Rodney Alcala’s Victims: Unraveling the Truth Behind the Count

On October 18, 2024, Netflix unveiled the American crime thriller titled Woman of The Hour, directed by Anna Kendrick. This gripping film recounts the true story of serial killer Rodney Alcala, who notably appeared as a contestant on the TV show The Dating Game in 1978, amidst his horrifying murder spree.

Woman of The Hour sheds light on the detailed crimes associated with Alcala, focusing on the harrowing experience of Cheryl Bradshaw, who was his co-contestant on the show. The film concludes with a startling revelation about the total number of victims linked to Alcala, which is estimated to be over 130 individuals.

How many people fell victim to Rodney Alcala’s criminal acts?

At the film’s conclusion, an impactful message indicates that 130 individuals were affected by the actions of the notorious serial killer Rodney Alcala. This statistic was derived from extensive research and factual verification. While officials suspect that the true number might be even higher, only eight of Alcala’s murders have been confirmed and officially attributed to him; the remaining allegations are still under investigation.

The eight confirmed victims of Rodney Alcala are:

• Cornelia Crilley, a 23-year-old flight attendant for TWA
• Ellen Jane Hover, a 23-year-old aspiring conductor
• Robin Samsoe, a 12-year-old girl from Huntington Beach
• Jill Barcomb, an 18-year-old New Yorker who relocated to Los Angeles to pursue acting
• Georgia Wixted, a 27-year-old pediatric oncology nurse
• Christine Ruth Thornton, a 28-year-old pregnant woman
• Charlotte Lamb, a legal secretary who sought an acting career in California
• Jill Parenteau, a 21-year-old computer programmer

Overview of Netflix’s Woman of the Hour

Produced by Roy Lee, Miri Yoon, J.D. Lifshitz, and Raphael Margules, this film is inspired by actual occurrences. Although some elements have been fictionalized to enhance the viewing experience.

The official synopsis for Woman of the Hour reads:

“Woman of the Hour tells the stranger-than-fiction tale of an aspiring actress in 1970s Los Angeles and a serial killer in the midst of a prolonged murder spree, whose fates entwine when they both appear on an episode of The Dating Game.

Who stars in the film?

Leading the cast of Woman of the Hour is Anna Kendrick as Cheryl Bradshaw, the fellow contestant of Rodney Alcala on The Dating Game. Daniel Zovatto embodies the role of the infamous Rodney Alcala.

The supporting cast includes:

• Nicolette Robinson as Laura
• Tony Hale as Ed Burke (inspired by Jim Lange’s character)
• Pete Holmes as Terry
• Autumn Best as Amy (inspired by Monique Hoyt’s character)
• Kathryn Gallagher as Charlie
• Matt Visser as Bachelor number 1
• Jedidiah Goodacre as Bachelor number 2
• Jessie Fraser as Lisa
• Kelly Jackle and Sarah
• Taylor Hastings as Melanie
• Max Lloyd-Jones as Ken
• Jessica Shaffin as Helen
• Dylan Schmid as Mario
• Darcy Laurie as Marty

Woman of the Hour is available for streaming on Netflix now.

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