Judge tearfully delivers additional 25 to life sentence
Rodney Alcala, the notorious serial killer incarcerated for strangling four women and one 12 year old girl in the 1970s, pleaded guilty to the murders of Cornelia Crilley in 1971 and Ellen Hover in 1977. Alcala was dealt with a 25 years-in-prison to life sentence, on top of already being on death row in California. New York Supreme Court Judge Bonnie Wittner couldn’t contain herself during the sentencing, delivering Alcala’s fate through teary eyes.
“This kind of case is something I’ve never experienced, hope to never again. I just want to say I hope these families find some peace and solace for these inexplicably brutal and horrific acts,” Wittner commented, according to the Wall Street Journal. Rodney Alcala had been deemed the “Dating Game Killer” due to his appearance on “The Dating Game” in 1978 as a potential bachelor a year after his brutal rape and murder of 18 year old Jill Barcomb and 27 year old Georgia Wixted. During his appearance, Rodney Alcala had also served a 34-month sentence for the rape of an 8 year old girl in 1968.
Loved ones of the victims showed their support in court. Members of Crilley’s family showed solidarity by showing up to court wearing stickers that read “Cornelia is always in our hearts” on top of a black and white photo of the 23 year old flight attendant.
“Ellen was a sweet, kind, generous, compassionate, loving and beautiful young woman. She chose to see the good in everyone she met because she had a huge and open heart,” prosecutor Alex Spiro read on behalf of Hover’s stepsisters, “Her senseless murder irreparably damaged our family.”
Rodney Alcala’s other victims include 12 year old Robin Samsoe, 33 year old secretary Charlotte Lamb, and 21 year old Jill Parentau, all raped, strangled and murdered in 1979. For the killing of Samsoe, Alcala was sentenced to death, but got his conviction overturned by the California Supreme Court. In 1986, he was re-sentenced with the death penalty, which was also overturned by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
