Rodney Alcala: The Dating Game Killer’s Secret Victim Toll
Rodney James Alcala (born Rodrigo Jacques Alcala) lived a life of chilling duality—photographer by day, predator by night, and a serial killer whose crimes may rival the darkest figures in American history. Dubbed the “Dating Game Killer” for his infamous 1978 appearance on the TV show The Dating Game—during his active killing spree—Alcala’s suave charm masked a murderous secret.
Confirmed and Suspected Murders
Alcala was convicted of five murders in California between 1977 and 1979, including the killing of Robin Samsoe, a 12-year-old girl abducted on her way to ballet class. In New York, he pleaded guilty to the murders of Cornelia Crilley and Ellen Hover, both committed in the 1970s. Although formally linked to nine victims, police believe he may have killed as many as 130, based on circumstantial evidence and the patterns of his crimes.
He was also indicted for a murder in Wyoming, but those charges were later dropped.
The Photo Trove
Perhaps the most disturbing discovery in the Alcala investigation came from a storage locker in Seattle: over 1,000 photographs of women, teenage girls, and boys—many in sexually suggestive or nude poses. Some were later identified and reunited with families. Others remain mystery subjects, and at least one was later confirmed to be a murder victim. Another woman in the photos came forward to say Alcala had raped her.
The photos raised concerns that many of the unidentified individuals may be unconfirmed victims, forever silenced before their identities could be known.
His Twisted Modus Operandi
Alcala “toyed” with his victims, prosecutors said—strangling them until unconscious, then reviving and repeating the process before finally killing them. This sadistic ritual elevated him from killer to torturer, earning comparisons to Ted Bundy. One detective chillingly described him as “a killing machine.”
Despite multiple arrests, Alcala evaded lasting punishment for years, benefiting from legal loopholes and mishandled cases.
A Murderer on Prime-Time TV
Perhaps the most infamous aspect of Alcala’s story is his appearance on The Dating Game in 1978, in the middle of his murder spree. Charming and witty on camera, he was chosen by the bachelorette—though they never went on the date, as she found him “creepy” behind the scenes. His presence on national TV while actively killing has become one of the most haunting facts in true crime history.
Death and Legacy
Rodney Alcala died of natural causes in prison on July 24, 2021, at the age of 77, while awaiting execution. Despite his death, his legacy remains one of terror, unanswered questions, and lingering cold cases.
Investigators continue to urge the public to review the photographs found in Alcala’s possession, hoping to identify more victims and bring long-overdue closure to their families.
Rodney Alcala’s story is not just one of confirmed murders, but of potential victims who may never be named—lost in a sea of photographs and forgotten leads.
