Episode 642: Rodney Alcala: The Dating Game Killer (Part 2)
Morbid
The Unraveling Investigation of Alcala's Links to the Missing
This chapter explores the chilling investigation into Rodney Alcala, focusing on his connection to the murder of Ellen Hover. As new details emerge, including his claims of innocence and ties to another missing person, the case begins to take a dark turn.
At the time of his appearance on The Dating Game in 1978, Alcala was a convicted sexual predator who had served time for sexual assault and had only avoided a charge of attempted murder on a technicality. After his arrest, investigators would learn that, by the time he appeared on the game show, he was also a killer. In the year that followed, Alcala would go on to murder several other women until he was finally caught and convicted for his crimes. At his trial, Rodney Alcala was found guilty of eight murders, among other crimes, but he is suspected of several other murders, perhaps as many as one hundred or more.
Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support!
References
Associated Press. 1980. "Forest worker tells of grisly body find, fingers defendent ." Daily Breeze (Torrence, CA), March 23: 7.
—. 1980. "Witness in Alcala trial admits lying." Los Angeles Times, March 26: 44.
—. 1980. "Jury deliberate murder charge." Oakland Tribune, April 30: E3.
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CBS News. 2024. "Rodney Alcala: The Killing Game." 48 Hours .
Dunn, Edward. 1977. "Oneida woman slain in L.A." Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY), November 15: 1.
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Falcon, Gabriel. 2010. Convicted serial killer won on 'Dating Game'. March 10. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240814201903/https://edition.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/03/08/dating.game.killer/index.html.
Hicks, Jerry. 1986. "Alcala again given death sentence in slaying of girl, 12." Los Angeles Times, June 21: 50.
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