The book explores the psychology of serial killers and the impact they have on society. Alcala’s case stands out as a chilling example of how someone can hide in plain sight, using charm and manipulation to lure innocent victims.
As for Cheryl Bradshaw, her intuition and quick thinking saved her from becoming another victim on Alcala’s list. Her experience serves as a stark reminder to trust our instincts and be cautious, especially when it comes to meeting new people.
Woman of the Hour sheds light on this harrowing encounter, bringing attention to the dangers of online dating and the importance of staying vigilant in today’s world. It serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us to always be aware of our surroundings and listen to that inner voice that tells us when something isn’t right. The prosecutor, who spent over 20 years working in the sexual assault and homicide units of the Orange County district attorney’s office, believes that Rodney Alcala’s childhood does not provide many clues to his psychological motivations.
“He was raised in a loving home. He had successful siblings, one of whom graduated from West Point and became a war hero in Vietnam. He also had an aunt who loved him dearly.
“We had top criminal defense lawyers and investigators working on his case in three separate trials, and none of them found any evidence of childhood abuse. He was not sexually or physically abused, nor was he bullied at school.
“Perhaps the most unsettling aspect of individuals like Rodney Alcala is that their childhood experiences are often more closely related to entitlement and being spoiled than to abuse. This discomforts many people. I can give you numerous examples of this.
“Rodney Alcala had a genius-level IQ, was handsome, articulate, had friends and girlfriends, and was not a social outcast. He had a loving family. Yet, he derived pleasure from sadistically raping and murdering people.”
Two of Alcala’s victims were posed nude after their deaths, while one was raped with a claw hammer. All of them were repeatedly strangled and resuscitated to prolong their suffering. When investigators uncovered his storage locker, they found around 1,700 photos of mainly women and girls, along with dozens of pieces of jewelry that had belonged to his victims.
Alcala chose to represent himself in his final trial. Murphy, the prosecutor, observed the “Dating Game Killer” in court every day. Despite his charm and charisma, Murphy knew that Alcala was a monster.
“He was very charming, he was very charismatic but, of course, I knew that he was a monster,” he says. “He is a true blue American bogeyman and it was it was fascinating just dealing with him, trying to figure out what made him tick.
“He was born with half a soul. He would get off on the absolutely horrifically sadistic rape-murders of these poor women. Part of the job is we would deal with the families and the multigenerational trauma that happens as a result of that is hard to describe. I’d go from dealing with the family members into directly dealing with Rodney and we did that on a daily basis for six months.”
Murphy, a legal analyst for ABC News, adds: “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with these guys’ moral compasses. They do it because they love doing it and they choose to do it. They sexually get off on it.”