No Great Loss to the Human Race

No surprise here, but the infamous "Dating Game" killer (so-called because he once appeared on the program while out killing young women), Rodney Alcala, has died on death row.  His health had been terrible in recent years, and he was appealing his third death sentence.

Alcala as he appeared on "The Dating Game" 1978

Alcala never again saw freedom following his arrest over the  murder of 12-year-old Robin Samsoe back in 1979.  Robin's mother, Marianne Connelly, didn't live long enough to outlive Alcala, which is the one thing she wished for.  She died of multiple organ failure almost two years ago.   But at least Alcala, who like a few other serial killers, used his skills as a photographer to lure unsuspecting victims, spent the rest of his life in prison.

He even wrote a book while there.

Alcala was 77 and died early this morning of natural causes.

From the link:

After representing himself in Orange County court, he was sentenced to death in 2010 for the 1979 murder of 12-year-old Robin Samsoe and the murders of four other women -- 18-year-old Jill Barcomb and 27-year-old Georgia Wixted, both in 1977; 32-year-old Charlotte Lamb in 1978; and 21-year-old Jill Parenteau in 1979.

He was previously sentenced to death twice for the murder of Samsoe -- in 1980 and then again in 1986 -- though those sentences were later overturned in appeals and he was granted new trials.

It was torture for the victims' families during this prolonged legal process, especially for Robin Samsoe's mother. She went through horrible torment for many years.

As for his appearance on The Dating Game, he was selected as the date, but the woman refused to go out with him.  She had a bad "vibe" about him.  At least she lived to tell the tale.  There were no background checks of the contestants before they went on the air, obviously.

I want to note about this is people who were contestants on the show were not obligated to go on the dates, and quite a few of them never occurred.  Those who did go on the outings had chaperones.  The show, after all, was primarily for entertainment, not for matchmaking.