Killer Photographer Josh Curry : Stories of True Crime

By Josh Curry

Rodney Alcala is a serial murderer that is most often referred to as the "Dating Game Killer" after he was a contestant on the popular game show "The Dating Game" in 1978. 
He was sentenced to death in California in 2010 for committing five murders in the state between 1977 and 1979. It is believed, however, that he may have over 130 victims. 
Alcala's charisma and murderous output have a striking similarity to that of Ted Bundy. More than one police detective has referred to him as a "killing machine." He was a sexual sadist and specialized in strangling as a form of torture. He would choke his victims into unconsciousness then revive them only to repeat the torture again. 
He specialized in creating false photo auditions in which he would book prospective models for a photo shoot then rape and kill them. A traveling serial killer, Alcala would operate out of the Los Angeles area but would journey as far as the Pacific Northwest in search of victims. He would have a locker in Seattle where he would keep a stash of mementos and photographs of his victims. 
In September of 2016, authorities released a series of photographs that they believe could be additional victims of Alcala. They are now asking for the public's help in identifying who the subjects in the photos are.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trellis Publishing
• Release date: Jun 25, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201493929

Book preview

KILLER PHOTOGRAPHER :  The True Story of Rodney Alcala

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JOSH CURRY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RODNEY ALCALA

ANGEL RESENDIZ

Rodney Alcala is a serial murderer that is most often referred to as the Dating Game Killer after he was a contestant on the popular game show The Dating Game in 1978.

He was sentenced to death in California in 2010 for committing five murders in the state between 1977 and 1979. It is believed, however, that he may have over 130 victims.

Alcala's charisma and murderous output have a striking similarity to that of Ted Bundy. More than one police detective has referred to him as a killing machine. He was a sexual sadist and specialized in strangling as a form of torture. He would choke his victims into unconsciousness then revive them only to repeat the torture again.

He specialized in creating false photo auditions in which he would book prospective models for a photo shoot then rape and kill them. A traveling serial killer, Alcala would operate out of the Los Angeles area but would journey as far as the Pacific Northwest in search of victims. He would have a locker in Seattle where he would keep a stash of mementos and photographs of his victims.

In September of 2016, authorities released a series of photographs that they believe could be additional victims of Alcala. They are now asking for the public's help in identifying who the subjects in the photos are.

A KILLER IS BORN

Alcala was born in San Antonio, Texas to Raul Buquor and Anna Gutierrez in August of 1943.  Rodney would live with his two sisters, one brother, mother, father and maternal grandmother in the middle-class San Antonio neighborhood. He had one older brother, Roy, who was born in 1941. Paqui, his older sister would be born in 1942. Then came Rodney, in 1943 and his younger sister Krissy in 1947.The family would enjoy cookouts, picnics, and the zoo.  There were no indications of abuse or abnormal behavior of anyone.

Alcala would be sent to a Catholic school where he was reported to have been an excellent student. His polite and respectful manner would put him into good grace with his teachers who gave him top marks.

The family was a happy one until around 1951. This would be the year that Alcala's grandmother would fall ill. She wanted to live out her final years in her native Mexico. Seeking to grant her mother's dying wish, Alcala's mother would convince her husband to move the family to Mexico.

The family enjoyed the rural surroundings and the company from a loving extended family. Alcala would continue to excel in school, getting good grades at the American school in Mexico. But his grandmother would eventually die and his parents would split up. His father would abandon the family and move to California.

In 1954, Alcala's mother decided to move the family back to the United States. They would settle in Los Angeles but once again, Alcala and his siblings adjusted well.

At the age of thirteen, Alcala would attend St. Alphonsus in East Los Angeles where he would remain for two years. Now entering high school, he would enroll