[1][2] McKibbens was born Rachel Anne Camacho in Anaheim, California, and raised in Santa Ana.
She and her younger brother were separated in the foster care system before their father gained custody of them.
[5][6] In reviewing her book Pink Elephant, a critic for The Rumpus said "McKibbens awakens and haunts with selfless honesty.
"[7] Publishers Weekly gave a positive review of her book blud, saying "The poems feature razor-sharp imagery, and McKibbens exhibits an ear attuned to sonic texture.
[10] The story of their deaths, along with McKibbens' family history, became the subject of the 2022 podcast We Were Three, produced by Serial and The New York Times.