Rodney Alcala: The Story of the “Dating Game Killer” and the Survivors Who Escaped Him

What makes a predator so dangerous is not always their claws or teeth but their ability to blend in. Rodney Alcala was not the shadowy figure lurking in the city’s dark alleys. He was the charming man next door, the engaging contestant on a prime-time television show, and a self-proclaimed artist behind the camera. Behind this disarming exterior lay a monster who preyed on trust, innocence, and vulnerability. The man who smiled his way into millions of homes through The Dating Game was, in reality, a sadistic serial killer whose crimes left scars not just on his victims but on society’s collective sense of safety. This is the chilling story of Alcala’s double life, the horrifying reality behind the camera lens, and the two women whose courage allowed them to escape his deadly grasp.

Who was Rodney Alcala?

Rodney Alcala, born Rodrigo Jacques Alcala-Buquor on August 23, 1943, was an American serial killer and sex offender who gained notoriety for his horrific crimes and his unsettling appearance on the television show The Dating Game. Alcala’s early life was marked by a move from Mexico to Los Angeles at eight and a short stint in the U.S. Army. He was discharged in 1964 following a nervous breakdown and allegations of sexual misconduct. Despite these early warning signs, he graduated from the University of California and briefly attended film school at New York University under the tutelage of Roman Polanski.

By the time Alcala appeared on The Dating Game in 1978, he had already committed at least five murders. Unaware of his dark history, the show’s producers introduced him as a “successful photographer,” a title that ironically helped him lure his victims. Known as “The Dating Game Killer,” Alcala’s charm masked the horrifying reality of his sadistic double life, during which he murdered women and young girls across multiple states. His crimes spanned the 1960s and 1970s, with investigators later estimating that his victim count could exceed 100.

What crimes did Rodney Alcala commit?

Alcala was convicted of murdering seven women and girls between 1971 and 1979. However, authorities believe he may have killed many more. His known victims include:

• Robin Samsoe, a 12-year-old girl, was abducted while walking to ballet class in Huntington Beach in 1979. Her remains were discovered days later.
• Jill Barcomb, 18, was found murdered in 1977 after moving to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.
• Georgia Wixted, 27, a pediatric cancer nurse, was sexually assaulted and killed in her apartment in 1977.
• Charlotte Lamb, 32, was found murdered in an apartment laundry room in 1978.
• Jill Parenteau, 21, was killed in her home in 1979.
• Cornelia Crilley, 23, a TWA flight attendant, was murdered in New York in 1971.
• Ellen Jane Hover, 23, an aspiring conductor whose remains were found on the Rockefeller estate in 1977.

Alcala’s predatory behaviour often included stalking his victims, sexually assaulting them, and keeping trophies such as jewellery from the women he murdered. His crimes were characterized by extreme violence, often involving rape, strangulation, and mutilation. In one particularly gruesome detail, investigators discovered over 100 photos in Alcala’s Seattle storage locker depicting young women, men, and children in explicit or suggestive poses.

Who escaped Rodney Alcala?

Two women—Tali Shapiro and Morgan Rowan—escaped Rodney Alcala’s vicious attacks. Their survival is a testament to both their resilience and the intervention of bystanders.

What happened to Tali Shapiro?

Tali Shapiro was only eight when she encountered Alcala on September 25, 1968. Walking to school along Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, she reluctantly accepted a ride from Alcala after he claimed to know her parents. Once in his home, Alcala assaulted her and left her for dead. A bystander named Donald Haines, who had noticed Alcala’s suspicious behaviour, followed them and alerted the police.

When officers arrived, they found Shapiro in a pool of blood with a metal bar across her neck. She had suffered a brutal beating and required over 27 stitches in her head. Despite her severe injuries, she survived thanks to the timely intervention of Haines and the police. Alcala managed to escape, but his ID was left behind at the scene, eventually leading to his capture.

Why didn’t Tali Shapiro testify against Rodney Alcala?

Shapiro’s parents decided against allowing her to testify in court, fearing the trauma it could cause her as a child. As a result, prosecutors lacked a key witness, leading Alcala to plead guilty to child molestation. He served a mere 34 months in prison before being released, allowing him to continue his murderous spree.

What happened to Morgan Rowan?

Morgan Rowan first encountered Alcala in 1965 when she was 13 years old. She met him in the parking lot of a teen nightclub, where his charisma initially disarmed her. During this encounter, Alcala assaulted Rowan by slamming her head against a wall and pinning her under a dumpster. The nightclub owner and his wife rescued her.

Three years later, in 1968, Rowan crossed paths with Alcala again. On this occasion, he lured her and her friends to his home under the guise of socializing. Once there, Alcala isolated Rowan, beat her, and bound her with a belt and necktie. As he prepared to kill her, Rowan’s friend Mike broke into the room and rescued her. Rowan escaped the house and sought help from a passing car.

Where are Tali Shapiro and Morgan Rowan now?

Shapiro and Rowan both survived their encounters with Alcala and have gone on to rebuild their lives. Shapiro, who lives in Palm Springs, California, has been vocal about her experiences, testifying against Alcala during his 2010 trial. She reflected on Alcala’s death in 2021, “The planet is a better place without him.”

Rowan chronicled her ordeal in her 2023 book, Stolen from Sunset: A True Story of Surviving the Dating Game Killer. Her journey toward healing included reaching out to Shapiro to apologize for not reporting Alcala earlier. Shapiro forgave her, and the two have since developed a close friendship, referring to one another as a chosen family. Rowan continues to advocate for women’s safety, sharing her story to raise awareness.

How was Rodney Alcala finally brought to justice?

Alcala’s capture came in 1979 after the murder of Robin Samsoe. Witnesses helped identify him, and DNA evidence later linked him to several other murders. He was convicted in 2010 on five counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. Despite his sentence, Alcala remained on death row until his death from natural causes in 2021.

FAQs

What is Rodney Alcala’s nickname? Rodney Alcala is infamously known as “The Dating Game Killer,” named after his unsettling appearance on the TV show The Dating Game in 1978.

How many people did Rodney Alcala kill? Alcala was convicted of murdering seven women and girls, but investigators believe his actual victim count could exceed 100.

What happened to Rodney Alcala? Rodney Alcala died of natural causes on July 24, 2021, while awaiting execution on death row in California.

What inspired Netflix’s Woman of the Hour? Netflix’s Woman of the Hour, directed by Anna Kendrick, dramatizes Alcala’s appearance on The Dating Game and the subsequent revelation of his crimes.

Who were the survivors of Rodney Alcala? Tali Shapiro and Morgan Rowan are two women who survived Rodney Alcala’s brutal attacks, later using their experiences to advocate for justice and awareness.