During a taping of “The Dating Game” in 1978, Rodney Alcala, a murderer on a killing spree, appeared as a contestant. Alcala, who was responsible for at least eight deaths, was chosen by the single woman contestant but was fortunately not pursued for a date.
Despite his criminal activities, Alcala was able to charm his way onto the show due to the lack of background checks at the time. His unsettling appearance on the show was later revealed as a chilling display of his true nature.
Alcala, who was known for using his photography profession to lure victims, was eventually caught and arrested for his crimes. His story and crimes are the subject of a new movie called “Woman of the Hour” directed by Anna Kendrick.
Alcala’s dark past, which included assaulting and nearly killing an 8-year-old girl, raping and murdering multiple victims, and escaping law enforcement, paints a disturbing picture of a violent predator hiding behind a charming facade.
Despite his heinous crimes, Alcala was able to evade justice multiple times before ultimately being caught and convicted for his murders.
One newspaper headline reported the disappearance of a nightclub heiress. Her remains were discovered 11 months later near the Rockefeller estate in Westchester.
Rodney Alcala, known as the “Dating Game Killer,” would entice individuals to his home under the guise of taking their photos before murdering them. He died in a California prison in 2021 at the age of 77.
Alcala’s killing spree escalated in the late ’70s, with victims including Jill Barcomb, Georgia Wixted, Charlotte Lamb, Jill Parenteau, and Robin Samsoe. Alcala was known to approach young Robin, offering to photograph her as she biked to ballet class.
Despite appearing on “The Dating Game” in 1978, contestant Cheryl Bradshaw declined a date with Alcala due to her instincts. Alcala was later convicted of Samsoe’s murder in 1980.
The full extent of Alcala’s crimes came to light in 2003 when his DNA linked him to unsolved murders. In addition to a California death sentence, he received a 25-year-to-life sentence in New York for other killings.
Matt Murphy, a former Senior Deputy District Attorney, reflected on the bizarre connection between a show celebrating love and a ruthless killer on “20/20.”
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