"He's well liked all of his professors adore him. And even with a name and a face on this crime, it doesn't change the fact that he's gone." — Ashley Flowers (referring to Rodney Alcala's ability to evade immediate capture despite being identified.)
"But the parole board at the time was really big into the idea that sex offenders could be rehabilitated. And even though it clearly didn't work the first time for Rodney, something made them think that maybe the second time did." — Ashley Flowers (highlighting a flawed rehabilitation focus that allowed Alcala further opportunities to offend.)
"And with his conviction and sentencing his story should be over. But in fact, the nightmare is just beginning because in 1984 Rodney Alcala's conviction for Robbins murder is overturned by the California Supreme Court." — Ashley Flowers (illustrating the protracted and challenging legal battles involved in prosecuting Alcala.)
This episode of Crime Junkie chronicles the disturbing life and crimes of Rodney Alcala, often referred to as the "Dating Game Killer." The narrative begins with the 1968 attempted kidnapping of an eight-year-old girl, Tally Shapiro, highlighting how Alcala's manipulation and a vigilant witness led to his initial identification. Despite being a suspect with photographic evidence of his obsession, Alcala escaped immediate capture and successfully adopted new identities, even attending film school at NYU. The episode details his repeated ability to evade law enforcement, including his appearance on the popular television show "The Dating Game" in 1978, where he won a date but the bachelorette ultimately declined to go with him, a decision that likely saved her life.
The report details how Alcala's crimes spanned years and multiple states, often involving young women and girls. His conviction for the murder of Robin Samso in 1980 was later overturned due to improper jury instructions regarding his prior offenses, leading to a protracted legal battle. The advent of advanced forensic techniques, particularly DNA analysis, in the early 2000s became crucial in finally connecting Alcala to numerous other victims, including those he murdered between 1977 and 1979. This evidence allowed prosecutors to consolidate charges and pursue a comprehensive case against him.
Ultimately, Alcala was convicted of capital murder for the deaths of five individuals and sentenced to death multiple times, though his appeals process was lengthy and complex. The episode also highlights the release of Alcala's extensive photography collection, which contained hundreds of images of women and girls, leading to the identification of further potential victims and expanding the scope of his predatory activities across different states. Despite his convictions and ongoing legal proceedings, Alcala's case underscores the devastating impact of a serial predator and the continuous effort required to identify all his victims.