Man Who Killed Over 100 Dies on Death Row
Authorities believe that Rodney Alcala, also known as "The Dating Game Killer," may have murdered up to 130 people, with the actual number of victims remaining a mystery. Here are 10 facts about the serial killer you might not have known until now.
#1. He fled Los Angeles to evade conviction.
After fleeing Los Angeles to evade a sex offender conviction in 1968, Alcala relocated to New York City, where he enrolled in film classes at New York University. Reflecting on the investigation, former Los Angeles Police Department detective Steve Hodel told CBS News, "We kept coming up empty. Back then, you know, we didn't have a lot of the forensics you have today."
#2. He murdered a woman in NYC.
In 1971, while living in New York City, Alcala allegedly murdered 23-year-old flight attendant Cornelia Crilley. Although the New York Police Department launched an investigation, they were unable to solve her case at the time. Alcala soon left NYC, changed his identity, and took a job at a summer camp in New Hampshire. It was there that two young girls recognized him from an FBI Most Wanted poster. Authorities arrested him, and he was eventually convicted for the brutal assault of 8-year-old Tali Shapiro. Alcala accepted a plea deal and was registered as a sex offender, CBS News reports. Remarkably, just three years later, he was back on the streets.
#3. He was selected to be on 'The Dating Game.'
On Sept. 13, 1978, Alcala made a memorable appearance on "The Dating Game," where he was introduced as a successful photographer, as reported by ABC News. The contestant, Cheryl Bradshaw, engaged in playful banter with Alcala throughout the show. Unbeknownst to the audience, Alcala had already killed at least five women by the time he appeared on the popular game show.
#4. The show didn't conduct a background check.
Mike Metzger, executive producer of "The Dating Game," and his wife, Ellen Metzger, contestant coordinator, told ABC News that they didn't have a system for background checks available to them. Nobody who worked on the show knew that Alcala was a convicted sex offender.
#5. He never went on the date he won.
Though Bradshaw chose Alcala on "The Dating Game," she never actually went on a date with him. She later called Ellen Metzger and said she didn't want to go on a date with Alcala because she was getting a weird feeling about him.
#6. He was arrested and charged for kidnapping and murder.
Serial killer Rodney Alcala in a 1979 police mug shot. Photo courtesy of the Huntington Police Department. Public domain.
On July 24, 1979, Rodney Alcala was arrested and charged with the abduction and murder of 12-year-old Robin Samsoe after abducting her from Huntington Beach. During the investigation, authorities discovered a storage locker in Seattle tied to Alcala. Inside, they found "hundreds, if not thousands," of photographs according to Matt Murphy, Orange County Deputy D.A., as reported by CBS News. They also found a pair of earrings that had belonged to Robin.
#7. He was found guilty.
In 1980, Alcala was convicted of first-degree murder for the killing of Samsoe. At the time, the Los Angeles Times reported that the jury determined Alcala should face the death penalty. Friends of Samsoe testified that on the day she disappeared, Alcala had tried to photograph her at the beach. Additionally, inmates from the Orange County Jail testified that Alcala admitted to luring Samsoe into his car by offering to take her to dance lessons that afternoon.
#8. He was connected to more murders in 2010.
In 2010, Alcala was linked to the murders of Cornelia Crilley and Ellen Hover — 39 and 33 years after their deaths, respectively. Manhattan Prosecutor Melissa Mourges reported that fingerprints found on a letter near Cornelia's body were ultimately traced back to Alcala, and a bite mark on her body matched his dental records. Around the same time, DNA evidence also connected Alcala to four additional murders in the Los Angeles area.
#9. He may have killed over 130 people.
Reports speculate that Alcala may have murdered as many as 130 people across the United States, according to PEOPLE. In court, prosecutor Matt Murphy described him as "a guy who is hunting through Southern California looking for people to kill because he enjoys it," as reported by BuzzFeed.
#10. He died in prison.
In 2021, Alcala died of natural causes while still on California's death row. He was 77 years old and had been awaiting execution at San Quentin prison in the Bay Area.
Alcala's violent killing spree across the U.S., and his appearance on "The Dating Game," showcase how some dangers are hidden in plain sight.
References: The True Story Behind Woman of the Hour: Inside Serial Killer Rodney Alcala's Infamous TV Show Appearance — and How He Finally Got Caught| 17 Facts About The Real Rodney Alcala, AKA "The Dating Game" Killer, That You Probably Don't Know | Serial killer Rodney Alcala's trail of murder | A close call: How serial killer Rodney Alcala appeared on 'The Dating Game' and won ]
