a criminal's mind

a collection of known serial killers, what they did, who their victims were, and their stories.

warning: may contain nudity and gorey images

Pamela Jean Lambson, possible sixth victim of Rodney Alcala
Alcala is suspected of the sexual assault, torture and strangulation of Pamela Jean Lambson, a computer assistant and aspiring actress and singer who disappeared from Fisherman’s Wharf in...
Georgia Wixted, fifth victim of Rodney Alcala
Los Angeles County
In December 1977, Alcala raped, sodomized, and murdered 27-year-old nurse Georgia Wixted. Alcala used a hammer to sexually abuse Georgia, then used the claw end of the hammer to beat...

Georgia Wixted, fifth victim of Rodney Alcala

Los Angeles County

In December 1977, Alcala raped, sodomized, and murdered 27-year-old nurse Georgia Wixted. Alcala used a hammer to sexually abuse Georgia, then used the claw end of the hammer to beat and smash in her head. He strangled her to death using a nylon stocking and left her body posed in her Malibu apartment. Her body was discovered Dec. 16, 1977.

Jill Barcomb, fourth victim of Rodney Alcala
Los Angeles County
In November 1977, Alcala raped, sodomized, and murdered 18-year-old Jill Barcomb, a New York native who had recently moved to California. Alcala used a large rock to smash in her face,...

Jill Barcomb, fourth victim of Rodney Alcala

Los Angeles County

In November 1977, Alcala raped, sodomized, and murdered 18-year-old Jill Barcomb, a New York native who had recently moved to California. Alcala used a large rock to smash in her face, and strangle her to death by tying her belt and pant leg around her neck.

Alcala then left her body in a mountainous area in the foothills near Hollywood, where she was discovered Nov. 10, 1977, posed on her knees with her face in the dirt.

Ellen Hover, possible third victim of Rodney Alcala
Ciro’s Nightclub heiress Ellen Jane Hover was murdered in 1977 during the time that Alcala had received permission from his parole officer to go to New York to visit family.

Ellen Hover, possible third victim of Rodney Alcala

Ciro’s Nightclub heiress Ellen Jane Hover was murdered in 1977 during the time that Alcala had received permission from his parole officer to go to New York to visit family.

Cornelia Crilley, possible second victim of Rodney Alcala
TWA flight attendant Cornelia “Michael” Crilley, was murdered 1971 while Alcala was enrolled at NYU.

Cornelia Crilley, possible second victim of Rodney Alcala

TWA flight attendant Cornelia “Michael” Crilley, was murdered 1971 while Alcala was enrolled at NYU.

Tali Shapiro, first victim of Rodney Alcala

Tali Shapiro was an 8-year-old on her way to school when she was lured into Alcala’s car, an act that did not go unnoticed by a nearby motorist who followed the two and contacted police.

Alcala took Tali into his apartment where he raped, beat and attempted to strangle her with a 10-pound metal bar. When police arrived, they kicked in the door and found Tali laying on the kitchen floor in a large puddle of blood and not breathing. Because of the brutality of the beating they thought she was dead and begin to search for Alcala in the apartment.

A police officer, returning to the kitchen, saw Tali struggling to breathe. All attention went to trying to keep her alive and at some point Alcala managed to slip out the backdoor.

Alcala was charged with rape and attempted murder. He pled guilty to the assult.

Rodney James Alcala–The Early Years

Rodney Alcala was born on August 23, 1943, in San Antonio, Texas to Raoul Alcala Buquor and Anna Maria Gutierrez. His father left, leaving Anna Maria to raise Alcala and his sisters alone. At around the age of 12, Anna Maria moved the family to Los Angeles.

At the age of 17, Alcala joined the Army and remained there until 1964 when he received a medical discharge after being diagnosed with a severe anti-social personality.

Alcala, now out of the Army, enrolled in UCLA School of Fine Arts where is earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1968. This is the same year that he kidnapped, raped, beat and tried to kill his first known victim.

(Source: crime.about.com)

Rodney James Alcala

- born: August 23, 1943

- from: San Antonia, Texas

- birth name: Rodrigo Jacques Alcala-Buquor

- nicknames: The Dating Game Killer, John Berger, John Burger, Rod Alcala

- convictions: batter, kidnapping, muder, probation violation, providing cannabis to a minor, rape

- sentence: death

- number of victims: unknown (anywhere from 7 to a possible 100)

- span of killing: 1968-1979

- where he killed: California and possibly New York

- date apprehended: 1979

Rodney James Alcala, The Dating Game Killer

Rodney James Alcala, The Dating Game Killer

Shirley Williams
- victim 3 of Charles Albright
- killed on March 18, 1991
- a part-time prostitute
- was found naked, lying on her side near a school, with her eyes removed. Williams also had facial bruises and a broken nose, and she had been shot...

Shirley Williams

- victim 3 of Charles Albright

- killed on March 18, 1991

- a part-time prostitute

- was found naked, lying on her side near a school, with her eyes removed. Williams also had facial bruises and a broken nose, and she had been shot through the top of her head and in the face.