8 Shocking Facts About The Dating Game Killer Rodney Alcala And The Chilling Cold Cases Still Being Solved

Rodney Alcala, known infamously as "The Dating Game Killer," remains one of the most prolific and sadistic serial killers in American history, even in the wake of his death in 2021. His case captivated the nation not just for the sheer number of victims, but for the chilling audacity of his appearance on a popular television show at the height of his murder spree.

As of late December 2025, the chilling legacy of Alcala continues to reverberate through the true crime world and law enforcement agencies. While he died on California's death row, the investigation into his "trophies"—a collection of over 1,000 photographs of young women and girls—has led to posthumous charges and the resolution of decades-old cold cases, ensuring his name remains a symbol of terror and a testament to the perseverance of justice.

The Chilling Profile of Rodney Alcala: A Complete Biography

Rodney James Alcala, born Rodrigo Jacques Alcala Buquor, was a man who weaponized his charm and intelligence to lure his victims, contrasting sharply with the monstrous acts he committed. His early life hinted at a troubled future, but few could have predicted the extent of his depravity.

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• Full Name: Rodrigo Jacques Alcala Buquor (Legally changed to Rodney James Alcala)
• Aliases: John Berger, John Burger, The Dating Game Killer
• Date of Birth: August 23, 1943
• Place of Birth: San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
• Date of Death: July 24, 2021 (Died of natural causes at a hospital near the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla)
• Education: Attended St. Alphonsus in East Los Angeles; studied film at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); and briefly attended the New York University film school.
• Early Crimes: First arrested in 1968 for the brutal assault of 8-year-old Tali Shapiro in Hollywood, California, a crime for which he served a short sentence.
• Convictions: Sentenced to death in 2010 for the murders of five California women and girls. Later convicted in New York for two additional murders.

Alcala's intelligence was a key factor in his ability to evade capture for so long. He was described as having a high IQ and used his photography and film studies background to approach and manipulate young women, often asking them to pose for him before his attacks.

The Infamous "Dating Game" Appearance and the Bachelorette Who Knew

The nickname "The Dating Game Killer" stems from Alcala's surreal appearance on the popular television show *The Dating Game* in 1978, right in the middle of his active murder spree. This event is perhaps the most shocking detail of his criminal career, demonstrating his chilling confidence.

The Date that Never Happened

In a bizarre twist of fate, Alcala appeared as "Bachelor Number One" on an episode that aired in September 1978. The bachelorette, Cheryl Bradshaw, was an aspiring actress who questioned the three bachelors from behind a screen. Alcala, who introduced himself as a successful photographer, was charming on the surface, but his answers were unsettling.

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When Bradshaw asked him, "What are you called and what do you look like?" Alcala gave a peculiar and now-infamous reply: "I’m called the banana and I look good. Peel me."

Despite his unsettling demeanor, Bradshaw ultimately chose Alcala for the date. However, after meeting him face-to-face, she immediately felt a sense of dread. She later described him as "creepy" and a "very strange guy," ultimately refusing to go out with him, a decision that likely saved her life.

The fact that a prolific serial killer, actively hunting and murdering, was smiling and laughing on prime-time television is a haunting reminder of the banality of evil and how easily a predator can hide in plain sight.

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The Photo Cache and the Hunt for More Victims

One of the most crucial pieces of evidence that cemented Alcala's status as one of America's most prolific killers was a storage locker containing over 1,000 photographs. These "trophies" were studio-quality portraits of young women, girls, and even a few boys, many of them nude or in suggestive poses, taken over the years.

Following his 2010 conviction, police released a selection of these photographs to the public, hoping to identify the subjects and link Alcala to countless unsolved murders across the country. This effort was unprecedented and led to a flood of tips, confirming that many of the individuals in the photos were, in fact, victims of Alcala's brutal attacks, or at least had been in his presence.

The Posthumous Charges and Cold Case Resolution

Even after his death in 2021, the photo cache continues to generate leads, providing the "fresh" angle to this decades-old case.

The most significant posthumous development involved the case of Christine Ruth Thornton. Thornton, who was 28 and pregnant at the time, was murdered in 1977, and her body was found on a Wyoming ranch. In 2016, Alcala was charged with first-degree murder in her death, a connection made years after the crime thanks to the evidence gathered in his California conviction.

While Alcala's death meant the case against him for Thornton's murder was dismissed, the connection provided closure for her family and demonstrated the vast geographical scope of the killer's crimes, which stretched from California to New York and across the American West.

The Victims: A Trail of Unspeakable Tragedy

Rodney Alcala was sentenced to death for the murders of five women and girls in California, and later received a separate sentence for two murders in New York. Authorities believe his true victim count could be as high as 130, making him a true serial killer monster.

Confirmed Murder Victims (California & New York)

The following individuals were confirmed victims in the California and New York murder convictions, representing only a fraction of his suspected crimes:

• Jill Barcomb (18): Murdered in Los Angeles in November 1977, her body found in the Hollywood Hills.
• Georgia Wixted (27): Murdered in Malibu in December 1977.
• Charlotte Lamb (32): Murdered in El Monte in June 1978.
• Jill Parenteau (21): Murdered in Burbank in June 1979.
• Robin Samsoe (12): A young ballet student kidnapped and murdered in Huntington Beach in June 1979. Her murder was the first for which Alcala was convicted and the one that led to the unravelling of his other crimes.
• Cornelia Michael Crilley (23): Murdered in her Manhattan apartment in 1971.
• Ellen Hover (23): Murdered in 1974 in New York, her body found in the woods in Westchester County.

The relentless work of Detective Steven Mack of the Huntington Beach Police Department was instrumental in linking Alcala to the five California murders and successfully securing a conviction that had been overturned multiple times.

The Survivors and Legacy

Crucially, there were survivors. Two young girls, Tali Shapiro and Morgan Rowan, were brutally attacked by Alcala in the 1960s and 1970s, respectively, but managed to escape. Their survival and later testimony were vital in establishing Alcala's pattern of behavior and ensuring he faced justice.

Rodney Alcala's death closed the final chapter on his physical life, but his legacy as "The Dating Game Killer" endures. The thousands of photographs he took remain a grim archive, a constant reminder of the many cold cases that still seek resolution. The ongoing efforts by law enforcement to identify the remaining subjects in his photo cache ensure that the search for justice for all of Alcala's victims is a chapter that remains open.