Rodney Alcala

Dating Game Killer

  Active for 9 years
(1971-1979) in United States

8

CONFIRMED
VICTIMS

100

POSSIBLE
VICTIMS
Jump to:
  1. Summary
  2. Serial Killer Profile
  3. Serial Killer Type
  4. General Information
  5. Characteristics
  6. Childhood
  7. Cognitive Ability
  8. Incarceration
  9. Death
  10. 22 Timeline Events
  11. Serial Killers Active During Spree
  12. Boolean Statistical Questions
  13. 17 Books About Rodney Alcala
  14. 10 External References
  15. Internal References

Rodney Alcala an American serial killer known as the Dating Game Killer for appearing on the game show The Dating Game in the middle of his killing spree. Alcala was convicted of five murders, though his actual total is estimated to be much higher. Alcala had a locker filled with thousands of photographs of women and children, most in sexually explicit poses, and it is suspected that some of the women photographed may be among Alcala's additional victims. Rodney Alcala remains in California State Prison in Corcoran pending further appeals of his death sentences.

Rodney Alcala Serial Killer Profile

Serial Killer Rodney Alcala (aka) Dating Game Killer, was active for 9 years between 1971-1979, known to have ( 8 confirmed / 100 possible ) victims. This Serial Killer was active in the following countries: United States

Rodney Alcala was born on August 23rd 1943 in San Antonio,Texas. He was born 3rd of 4 children and raised by both parents until (Age 11), mother until (Age 17) when Rodney joined the U.S. Army. He was raised as a middle child and had two sisters and one brother. His father, Raoul Alcala Buquor, a spanish-language instructor who abandoned Rodney and family at (Age 11). His mother, Anna Maria Gutierrez.

Rodney Alcala a heterosexual male citizen of the United States of America. He took an intelligence quotient test before or after his crimes, Rodney Alcala had an IQ of 160. He completed 16 years of school, received a college degree. He gained part of his education while attending University of California, Los Angeles, Tisch School of the Arts. He divorced. He had no children.

Prior to his spree he had commited crimes, served time in jail, and served time in prison. He was known to abuse drugs. He saw a psychologist and spent time in a Forensic Hospital.

In 1971 (Age 27/28) Rodney Alcala started his killing spree, during his crimes as a serial killer he was known to torture, strangle, rape, mutilate, and murder his victims. He was known to kill at the home of the victim. He would keep personal items from the victim after the crime. Rodney Alcala used a blindfold or simiar method of covering the victim's eyes. At least one victim was tied, bound, or otherwise restrained during the crime. He positioned or posed at least one body after death. At the time of his crimes he was living with his mother, and later girlfriend, where he was known to work as a serial killer.

He was arrested on July 24th 1979 (Age 35), convicted on June 20th 1986 (Age 42), sentenced to death at California State Prison in Corcoran, California. He was convicted on charges of murder, rape, assault and other possible charges during his lifetime.

Profile Completeness: 89%
serial killers by profile completeness

Rodney Alcala has been listed on Killer.Cloud since November of 2016 and was last updated 5 years ago.

Rodney Alcala a known:

Rodney Alcala
Serial Killer Profile:

Updated: 2019-07-15 Collected by Killer.Cloud
General Information
Name: Rodney Alcala
Nickname: Dating Game Killer
Victims: 8 - 100
Years Active: 1971 - 1979
Ages Active: 27/28 - 35/36
Active Countries: United States
Convicted Of: murder, rape, assault
Life Span: 1943 -     
Characteristics
Gender: Male
Citizenship: United States of America
Sexual Preference: heterosexual
Astrological Sign: Leo
Jul 23 - Aug 23
Birth Month: August
Marital Status: divorced
Children: no children
Living With: his mother, and later girlfriend
Occupation: serial killer
Childhood Information
D.O.B.: Aug 23, 1943
Given Name: Rodney
Birth Location: San Antonio,Texas
Birth Order: 3rd of 4
Siblings: two sisters and one brother
Raised By: both parents until (Age 11), mother until (Age 17) when Rodney joined the U.S. Army
Birth Category: middle child
Mother: Anna Maria Gutierrez
Father: Raoul Alcala Buquor, a spanish-language instructor who abandoned Rodney and family at (Age 11)

Cognitive Ability
IQ: 160
Highest School: 16 years of school
Highest Degree: college degree
Educated At: University of California, Los Angeles, Tisch School of the Arts

Incarceration
Arrested: Jul 24, 1979 (Age 35)
Convicted: Jun 20, 1986 (Age 42)
Sentence: death
Prison Location: California State Prison in Corcoran, California
Executed: N/A
Previous Crimes: TRUE
Previous Jail: TRUE
Previous Prison: TRUE

Death Information
Death Date: N/A
Cause of Death: N/A
Death Location: N/A
Killed In Prison: N/A
Suicide: N/A
22 Timeline Events of Serial Killer
Rodney Alcala

The 22 dates listed below represent a timeline of the life and crimes of serial killer Rodney Alcala. A complete collection of serial killer events can be found on our Serial Killer Timeline.

Date Event Description
Aug 23 1943Rodney Alcala was born in San Antonio,Texas.  #19430823
Jun 19 1961
(Age 17)
enlisted in the U.S. Army #19610619
Location: North Carolina, US

Rodney Alcala entered a program in North Carolina to become a paratrooper. He then enlisted in the U.S Army where he served as a clerk for four years.

Jan 08 1962
(Age 18)
Rodney Alcala's father, Raoul Alcala Buquor, died #19620108
Location: Tulare County, California, US

Rodney Alcala's father, Raoul Alcala Buquor, unexpectedly passed away in Tulare County, California.

Aug 23 1963
(Age 20)
20th Birthday
1971
(Age 27/28)
Rodney Alcala started his serial killing spree. #1971
Aug 23 1973
(Age 30)
30th Birthday
1979
(Age 35/36)
Rodney Alcala ended his serial killing spree. #1979
Jul 24 1979
(Age 35)
Rodney Alcala arrested. #19790724
Jun 20 1980
(Age 36)
sentenced to death #19800620
Location: Orange County Superior Court in Orange County, California, US

Orange County Superior Court Judge Philip E. Schwab sentences Alcala to death after he is convicted of Samsoe's murder.

Jul 11 1980
(Age 36)
Parenteau murder charge filed #19800711
Location: Los Angeles County, California, US

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office files murder, burglary and sexual assault charges against Alcala in the slaying of Parenteau.

Apr 15 1981
(Age 37)
Samsoe murder charge reversed #19810415
Location: California, US

The state Supreme Court reversed Alcala’s murder conviction in connection with Samsoe, ruling that the jury was improperly told about Alcala’s prior sex crimes.

Aug 23 1983
(Age 40)
40th Birthday
Jun 20 1986
(Age 42)
Rodney Alcala was convictedand sentenced to death at California State Prison in Corcoran, California.  #19860620
Dec 31 1992
(Age 49)
Supreme Court upholds death sentence #19921231
Location: The California Supreme Court in California, US

Aug 23 1993
(Age 50)
50th Birthday
Apr 02 2001
(Age 57)
Samsoe death sentence overturned #20010402
Location: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in California, US

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit overturns Alcala’s death sentence in the Samsoe case, ruling that the Superior Court judge precluded the defense from presenting evidence “material to significant issues.”

Aug 23 2003
(Age 60)
60th Birthday
Jan 11 2010
(Age 66)
trail began #20100111
Location: Orange County, California, US

Mar 09 2010
(Age 66)
sentenced to death #20100309
Location: Orange County, California, US

Judge Francisco Briseno sentenced Rodney Alcala to death for murders of Samsoe, Parenteau, Lamb, Wixted, and Barcomb.

Aug 23 2013
(Age 70)
70th Birthday
Sep 20 2016
(Age 73)
charged with murder in Thornton case #20160920
Location: Wyoming, US

Rodney Alcala charged in slaying of pregnant woman in Wyoming, Christine Ruth Thornton, 28, of San Antonio. Alcala is suspected to have met Thornton and killed her while on a road trip, then buried her on a ranch in Granger, Wyoming.

Aug 23 2023
(Age 80)
80th Birthday
Back to top Serial Killers Active During

The following serial killers were active during the same time span as Rodney Alcala (1971-1979).

Serial Killers By Active Year


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ANSWERED
Serial Killer
Boolean Questions:
Killer
Question
Killer
Answer
Total
Answered
drug abuse TRUE 226
psychologist TRUE 258
forensic hospital TRUE 257
previous crimes TRUE 367
previous jail TRUE 352
previous prision TRUE 336
kill at victims home TRUE 323
used gun TRUE 451
rape TRUE 453
torture TRUE 426
blindfold TRUE 363
bound TRUE 406
strangle TRUE 443
mutilated TRUE 447
posed body TRUE 365
totem personal item TRUE 354
living with children FALSE 268
problems in school FALSE 221
teased in school FALSE 218
physically defect FALSE 300
speach defect FALSE 300
head injury FALSE 299
physically abused FALSE 231
psychologically abused FALSE 224
sexually abused FALSE 226
previous killed FALSE 208
kill at killers home FALSE 320
used weapon FALSE 453
sex with body FALSE 430
ate part of body FALSE 451
drank blood FALSE 442
totem body part FALSE 365
robbed FALSE 418


Books that Mention Rodney Alcala

Book: Serial Killer Stranglers (mentions serial killer Rodney Alcala)
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Stranglers
Book: Serial Killer Rapists (mentions serial killer Rodney Alcala)
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Rapists
Book: Black Dahlia Avenger (mentions serial killer Rodney Alcala)
Steve Hodel
Black Dahlia Avenger
Book: Death in the Air (mentions serial killer Rodney Alcala)
Kate Winkler Dawson
Death in the Air
Book: The Big Book of Serial Killers (mentions serial killer Rodney Alcala)
Jack Rosewood
The Big Book of Serial Killers
Book: Black Dahlia Avenger (mentions serial killer Rodney Alcala)
Steve Hodel
Black Dahlia Avenger
Book: The Dating Game Killer (mentions serial killer Rodney Alcala)
Stella Sands
The Dating Game Killer
Book: The Von Bülow Affair (mentions serial killer Rodney Alcala)
William Wright
The Von Bülow Affair

17 Books that mention Serial Killer
Rodney Alcala

ISBN10 Book Title Killers
1733630600 Serial Killer Stranglers 164
1733630619 Serial Killer Rapists 266
1559706643 Black Dahlia Avenger 1
0316506850 Death in the Air 3
1548119644 The Big Book of Serial Ki... 60
1628725966 Black Dahlia Avenger 2
1429950331 The Dating Game Killer 1
1480484989 The Von Bülow Affair 1
1936239191 Killer Fiction 10
0955888220 Psychopath! 1
0313397856 Real-Life Monsters: A Psy... 4
1546443657 Rodney James Alcala 1
0313397848 Real-life Monsters 2
146027752x When Things Seem Odd 6
1539352250 Killer Photographer 2
1979738289 Killing Game 1
1610695941 Crimes of the Centuries [... 14

Rodney James Alcala (born Rodrigo Jacques Alcala Buquor; August 23, 1943) is an American convicted rapist and serial killer. He was sentenced to death in California in 2010 for five murders committed in that state between 1977 and 1979. In 2013, he received an additional sentence of 25 years to life after pleading guilty to two homicides committed in New York in 1971 and 1977.

Wikipedia
External References
  1. Rodney Alcala on en.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 13, 2018.
  2. Juan Ignacio Blanco, Rodney James ALCALA on murderpedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 13, 2018.
  3. Kristin Elink-Schuurman-Laura, Alcala, Rodney James on skdb.fgcu.edu, Retrieved on Sep 13, 2018.
  4. Ashley Africa, Ariel Bobrick, Rodney Alcala on maamodt.asp.radford.edu, Retrieved on Sep 13, 2018.
  5. Alcala et al. v. Orange County Superior Court et al. (2007) on courts.ca.gov, Retrieved on Sep 20, 2018.
  6. Q2658592 on www.wikidata.org, Retrieved on Oct 9, 2018.
  7. Rodney Alcala on criminalia.es, Retrieved on May 22, 2019.
  8. Kate Mather, Richard Winton, Judge weeps as 'Dating Game' serial killer Rodney Alcala sentenced on latimesblogs.latimes.com, Retrieved on Jul 15, 2019.
  9. Kimi Yoshino, Serial killer Rodney Alcala sentenced to death on latimesblogs.latimes.com, Retrieved on Jul 15, 2019.
  10. Greg Mellen, Tony Saavedra, Serial killer Rodney Alcala charged in slaying of pregnant woman in Wyoming on www.ocregister.com, Retrieved on Jul 15, 2019.
Internal References

Rodney Alcala is included in the following pages on Killer.Cloud the Serial Killer Database

  1. #2 of 72[ Page 1 ] of serial killers sorted by IQ Level
  2. #5 of 651[ Page 1 ] of the A-Z List of Serial Killers
  3. #14 of 46[ Page 1 ] of Leo Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  4. #15 of 40[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers with birthdays in August
  5. #42 of 89[ Page 3 ] of Serial Killer Torturers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  6. #101 of 327[ Page 7 ] of Serial Killers active in the United States
  7. #106 of 250[ Page 8 ] of Serial Killer Stranglers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  8. #126 of 307[ Page 9 ] of Serial Killer Rapist sorted by Confirmed Victims
  9. #152 of 651[ Page 11 ] of serial killers sorted by Profile Completeness
  10. #181 of 651[ Page 13 ] of serial killers sorted by Years Active
  11. #240 of 651[ Page 16 ] of serial killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
Statistics:
Serial Killers Statistics, charts Rodney Alcala is included in: Active Serial Killers by Country, Serial Killers By Gender, Age of Serial Killer by Date, Killers By Astrological Sign, Killers By Birth Month, Serial Killers IQ Level, Years of School Completed, Highest Degree Achieved, Sexual Preference, Birth Category, Active Serial Killers by Year and Statistical Boolean Questions.
Years Active: