 1984 and met Dr. Marcella Farinelli Fierro, the inspiration for Kay Scarpetta.
1985: Starts Work at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
Cornwell started working at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia in 1985.
1985: Gold Medallion Book Award
The biography of Ruth Bell Graham received the Gold Medallion Book Award in 1985.
1987: Inspiration for Postmortem
The real-life stranglings that inspired Cornwell's first published novel, Postmortem, occurred in Richmond during the summer of 1987.
1989: Relationship with Margo Bennett
In 1989, Patricia Cornwell's relationship with FBI agent Marguerite "Margo" Bennett became public following an incident involving Bennett's estranged husband.
1989: Separation from Charles L. Cornwell
Patricia Cornwell separated from her husband, Charles L. Cornwell, in 1989, retaining her married name after the divorce.
1990: Publication of Postmortem and Awards
Cornwell published "Postmortem" in 1990, which won several awards, including the Edgar Award, the John Creasey Award, and the Prix du Roman d'Adventure.
January 10, 1993: Drunk Driving Conviction
Cornwell was convicted of drunk driving on January 10, 1993, and sentenced to time in a treatment center.
1998: Political Contributions
Beginning in 1998, Patricia Cornwell started making donations to both the Republican and Democratic parties and contributing to individual political campaigns.
1998: Publication of "The Virginia Ghost Murders"
Leslie Sachs published "The Virginia Ghost Murders" in 1998, a novel he later claimed had similarities to Cornwell's work.
1999: Obtained Private Helicopter License
Patricia Cornwell obtained her private helicopter license in 1999.
2000: Narrative Shift in Scarpetta Novels
Cornwell's Scarpetta novels shifted from past tense to present tense, starting with "The Last Precinct" in 2000.
2000: Plagiarism Allegations by Leslie Sachs
Leslie Sachs began making plagiarism allegations against Cornwell in 2000, which led to legal action.
2001: Controversy over Sickert Painting
Cornwell faced criticism in 2001 for allegedly damaging a Walter Sickert painting during her Jack the Ripper investigation.
2002: Publication of "Portrait of a Killer"
Cornwell published "Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper—Case Closed" in 2002, proposing her theory about Walter Sickert being Jack the Ripper.
2003: Further Narrative Shift
The Scarpetta novels shifted from first-person to third-person omniscient narration with the publication of "Blow Fly" in 2003.
2004: Financial Management Entrusted to Anchin, Block & Anchin
Cornwell hired Anchin, Block & Anchin to manage her finances in 2004.
2006: Marriage to Staci Gruber
Patricia Cornwell married Staci Gruber, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard University, in 2006.
2007: Legal Victory Against Leslie Sachs
Cornwell won a libel suit against Leslie Sachs in 2007, receiving damages for defamatory accusations.
2007: Public Disclosure of Marriage to Staci Gruber
In 2007, Patricia Cornwell publicly revealed her marriage to Staci Gruber.
2008: Public Discussion of Bipolar Disorder
Around 2008, Patricia Cornwell openly discussed her experiences with bipolar disorder.
July 2009: Financial Dispute with Anchin, Block & Anchin
In July 2009, Patricia Cornwell discovered that her net worth, along with that of her company, Cornwell Entertainment Inc., was significantly lower than expected despite substantial earnings in the preceding years, leading her to terminate her relationship with the financial management firm, Anchin, Block & Anchin.
2010: Return to First-Person Narration
Cornwell returned to first-person narration for the Scarpetta novel "Port Mortuary" in 2010.
January 2013: Lawsuit against Anchin, Block & Anchin
In January 2013, Patricia Cornwell initiated a lawsuit against Anchin, Block & Anchin, seeking $100 million in damages.
2015: Misdiagnosis Statement
In 2015, Patricia Cornwell stated that she had been misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder.
2017: Publication of "Ripper: The Secret Life of Walter Sickert"
Cornwell published "Ripper: The Secret Life of Walter Sickert" in 2017, further exploring her theory about Walter Sickert.