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.