Rodney Alcala: Difference between revisions

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'''Rodney James Alcala''' (born '''Rodrigo Jacques Alcala Buquor'''; August 23, 1943 - July 24, 2021) was an American convicted rapist and serial killer. He was considered to be one of America's most prolific serial killers. Though he was only convicted of 8 murders, Alcala has claimed to be responsible for around 30 murders. His true victim count remains unknown, but police believe that it could possibly be as high as 130.

He is known as '''the Dating Game Killer''' because of his 1978 appearance on the television show ''The Dating Game'' in the midst of his murder spree.

He was known as '''the Dating Game Killer''' because of his 1978 appearance on the television show ''The Dating Game'' in the midst of his murder spree.

==Biography==

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Alcala was arrested in late 1979 and held without bail. In 1980 he was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death for the murder of 12-year old Robin Samsoe, but the verdict was overturned by the California Supreme Court because jurors had been improperly informed of his prior sex crimes. In 1986, after a second trial virtually identical to the first except for omission of the prior criminal record testimony, he was again convicted and sentenced to death. A Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals panel nullified the second conviction, in part because a witness was not allowed to support Alcala's contention that the park ranger who found Samsoe's body had been "hypnotized by police investigators".

In 2003, prosecutors entered a motion to join the Samsoe charges with those of four newly discovered victims. Alcala's attorneys contested it; as one of them explained, "If you're a juror and you hear one murder case, you may be able to have reasonable doubt. But it's very hard to say you have reasonable doubt on all five, especially when four of the five aren't alleged by eyewitnesses but are proven by DNA matches." In 2006, the California Supreme Court ruled in the prosecution's favor, and in February 2010, Alcala stood trial on the five joined charges. After less than two days' deliberation the jury convicted him on all five counts of first-degree murder. A surprise witness during the penalty phase of the trial was Tali Shapiro, Alcala's first known victim. Psychiatrist Richard Rappaport, the only defense witness, testified that Alcala's borderline personality disorder could explain his testimony that he had no memory of committing the murders. The prosecutor argued that Alcala was a "sexual predator" who "knew what he was doing was wrong and didn't care". In March 2010, Alcala was sentenced to death for a third time.

In 2003, prosecutors entered a motion to join the Samsoe charges with those of four newly discovered victims. Alcala's attorneys contested it; as one of them explained, "If you're a juror and you hear one murder case, you may be able to have reasonable doubt. But it's very hard to say you have reasonable doubt on all five, especially when four of the five aren't alleged by eyewitnesses but are proven by DNA matches."

As of ~~2019~~, Alcala ~~is still on~~ death ~~row~~, ~~and is currently incarcerated at~~ California ~~State Prison~~, ~~Corcoran in Kings County~~, ~~California~~.

In 2006, the California Supreme Court ruled in the prosecution's favor, and in February 2010, Alcala stood trial on the five joined charges. After less than two days' deliberation the jury convicted him on all five counts of first-degree murder. A surprise witness during the penalty phase of the trial was Tali Shapiro, Alcala's first known victim. Psychiatrist Richard Rappaport, the only defense witness, testified that Alcala's borderline personality disorder could explain his testimony that he had no memory of committing the murders. The prosecutor argued that Alcala was a "sexual predator" who "knew what he was doing was wrong and didn't care". In March 2010, Alcala was sentenced to death for a third time.

Alcala died of unspecified "natural causes" in Corcoran, California, on July 24, 2021, at the age of 77.

==Confirmed victims==

*Robin Samsoe, 12

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 '''Rodney James Alcala''' (born '''Rodrigo Jacques Alcala Buquor'''; August 23, 1943 - July 24, 2021) was an American convicted rapist and serial killer. He was considered to be one of America's most prolific serial killers. Though he was only convicted of 8 murders, Alcala has claimed to be responsible for around 30 murders. His true victim count remains unknown, but police believe that it could possibly be as high as 130.
-He is known as '''the Dating Game Killer''' because of his 1978 appearance on the television show ''The Dating Game'' in the midst of his murder spree.
+He was known as '''the Dating Game Killer''' because of his 1978 appearance on the television show ''The Dating Game'' in the midst of his murder spree.
 ==Biography==
@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 Alcala was arrested in late 1979 and held without bail. In 1980 he was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death for the murder of 12-year old Robin Samsoe, but the verdict was overturned by the California Supreme Court because jurors had been improperly informed of his prior sex crimes. In 1986, after a second trial virtually identical to the first except for omission of the prior criminal record testimony, he was again convicted and sentenced to death. A Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals panel nullified the second conviction, in part because a witness was not allowed to support Alcala's contention that the park ranger who found Samsoe's body had been "hypnotized by police investigators".
-In 2003, prosecutors entered a motion to join the Samsoe charges with those of four newly discovered victims. Alcala's attorneys contested it; as one of them explained, "If you're a juror and you hear one murder case, you may be able to have reasonable doubt. But it's very hard to say you have reasonable doubt on all five, especially when four of the five aren't alleged by eyewitnesses but are proven by DNA matches." In 2006, the California Supreme Court ruled in the prosecution's favor, and in February 2010, Alcala stood trial on the five joined charges. After less than two days' deliberation the jury convicted him on all five counts of first-degree murder. A surprise witness during the penalty phase of the trial was Tali Shapiro, Alcala's first known victim. Psychiatrist Richard Rappaport, the only defense witness, testified that Alcala's borderline personality disorder could explain his testimony that he had no memory of committing the murders. The prosecutor argued that Alcala was a "sexual predator" who "knew what he was doing was wrong and didn't care". In March 2010, Alcala was sentenced to death for a third time.
+In 2003, prosecutors entered a motion to join the Samsoe charges with those of four newly discovered victims. Alcala's attorneys contested it; as one of them explained, "If you're a juror and you hear one murder case, you may be able to have reasonable doubt. But it's very hard to say you have reasonable doubt on all five, especially when four of the five aren't alleged by eyewitnesses but are proven by DNA matches."
-As of 2019, Alcala is still on death row, and is currently incarcerated at California State Prison, Corcoran in Kings County, California.
+In 2006, the California Supreme Court ruled in the prosecution's favor, and in February 2010, Alcala stood trial on the five joined charges. After less than two days' deliberation the jury convicted him on all five counts of first-degree murder. A surprise witness during the penalty phase of the trial was Tali Shapiro, Alcala's first known victim. Psychiatrist Richard Rappaport, the only defense witness, testified that Alcala's borderline personality disorder could explain his testimony that he had no memory of committing the murders. The prosecutor argued that Alcala was a "sexual predator" who "knew what he was doing was wrong and didn't care". In March 2010, Alcala was sentenced to death for a third time.
+Alcala died of unspecified "natural causes" in Corcoran, California, on July 24, 2021, at the age of 77.
 ==Confirmed victims==
 *Robin Samsoe, 12