Rodney Alcala, one of America’s most infamous serial killers and rapists, left a chilling legacy that continues to haunt those who crossed his path. Alcala, who died in prison in 2021, was confirmed to have killed at least seven women across multiple states, but authorities believe his actual victim count could be much higher. His crimes were brutal, manipulative, and carried out with a terrifying confidence. Yet, despite his deadly behavior, Alcala was able to charm his way onto national television in 1978, when he appeared on the popular game show The Dating Game, shocking the nation years later when the extent of his evil deeds was revealed.
The story of Rodney Alcala is both a horrifying reminder of a system that failed to catch a killer in time and a reflection of how easily predators can hide in plain sight.
Alcala’s Infamous Appearance on The Dating Game
In September 1978, Alcala appeared on The Dating Game, a hit TV show where bachelorettes would question three unseen bachelors, ultimately choosing one for a date based on their answers. Cheryl Bradshaw, an aspiring actress, was the bachelorette during Alcala’s episode. Little did anyone know that behind Alcala’s charismatic persona was a man with a dark and dangerous past.
Bradshaw asked Alcala, who was introduced as “Bachelor Number One,” playful questions such as “What’s your best time?” and “If I were serving you for dinner, what would you be called, and what do you look like?” Alcala responded with creepy innuendos, saying, “I’m called the banana, and I look good.” His answers may have come off as cheeky or playful to the show’s audience, but there was something unsettling about him that Bradshaw picked up on.
Despite choosing him as the winner, Bradshaw later refused to go on the date with Alcala. According to reports, she told the show’s producers that there was something off about him. “I got weird vibes. I can’t explain it,” Bradshaw would later recall, saying she didn’t feel safe.
This decision to avoid Alcala may have saved her life, as it was later revealed that Alcala had already committed several brutal murders by the time he appeared on the show.
Alcala’s Early Crimes and Escapes from Justice
Alcala’s history of violence began long before his Dating Game appearance. In 1968, Alcala lured 8-year-old Tali Shapiro into his car in Los Angeles. He took her to his apartment, where he raped and severely beat her. Fortunately, a concerned passerby had seen Alcala with the young girl and notified the police. When officers arrived at Alcala’s apartment, they found Tali Shapiro in critical condition but still alive. Alcala, however, managed to escape, evading capture for years.
After fleeing California, Alcala changed his identity and moved to the East Coast, where he continued his killing spree. In 1971, while using the alias “John Berger,” he murdered 23-year-old Cornelia Crilley, a flight attendant, in her New York City apartment. Crilley’s case went unsolved for decades, and Alcala was not a suspect at the time.
During his years on the run, Alcala used his charm and good looks to manipulate people and evade suspicion. Incredibly, he even worked as a counselor at an all-girls summer camp in New Hampshire under his false name, despite being wanted by the FBI for the attempted murder of Shapiro. He was finally arrested in 1971 after two campers recognized him from the FBI’s Most Wanted List. However, Alcala’s punishment for his crimes was shockingly lenient.
In 1972, Alcala was convicted of child molestation in the Tali Shapiro case but received only a short sentence. He was released on parole after just two years. Following his release, Alcala continued his violent ways. In 1977, after being released again, he murdered Ellen Hover, a socialite and daughter of a Hollywood nightclub owner. Her remains were found a year later on the Rockefeller estate in New York, but again, Alcala evaded capture.
The Murders Continue
Rodney Alcala’s killing spree stretched from coast to coast. His victims were often young women whom he lured by offering to take their photographs, appealing to their aspirations for modeling or acting. Many of these women would never be seen alive again. Alcala was a skilled photographer, a hobby that allowed him to mask his sinister intentions while building trust with his victims.
One of Alcala’s most notorious murders occurred in June 1979 when he abducted 12-year-old Robin Samsoe in Huntington Beach, California. Samsoe was on her way to ballet class when Alcala approached her. Her body was discovered 12 days later in a remote area. This murder, more than any other, would lead to Alcala’s downfall.
The Arrest and Trial
Following Samsoe’s disappearance, investigators were able to identify Alcala as a suspect. They searched a storage locker belonging to him and found crucial evidence, including a pair of earrings that belonged to Samsoe and hundreds of photographs of young women, some of whom were never identified and are believed to be additional victims of the serial killer.
In 1980, Alcala was convicted of Samsoe’s murder and sentenced to death. However, due to a series of appeals and legal missteps, Alcala’s conviction was overturned twice before he was ultimately convicted again in 2010. During his retrials, new evidence emerged that linked him to other unsolved murders, including those of Jill Barcomb, Georgia Wixted, Charlotte Lamb, and Jill Parenteau.
DNA technology played a crucial role in connecting Alcala to these cold cases, bringing justice to victims’ families after decades of uncertainty. He was finally convicted of multiple murders and sentenced to death in 2010.
Rodney Alcala’s Legacy and Final Years
Even after his conviction, Alcala’s true body count remains unknown. Authorities believe he may have killed as many as 130 women and girls across the country. In 2016, he was charged with the 1977 murder of Christine Thornton in Wyoming, though he was never extradited for trial due to his deteriorating health.
Alcala spent the last years of his life on death row in California’s San Quentin prison. He died on July 24, 2021, at the age of 77, while awaiting execution. Despite his death, Alcala’s crimes continue to cast a long shadow, and his chilling appearance on The Dating Game remains a haunting reminder of how close he came to escaping justice entirely.
Where Is Cheryl Bradshaw Now?
As for Cheryl Bradshaw, the Dating Game contestant who unwittingly came face-to-face with a serial killer, little is known about her life today. After the taping of the show, Bradshaw reportedly left California and started a family, retreating from the public eye. Her decision not to go on a date with Alcala likely saved her life, and she remains a key figure in one of the most bizarre true crime stories of the 20th century.
The story of Rodney Alcala serves as a cautionary tale, showing how even the most charming and charismatic individuals can hide terrifying secrets. As Netflix’s Woman of the Hour explores the chilling events surrounding his appearance on The Dating Game, viewers are reminded of how Alcala’s deadly games nearly went unchecked for years.