The Serial Killer Who Won a TV Date

Rodney Alcala was a charming man who won a date on a popular TV show. But little did the show’s producers know, he was already a serial killer. In 1978, he appeared on "The Dating Game, " charming the bachelorette Cheryl Bradshaw. However, she felt something wasn't right and refused the date. This decision might have saved her life. Alcala had already murdered at least five people by then, including a child and a pregnant woman. His crimes spanned from New York to California and Wyoming. Bradshaw, a drama school teacher, was suspicious of Alcala’s behavior from the start. She described him as "very strange" and refused to go on the date, saying she felt "weird vibes" from him. Alcala, born in Mexico and raised in Los Angeles, had a troubled past. He was discharged from the Army for a nervous breakdown and sexual misconduct. He later studied photography and film, using his skills to gain access to his victims.

After his TV appearance, Alcala was arrested for the rape and murder of 12-year-old Robin Samsoe in 1979. DNA evidence linked him to at least four other murders in Orange County. Producers of the dating show were unaware of Alcala's criminal history due to a lack of standardized background checks. Alcala’s crimes were violent and included rape, torture, and stalking. He often took earrings from his victims as trophies. In 2010, he was sentenced to death for five murders in California. The exact number of his victims remains unknown, with estimates suggesting he may have killed over 100 people. After his conviction, authorities released hundreds of photos of potential victims found in his storage locker, hoping to link him to other unsolved crimes. Alcala died of natural causes while on death row in 2021 at the age of 77. Tali Shapiro, one of his surviving victims, expressed relief upon hearing the news.

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