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Born in United States · Nationality American — Crime / mafias / terrorism / criminal cases

Rodney Alcala

Violent crime and serial killers

Documented profile covering 25 controversies, including “Death on death row from natural causes” and “Wyoming indictment for murder of Christine Ruth Thornton”.

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Profile No. 2483 · Updated on 12 October 2026

25Documented controversies

10Sources

· 5 followed by a conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

Case · 13 documented stages

Death on death row from natural causes

Conviction

01

24 July 2021

Death on death row from natural causes

Conviction

Alcala died aged 77 in a Kings County hospital while held within the California prison system under a death sentence.

State of the evidence: Documented

Sources · 1

[1]
California Department of Corrections and RehabilitationCondemned Inmate Rodney Alcala Dies of Natural CausesOfficial documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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06

12 June 2008

California Supreme Court authorises single trial for five murders

Formally charged

Ahead of the third Samsoe trial, the California Supreme Court authorised the consolidation across counties of five murder charges: Samsoe and four women whose cases had been linked to Alcala.

State of the evidence: Documented

Sources · 1

[1]
Supreme Court of CaliforniaAlcala v. Superior Court, 43 Cal.4th 1205 (2008)Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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07

2001–2003

Federal habeas corpus: second judgment overturned for constitutional errors

Formally charged

A federal court granted Alcala habeas corpus relief; in 2003, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals confirmed that several constitutional errors had substantially affected the determination of guilt and upheld the conditional reversal of the judgment.

State of the evidence: Documented

Sources · 1

[1]
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit / JustiaAlcala v. Woodford, 334 F.3d 862 (9th Cir. 2003)Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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08

31 December 1992

California Supreme Court upholds second conviction

Conviction

The California Supreme Court upheld Alcala's second death sentence in the Samsoe case.

State of the evidence: Documented

Sources · 2

[1]
Supreme Court of California / FindLawPeople v. Alcala (1992)Court decisionVery high reliability
[2]
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit / JustiaAlcala v. Woodford, 334 F.3d 862 (9th Cir. 2003)Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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09

1986

Second Samsoe trial: renewed conviction and second death sentence

Conviction

At the conclusion of a second trial, Alcala was again found guilty of Samsoe's murder and sentenced to death.

Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
California Department of Corrections and RehabilitationCondemned Inmate Rodney Alcala Dies of Natural CausesOfficial documentVery high reliability
[2]
Supreme Court of California / FindLawPeople v. Alcala (1992)Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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10

23 August 1984

California Supreme Court overturns first Samsoe verdict

Formally charged

The California Supreme Court overturned the 1980 conviction because the presentation of previous sexual offences to the jury had caused prejudicial error concerning guilt and the special circumstance.

State of the evidence: Documented

Sources · 1

[1]
Supreme Court of CaliforniaPeople v. Alcala, 36 Cal.3d 604 (1984)Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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12

1980

First Samsoe trial: conviction and first death sentence

Conviction

Alcala was found guilty of Robin Samsoe's murder and abduction and sentenced to death in 1980.

Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
California Department of Corrections and RehabilitationCondemned Inmate Rodney Alcala Dies of Natural CausesOfficial documentVery high reliability
[2]
Supreme Court of CaliforniaPeople v. Alcala, 36 Cal.3d 604 (1984)Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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13

1979

Murder of Jill Parenteau

Conviction

Jill Parenteau, aged 21, was killed in 1979. Alcala was ultimately convicted of her murder at the 2010 trial.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
California Department of Corrections and RehabilitationCondemned Inmate Rodney Alcala Dies of Natural CausesOfficial documentVery high reliability
[2]
Los Angeles TimesJudge weeps as 'Dating Game' serial killer Rodney Alcala sentencedPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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14

20 June–2 July 1979

Abduction and murder of 12-year-old Robin Samsoe

Conviction

Robin Samsoe disappeared while travelling to a dance class in Huntington Beach; her remains were discovered less than two weeks later. The case became the focus of Alcala's three successive trials.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 3

[1]
Supreme Court of CaliforniaPeople v. Alcala, 36 Cal.3d 604 (1984)Court decisionVery high reliability
[2]
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit / JustiaAlcala v. Woodford, 334 F.3d 862 (9th Cir. 2003)Court decisionVery high reliability
[3]
California Department of Corrections and RehabilitationCondemned Inmate Rodney Alcala Dies of Natural CausesOfficial documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

15

24 July 1979

Arrest in Samsoe case and seizure of storage unit containing photographs and objects

Formally charged

Alcala was arrested just over a month after Samsoe's disappearance. The investigation notably examined a rented storage unit in Seattle containing photographs and objects subsequently used in further investigations.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit / JustiaAlcala v. Woodford, 334 F.3d 862 (9th Cir. 2003)Court decisionVery high reliability
[2]
ABC News'Dating Game' serial killer connected to victims decades after their deathsPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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17

1978

Murder of Charlotte Lamb

Conviction

Charlotte Lamb, aged 32, was killed in 1978. The case was included in the combined trial that resulted in Alcala's conviction in 2010.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
California Department of Corrections and RehabilitationCondemned Inmate Rodney Alcala Dies of Natural CausesOfficial documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

19

1977

Murder of Jill Barcomb

Conviction

Jill Barcomb, aged 18, was killed in 1977. The murder was one of four historical homicides added to the Samsoe case, notably through advances in DNA evidence, and tried in 2010.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
California Department of Corrections and RehabilitationCondemned Inmate Rodney Alcala Dies of Natural CausesOfficial documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

20

1977

Murder of Georgia Wixted

Conviction

Georgia Wixted, aged 27, was killed in 1977. Alcala was found guilty of her murder at the 2010 trial.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
California Department of Corrections and RehabilitationCondemned Inmate Rodney Alcala Dies of Natural CausesOfficial documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

02

2016

Wyoming indictment for murder of Christine Ruth Thornton

Formally charged

Wyoming prosecutors indicted Alcala for the murder of Christine Ruth Thornton, who disappeared while pregnant in the 1970s and whose body was found in 1982.

Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
California Department of Corrections and RehabilitationCondemned Inmate Rodney Alcala Dies of Natural CausesOfficial documentVery high reliability
[2]
Los Angeles TimesSerial killer Rodney Alcala charged in another killingPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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Case · 3 documented stages

Guilty plea to two New York murders and sentence of 25 years to life

Conviction

03

2012–2013

Guilty plea to two New York murders and sentence of 25 years to life

Conviction

Extradited to New York, Alcala pleaded guilty in December 2012 to the murders of Cornelia Crilley and Ellen Hover. In January 2013, he received a sentence of 25 years to life, in addition to his position in California.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Legal status — source text: 25 years to life (New York)
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
California Department of Corrections and RehabilitationCondemned Inmate Rodney Alcala Dies of Natural CausesOfficial documentVery high reliability
[2]
Los Angeles TimesSerial killer Rodney Alcala pleads guilty to New York murdersPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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18

1977

Murder of Ellen Hover in New York

Conviction

Ellen Hover, aged 23, disappeared in New York in 1977 and was found dead in Westchester County. Alcala ultimately admitted the murder in his 2012 guilty plea.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Legal status — source text: 2012 guilty plea in New York
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
California Department of Corrections and RehabilitationCondemned Inmate Rodney Alcala Dies of Natural CausesOfficial documentVery high reliability
[2]
Los Angeles TimesSerial killer Rodney Alcala pleads guilty to New York murdersPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

24

1971

Murder of Cornelia Crilley in New York

Conviction

Cornelia Crilley, aged 23, was killed in her Manhattan flat in 1971. Several decades later, Alcala admitted the murder as part of a guilty plea in New York.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Legal status — source text: 2012 guilty plea in New York
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
California Department of Corrections and RehabilitationCondemned Inmate Rodney Alcala Dies of Natural CausesOfficial documentVery high reliability
[2]
Los Angeles TimesSerial killer Rodney Alcala pleads guilty to New York murdersPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

04

February–March 2010

Third trial: five first-degree murder convictions and death sentence

Conviction — against a third party

Protagonist not prosecuted — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.

An Orange County jury found Alcala guilty of murdering Robin Samsoe, Jill Barcomb, Georgia Wixted, Charlotte Lamb and Jill Parenteau. He was again sentenced to death.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Attribution: Personally implicated
Role of the person profiled: Protagonist not prosecuted

Sources · 1

[1]
California Department of Corrections and RehabilitationCondemned Inmate Rodney Alcala Dies of Natural CausesOfficial documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

05

March 2010

Over 100 photographs released to identify potential victims or witnesses

No legal proceedings

Following the conviction, the Orange County District Attorney's Office released more than 100 photographs taken by Alcala so that the public could help identify the people depicted and resolve other cases.

State of the evidence: Documented

Sources · 2

[1]
Orange County District AttorneyLaw Enforcement Seek Public's Help in Identifying Dozens of Women and Children Featured in Over 100 Photographs Taken by Serial Killer Rodney AlcalaOfficial documentVery high reliability
[2]
ABC News'Dating Game' serial killer connected to victims decades after their deathsPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

11

February 1979–September 1980

Sexual assault of 15-year-old Monique H. while Alcala was at liberty

Conviction

In February 1979, Alcala picked up a 15-year-old girl in his car and sexually assaulted her after taking her to an isolated area. The case resulted in a conviction in September 1980 for rape and assault with intent to inflict serious bodily injury.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
Supreme Court of California / FindLawPeople v. Alcala (1992)Court decisionVery high reliability
[2]
Los Angeles TimesJudge weeps as 'Dating Game' serial killer Rodney Alcala sentencedPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

16

1978

Further parole violation and discovery of photographs of nude minors

No legal proceedings

Following his release in 1977, Alcala was found in possession of marijuana. A search of his briefcase and home also uncovered photographs depicting nude boys and girls. He was detained for several weeks before being released, and his parole ended in June 1978.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
Supreme Court of California / FindLawPeople v. Alcala (1992)Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

21

16 October 1974

Incident involving 13-year-old girl after release and further conviction

Conviction

Ten weeks after his release, Alcala approached a 13-year-old girl, drove her past her school and then towards the cliffs at Huntington Beach. Police found them with marijuana; he subsequently pleaded guilty to felony marijuana possession and returned to prison.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
Supreme Court of California / FindLawPeople v. Alcala (1992)Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

Case · 3 documented stages

Conviction for sexual offence against minor following Shapiro case

Conviction

22

March 1972

Conviction for sexual offence against minor following Shapiro case

Conviction

Alcala was convicted of a sexual offence against a minor connected with the 1968 assault and sent to state prison.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
Supreme Court of CaliforniaPeople v. Alcala, 36 Cal.3d 604 (1984)Court decisionVery high reliability
[2]
Supreme Court of California / FindLawPeople v. Alcala (1992)Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

23

1968–1971

Flight under assumed identity and arrest on warrant

Conviction

Following the 1968 assault, Alcala left California, used the name Jon Berger, among others, and worked on the East Coast. According to the court record, he lied to the FBI about his identity when arrested on a warrant.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
Supreme Court of California / FindLawPeople v. Alcala (1992)Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

25

25 September 1968

Assault on eight-year-old Tali Shapiro, followed by flight

Conviction

Alcala lured eight-year-old Tali Shapiro into a residence in Hollywood and seriously assaulted her. A witness followed the vehicle and alerted police; the child survived after being found seriously injured. Alcala fled.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
Supreme Court of California / FindLawPeople v. Alcala (1992)Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

II. Constellation of documented links

No documented link with another published profile for now.

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

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