In 1978, a charming, handsome man appeared on national television’s The Dating Game, winning a date with a woman in front of a live audience. The audience laughed, the host smiled, and no one realized the contestant had already raped and murdered multiple women—and wasn’t finished yet.
That man was Rodney Alcala, now known as The Dating Game Killer. His crimes would eventually span decades, states, and at least eight confirmed murders—though authorities believe the real count may be far higher.
The Charmer with a Camera
Rodney Alcala’s story begins like many predators: with charm, intelligence, and a dangerous mask. Born in 1943, he attended UCLA and later studied film under Roman Polanski at NYU. He was intelligent, articulate—and deeply disturbed.
He lured many of his victims by posing as a photographer, convincing young women and girls to pose for him. He carried a camera, a smile, and beneath it all, the instinct of a hunter.
His known crimes began in 1968, when he kidnapped and assaulted an 8-year-old girl. Though arrested, he was released after a short sentence and reoffended almost immediately.
The Killings Begin
Throughout the 1970s, Alcala’s crimes escalated:
- Jill Barcomb, 18, was found posed and strangled in 1977.
- Georgia Wixted, 27, was bludgeoned and raped in her apartment.
- Charlotte Lamb, Jill Parenteau, and Robin Samsoe followed.
His pattern was always the same: lure, control, kill, and pose the bodies in disturbing, ritualistic ways. Some victims had been photographed before or after death.
When authorities finally caught him in 1979, it was because of the abduction and murder of Robin Samsoe, a 12-year-old girl who disappeared on her way to ballet class.
The Game Show That Hid a Killer
In one of the most chilling moments in true crime history, Alcala appeared on The Dating Game in 1978, in the middle of his killing spree.
Despite being a registered sex offender, he was allowed to compete and even won the date—though the woman later backed out, saying he was too “creepy.”
Viewers had no idea they were watching a serial killer on national television.
Trial, Sentencing, and New Discoveries
Alcala was convicted of Robin Samsoe’s murder in 1980, but his conviction was overturned—twice—due to legal technicalities.
Finally, in 2010, after a third trial, he was sentenced to death. During that time, investigators uncovered a collection of over 1,000 photographs in his storage locker—many of young women and girls who remain unidentified.
Some of these images have since been linked to cold cases across the U.S. and even as far as New York and Wyoming.
A Suspicious Trail of Victims
Though officially tied to 8 murders, some experts believe Rodney Alcala may have killed over 100 people.
He was linked to cold cases decades after the crimes, thanks to DNA. The number of missing women who match his pattern—at the right time, in the right places—continues to raise questions.
He was known to be constantly on the move, often using different names, and his photography hobby may have helped him gain trust with his victims.
Death Behind Bars
Alcala died on July 24, 2021, while still on death row in California. He never admitted guilt and never expressed remorse.
Even in prison, he remained withdrawn, elusive, and manipulative—just as he had been during his game show appearance, his trial, and his crimes.
He took many secrets with him to the grave.
Rodney Alcala represents one of the most terrifying archetypes of evil: the smiling predator hiding in plain sight.
He was handsome. He was articulate. He fooled television producers, juries, and sometimes even investigators. But beneath the surface was a man who treated murder like art—each life taken, a staged composition of horror.
He didn’t just play a game on television—he played a far more deadly one in real life.
For more cases like this, explore our archive. SinisterArchive.com—where the legends are real.
