Who was ‘Dating Game Killer’ Rodney Alcala and how did he die?
RODNEY Alcala is a convicted serial killer. Known as the “Dating Game Killer,” Alcala died on July 24, 2021 at a California hospital. Who was ‘Dating Game Killer’ Rodney Alcala? Alcala was a convicted killer known for his appearance on the TV show, The Dating Game back in 1978. Following his killing spree, he was […]
RODNEY Alcala is a convicted serial killer.
Known as the “Dating Game Killer,” Alcala died on July 24, 2021 at a California hospital.
Who was ‘Dating Game Killer’ Rodney Alcala?
Alcala was a convicted killer known for his appearance on the TV show, The Dating Game back in 1978.
Following his killing spree, he was sentenced to death after being found guilty of murdering more than five people, including a 12-year-old girl.
“You’re talking about a guy who is hunting through Southern California looking for people to kill because he enjoys it,” Matt Murphy, an Orange County, California, prosecutor said during his trial.
Back in 1978, Alcala was the winner of The Dating Game after being introduced as the “successful photographer.”
Despite winning, bachelorette Cheryl Bradshaw refused to go on the winning date with him because she thought he was “creepy.”
Prior to his murder conviction, Alcala had spent 4 1/2 years behind bars on a previous convictions of furnishing marijuana to a minor and kidnapping and trying to kill an 8-year-old girl.
How did Rodney Alcala die?
According to the California Department of Corrections, Alcala died at 1:43am of natural causes.
New York 4 reported that for years, Rodney had been housed in a prison in Corcoran so he could receive around the clock medical care, but for what is unknown.
Who are Rodney Alcala’s victims?
While Alcala was sentenced to death, he was only convicted of seven murders. Authorities believed that he took part in many more and that his true victim count might not ever be known.
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Alcala’s known victims include:
- Robin Samsoe, 12
- Jill Barcom, 18
- Georgia Wixted, 27
- Charlotte Lamb, 32
- Jill Parenteau, 21
- Cornelia Crilley
- Jane Hover
- Christine Ruth Thornton, 28
In 2016, DNA evidence connected him to the 1977 death of Thornton but prosecutors said Alcala was too ill to face trial.
While these are the only known victims of Alcala, in 2010, authorities released more than 100 photos of woman and girls to the public that were found in his storage lover in hopes they could be identified.