Los Angeles Times journalist Christopher Goffard first heard of Meehan when he learned that the police were investigating a possible murder in Newport Beach.

[4] The main focus of the story is Meehan's relationship with businesswoman Debra Newell, whom he met via an Internet dating site and married within months, as well as her immediate and extended family.

[5] Meehan was killed by Newell's younger daughter, Terra, who acted in self-defense when he tried to abduct her on the rooftop parking lot of her apartment building on August 20, 2016.

[29] Dirty John also received positive reviews from Mashable,[30] The New Yorker,[31] Rolling Stone[32] and The Daily Telegraph[33] amongst others.

It was created, produced, and written by Alexandra Cunningham, and stars Connie Britton and Eric Bana.