Rodney Alcala
Dating Game Killer
Active for 9 years
(1971-1979) in United States
8
CONFIRMED
VICTIMS
100
POSSIBLE
VICTIMS
Jump to:
- Summary
- Serial Killer Profile
- Serial Killer Type
- General Information
- Characteristics
- Childhood
- Cognitive Ability
- Incarceration
- Death
- 22 Timeline Events
- Serial Killers Active During Spree
- Boolean Statistical Questions
- 17 Books Written About Rodney Alcala
- 10 External References
- 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 completenessRodney Alcala has been listed on Killer.Cloud since November of 2016 and was last updated 5 years ago.
Rodney Alcala a known:
( 651 killers ) SERIAL KILLER
The unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events. Serial Killer as defined by the FBI at the 2005 symposium.
( 308 killers ) RAPIST
Rape is usually defined as having sexual intercourse with a person who does not want to, or cannot consent.
( 89 killers ) TORTURER
Torture is when someone puts another person in pain. This pain may be physical or psychological. Tourturers touture their victims.
( 251 killers ) STRANGLER
Strangulation is death by compressing the neck until the supply of oxygen is cut off. Stranglers kill by Strangulation.
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 1943 | Rodney 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
| 33 / 40 ANSWEREDSerial 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
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Stranglers
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Rapists
Steve Hodel
Black Dahlia Avenger
Kate Winkler Dawson
Death in the Air
Jack Rosewood
The Big Book of Serial Killers
Steve Hodel
Black Dahlia Avenger
Stella Sands
The Dating Game Killer
William Wright
The Von Bülow Affair
17 Books that mention Serial Killer
Rodney Alcala
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.
External References
- Rodney Alcala on en.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 13, 2018.
- Juan Ignacio Blanco, Rodney James ALCALA on murderpedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 13, 2018.
- Kristin Elink-Schuurman-Laura, Alcala, Rodney James on skdb.fgcu.edu, Retrieved on Sep 13, 2018.
- Ashley Africa, Ariel Bobrick, Rodney Alcala on maamodt.asp.radford.edu, Retrieved on Sep 13, 2018.
- Alcala et al. v. Orange County Superior Court et al. (2007) on courts.ca.gov, Retrieved on Sep 20, 2018.
- Q2658592 on www.wikidata.org, Retrieved on Oct 9, 2018.
- Rodney Alcala on criminalia.es, Retrieved on May 22, 2019.
- Kate Mather, Richard Winton, Judge weeps as 'Dating Game' serial killer Rodney Alcala sentenced on latimesblogs.latimes.com, Retrieved on Jul 15, 2019.
- Kimi Yoshino, Serial killer Rodney Alcala sentenced to death on latimesblogs.latimes.com, Retrieved on Jul 15, 2019.
- 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
- #2 of 72[ Page 1 ] of serial killers sorted by IQ Level
- #5 of 651[ Page 1 ] of the A-Z List of Serial Killers
- #14 of 46[ Page 1 ] of Leo Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #15 of 40[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers with birthdays in August
- #42 of 89[ Page 3 ] of Serial Killer Torturers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #101 of 327[ Page 7 ] of Serial Killers active in the United States
- #106 of 250[ Page 8 ] of Serial Killer Stranglers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #126 of 307[ Page 9 ] of Serial Killer Rapist sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #152 of 651[ Page 11 ] of serial killers sorted by Profile Completeness
- #181 of 651[ Page 13 ] of serial killers sorted by Years Active
- #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: