The Chilling Last Days: 7 Shocking Facts About Rodney Alcala, 'The Dating Game Killer'

The name Rodney Alcala, often mistakenly searched as Rodney Acala, is synonymous with one of the most prolific and chilling serial killers in American history, a man who leveraged the innocence of a 1970s television show to hide his monstrous double life. The most current and significant update on this notorious figure is his death, which occurred while he was awaiting execution on California's death row. This article, updated for December 18, 2025, delves into the terrifying details of his crimes, his infamous appearance on *The Dating Game*, and the final chapter of a life marked by unimaginable cruelty. Alcala's reign of terror spanned decades, with investigators believing his true victim count could be as high as 130. His ability to evade justice for so long, coupled with his unsettling charisma, cemented his place as a figure of dark fascination. The chilling irony of his nickname, "The Dating Game Killer," stems from his 1978 appearance on the popular game show, where he actually won a date with a contestant who, thankfully, refused to go out with him due to his "creepy" demeanor.

Rodney Alcala: A Brief Biographical Profile

Rodney James Alcala, born Rodrigo Jacques Alcala Buquor, led a life of deception and violence, which was only fully exposed decades after his initial crimes.

• Full Name: Rodney James Alcala (Born Rodrigo Jacques Alcala Buquor)
• Aliases: John Berger, John Burger, "The Dating Game Killer"
• Born: August 23, 1943, in San Antonio, Texas
• Died: July 24, 2021, at the age of 77
• Place of Death: San Quentin State Prison, California
• Convictions: Murder, rape, and kidnapping across multiple states.
• Education: Attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Fine Arts and New York University (NYU) film school.
• Sentence: Sentenced to death in California for five murders, and later convicted of two additional murders in New York.

The Chilling Double Life: From Game Show Contestant to Serial Killer

Alcala's persona was a masterclass in manipulation, allowing him to blend into society while secretly committing heinous acts. His most notorious moment in the public eye came in 1978 when he appeared on the hit TV show *The Dating Game*.

At the time of his television appearance, Alcala was already a convicted sex offender and was actively involved in his murder spree. He presented himself as a charming, if somewhat quirky, photographer. The contestant who chose him, Cheryl Bradshaw, famously backed out of the date, stating later that she found him to be "creepy."

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This unsettling television moment earned him the enduring moniker "The Dating Game Killer," a nickname that forever linked a lighthearted pop culture event with one of the darkest criminal sagas in U.S. history.

The true extent of his crimes is staggering. While he was convicted in California of the murders of five women and a 12-year-old girl, and later for two more in New York, his actual victim count is widely estimated to be much higher. Law enforcement officials believe the number could be up to 130 victims, a figure that would place him among the most prolific serial killers in American history.

His method often involved luring victims by posing as a professional photographer seeking models, capitalizing on the aspirations of young women in Los Angeles and Orange County. The discovery of a storage locker containing thousands of photographs of women and children, many of whom have never been identified, became a crucial piece of evidence in the investigation, hinting at the vast scale of his predatory activities.

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The Victims and the Long Road to Justice

The path to justice for Alcala's victims was long and complex, spanning decades and involving multiple trials and appeals. His first known conviction came in 1979 for the murder of 12-year-old Robin Samsoe in Huntington Beach, California. However, this conviction was overturned twice on appeal, leading to a protracted legal battle that dragged on for years.

Key to his eventual and final conviction was the advent of DNA evidence. In the 2000s, DNA technology linked Alcala to the murder of Samsoe and four other women: Jill Barcomb, Georgia Wixted, Charlotte Lamb, and Enid Lum. This crucial evidence allowed the Orange County jury to finally convict him in 2010, resulting in a death sentence.

Further investigations connected him to additional crimes. In 2013, he pleaded guilty to the murders of two women in New York—Ellen Hover and Cornelia Crilley—crimes that occurred in the 1970s. The tireless efforts of investigators, prosecutors, and the families of the victims, including survivors like Tali Shapiro and Morgan Rowan, ensured that Alcala finally faced accountability for his horrifying actions.

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Rodney Alcala's Death and the End of the Saga

The final chapter of Rodney Alcala's life closed on July 24, 2021, when he died of natural causes at a hospital near the state prison in Corcoran, California. He was 77 years old and had spent years on death row at San Quentin State Prison, though he was transferred for medical reasons prior to his death.

Alcala's death brought a definitive end to the legal saga of "The Dating Game Killer." While he was never executed, his passing closed the door on any further appeals or attempts to identify more of his potential victims through his testimony. His death, however, did not erase the trauma inflicted upon the families of his victims across California, New York, and potentially other states.

The legacy of Rodney Alcala serves as a grim reminder of the darkness that can hide in plain sight. His story continues to be studied by criminologists and featured in true crime documentaries and series, including the recent attention brought by the Netflix film *Woman of the Hour*, which focuses on the harrowing experience of Cheryl Bradshaw on *The Dating Game*. The case remains a landmark example of how advancements in forensic science, particularly DNA evidence, can finally bring justice to cold cases long thought unsolvable, even against a highly manipulative and evasive figure like Alcala.