Rodney James Alcala (August 23, 1943) is a convicted serial killer who between November 1977 and June 1979 murdered a child and four women. Rodney is also known as the "Dating Game Killer" because he appeared on the Television show of the same name. He is a genius with an IQ of more than 160. Authorities state that as investigations go on, he may be recognized as the most prolific serial killers in American history.

So smooth was Alcala that he was selected to compete on the ABC prime-time show The Dating Game in 1978, where "bachelorette" Cheryl Bradshaw picked him as her date. Later, police say, she reportedly refused to go on the winning date, sensing that there was something creepy about Bachelor Number One.

Now 66, Alcala has twice stood trial in Orange County for the murder of 12-year-old ballet student Robin Samsoe of Huntington Beach. The sensational crime rocked the sleepy beachside city 31 years ago. He was twice convicted of slaying the small girl, who disappeared on her way to ballet class riding a yellow Schwinn bicycle. Two different juries said Alcala should die. But twice his convictions were reversed on different technicalities -- once by the California Supreme Court in 1984 and a second time by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2001.