5 Shocking Facts About Rodney Alcala’s Notorious Crimes

Rodney Alcala, an infamous American serial killer and s*xual predator, operated during the 1970s, becoming notorious for his charisma and intellect, which he exploited to ensnare his victims. His horrific crimes were recently depicted in the Netflix film Woman of the Hour.

Directed by Anna Kendrick, Alcala’s infamy skyrocketed after he participated in the 1978 episode of The Dating Game, earning him the moniker “The Dating Game Killer.”Although he appeared on national television, Alcala was already a formidable threat. While he has been definitively linked to eight murders, law enforcement officials suspect that the true number of his victims could be as high as 130.

Alcala’s manipulative and crafty demeanor allowed him to allure victims under the guise of being a professional photographer. His capability to elude law enforcement for an extended period enabled him to perpetrate his heinous acts. To this day, his case is regarded as one of the most disturbing illustrations of serial murder in the U.S., raising numerous inquiries regarding the full scope of his offenses.

Who is Rodney Alcala?

A still from Woman of the Hour (Image via Netflix) — A still from *Woman of the Hour* (Image via Netflix)

Rodney Alcala was born into a Mexican American family in San Antonio, Texas, as the third child out of four. In 1951, his father relocated the family to Mexico, only to abandon them three years later. At the age of 11, Alcala and his family settled in Los Angeles, where he excelled academically, became well-liked, and graduated from Montebello High School.

In 1961, at the age of 17, Alcala enlisted in the U.S. Army, but after a nervous breakdown in 1964 and a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, he was discharged. He subsequently earned a degree from UCLA and studied film at NYU under the renowned director Roman Polanski. Throughout his lifetime, Alcala was diagnosed with several personality disorders, including narcissistic and borderline disorders, which were significant during his murder trials.

5 Disturbing Aspects of Rodney Alcala’s Crimes

1) The start of Alcala’s nightmare: When did it begin?

The dark saga of Rodney Alcala’s criminal actions commenced in 1968 when he abducted his first identified victim, an 8-year-old girl named Tali Shapiro, into his Los Angeles apartment. Following a brutal assault, she narrowly escaped death thanks to a passerby who contacted law enforcement.

Evading capture for several years, Alcala continued his violent rampage through the 1970s and 1980s, becoming infamously known as the Dating Game Killer.

2) Why the title “The Dating Game Killer”?

In 1978, Alcala was featured as a contestant on the popular game show The Dating Game. Introduced by host Jim Lange as a successful photographer who loved skydiving and motorcycling, his unsettling demeanor made another contestant question his behavior.

Regardless, Alcala won the date with bachelorette Cheryl Bradshaw, who ultimately refused to meet him, expressing her discomfort with him. Criminal profiler Pat Brown suggested that this rejection possibly ignited Alcala’s violent impulses, theorizing that his psychopathic traits left him incapable of processing the rejection, escalating his anger and resentment. Remarkably, Alcala went on to murder at least three more women after his televised appearance, solidifying his grim legacy.

3) The Polaroid Evidence

During 1978, Alcala operated as a fraudulent fashion photographer, persuading numerous young individuals to pose for his portfolio. His colleagues found some aspects strange but initially dismissed them. Many of these photos were explicit, featuring underage boys and girls.

In March 2010, law enforcement in Huntington Beach, California, as well as New York City, released 120 of Alcala’s photographs to the public, requesting assistance in identifying the individuals captured. Authorities raised concerns that some of these individuals might be additional victims of his crimes.

Approximately 900 more photographs were withheld from public view due to their explicit nature. In the initial weeks, 21 women came forward to confirm their identities in the photos, with six families believing they recognized loved ones who vanished long ago.

4) Alcala’s link to the Hillside Stranglers

In 1977, 18-year-old Jill Barcomb’s body was discovered in Los Angeles. She had been s*xually assaulted and beaten to death. Initially, authorities connected her murder to the notorious Hillside Stranglers, who had killed multiple women in the region. However, it was later revealed that her death was tied to Rodney Alcala instead.

Alcala, in the midst of his deadly endeavors, appeared on The Dating Game in 1978, winning a date with a woman who ultimately rejected him. He was later convicted for multiple murders, including that of Barcomb, making his cases some of the most haunting in American history.

5) The Astonishing Dual Life of Rodney Alcala

Despite engaging in such horrific acts, Alcala lived a facade of normality, functioning as a photographer and appearing on The Dating Game while continuing his violent spree. This shocking duality baffled investigators and the general public alike.

The film Woman of the Hour, now available on Netflix, dives into Alcala’s crimes and uncovers some of his chilling cases.

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