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Alan R Warren

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The Killing Game: The True Story of Rodney Alcala (WildBlue Press True Crime) Kindle Edition

by Alan R. Warren (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.1 50 ratings

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The “compelling true story” of “The Dating Game Killer” by the radio host and bestselling author of Drinks, Dinner & Death (Burl Barer, Edgar Award-winning author).

Beginning in 1968 and continuing into the 1970s, a predator stalked California and New York, torturing, raping and murdering young girls and women. But who was the monster behind these tragedies?

Eventually, a suspect emerged, but he didn’t look like a monster. Indeed, Rodney Alcala was a handsome, charming photographer who’d once studied film at New York University under director Roman Polanski. With his wit and easy self-confidence and humor, he’d even been selected as the “winner” on the popular television show “The Dating Game.” But his real game was much more sinister.

In 2010, Alcala was convicted of murdering five women in California during the 1970s; then in 2013, as he waited on Death Row, he confessed to the murder of two more in New York. Yet, that might not be the end of the nightmare he caused. At his arrest, police found his “portfolio” with thousands of nude and erotic photographs of women and boys, who may also be among his victims.

In The Killing Game, bestselling true crime author and radio show host, Alan R. Warren reveals the shocking details of Alcala’s brutal crimes, as well as the trials and appeals that stretched on for decades and may still not be over.

Print length

217 pages
Language

English
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On Kindle Scribe
Publisher

WildBlue Press
Publication date

October 2, 2018
File size

2473 KB
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Alan R Warren is one of the current hosts of the House of Mystery Radio Show that is heard on KKNW 1150 A.M. in Seattle and is syndicated in many markets throughout the U.S. including 106.5 F.M. KCAA Los Angeles, Riverside & Palm Springs and in Utah on KYAH 540 A.M. in Salt Lake City and KFNX 1100 A.M. Phoenix. He has written six best-selling True Crime Books and Articles for True Crime Case Files Magazine and Serial Killer Magazine. Alan achieved his Masters in Music and his minor in Criminology at the University of Washington in 1998. He has gone on to receive his Doctorate in Religious Studies in 2016. He also has his recording and sound engineering certificate from the Award-Winning Bullfrog Studios in Vancouver B.C., Canada

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08DCPXXYR
Publisher ‏ : ‎ WildBlue Press (October 2, 2018)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 2, 2018
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 2473 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 217 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #667,213 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #382 in Violence in Society (Kindle Store)
- #817 in Biographies of Serial Killers
- #1,129 in Biographies & Memoirs of Criminals

Customer Reviews:
4.1 50 ratings

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Alan R Warren

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ALAN R. WARREN is a Best-Selling Author and Producer/Host of the Popular NBC Radio shows 'House of Mystery' and 'Inside Writing, both heard on KCAA 106.5 F.M. Los Angeles/102.3 F.M. Riverside/ 1050 A.M. Palm Springs/ 540 A.M. KYAH Salt Lake City/ KFNX 1100 A.M.Phoenix and the Crime Fiction Show Called 'Noir at the Bar' heard on KKNW 1150 A.M. in Seattle/Tacoma.

Warren has had 30 books published in the Non-Fiction Genre covering True Crime, Cults, Human Trafficking, History, and Memoirs for three different publishers, including RJ Parker/Vronksy Publishing in Toronto, Canada & and WildBlue Press in Colorado, America.

His bestselling True Crime Books in Canada are 'Beyond Suspicion' The True Story of Colonel Russell Williams, which was featured on CNN's 'Lies, Crimes, & Videos in Season 4 in the Fall of 2022, and 'Murder Times Six' the true story of the Wells Gray Park Murders.

In America, his Best-Sellers include ' The Killing Game- Serial killer Rodney Alcala which has been featured on several Television Shows such as HLN's 'Very Scary People with Donny Walberg', Oxygen Network's 'Mark of a Killer,' and The Reelz Channel's 'Killer Trophies' and stars in the Prime's Three-Part Documentary called ' Dating Death' ' and his book ' Doomsday Cults - The Devil's Hostages' which was featured on Vice's Dark Side of the '90s' episode 7.

His latest series of books is called ' Killer Queens,' a 6 part-book series covering murders that affect the Gay Community. Book 1 - Leopold & Loeb, Book 2 - Butcher of Hanover; Fritz Haarmann. Book 3 - Grindr Serial Killer Stephen Port, Book 4 - Bruce McArthur; Toronto Gay Killer.

Warren is set to release his newest fictional series in 2024!

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4.1 out of 5

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Linda Lou

I like true crime

Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2023

Verified Purchase

This story is beyond words. How can a person be so evil. I had seen a documentary about this case but had no idea....

Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2019

Having read quite a bit about Rodney Alcala, I was eager to read this book on him. I consider him to be quite an evil piece of work yet a fascinating subject to read about. I was hoping to see if there was any news of current court doings, etc. Rodney’s first known victim was only 8 years old and it happened in 1968, coincidentally I happened to be 8 years old that year too, so it chills me thoroughly. He saw her walking to school from the Chateau Marmont and talked her into getting into his car for a ride. Tali Shapiro never made it that day. But a good Samaritan was watching, thankfully and thought it looked suspicious and followed them. He saw where Alcala took Tali and went to a pay phone and called the police. By the time an officer knocked, Alcala yelled through the door that he was in the shower. The officer yelled back that he had ten seconds to open up as Alcala fled out the back. Finally, the cop kicked the door in and searched the place, horrified at what he found in the kitchen. Tali was brutalized but shocked everyone when she began breathing and survived.

The next victim was Julie Johnson, 13. On October 13, 1975, Julie was waiting for her school bus when Alcala offered her a ride to school. She eventually agreed and got in his car with him. When she realized he’d passed her school, she got upset. He took her to the cliffs at Huntington Beach and forced her to smoke weed with him. They were caught by a ranger and Alcala was arrested, both were taken in for questioning. Alcala knew he was in trouble, having just gotten out of prison for what he did to the 8-year-old, (the parole board let him go after only 34 months, mind you!) he was sent first back to jail, then prison. After this victim, he learned in prison to not let the victims survive to testify which would have catastrophic results in years to come.

After this, the bodies were dropping like crazy and the total number isn’t known for sure. When he first got out of prison he got permission to go to New York state and he lived there for a while and is known to have killed few females there and in New Hampshire. He later returned to California again and returned to his old habits there and was eventually caught. He was repeatedly tried for the killing of one girl, Robin Samsoe age 12 on June 13, 1979, that got overturned twice. By the third trial, DNA had tied him to a total of 4 other new murder cases too, and they wanted to try them all with the Robin Samsoe case. By then, Alcala had done enough of his own legal work and motions that he filed to ask that he be allowed to represent himself in the case. After being denied a couple of times, they finally approved him. It was becoming big news, as it was again a death penalty case too. His two early victims both testified, now grown and yet still traumatized by it many years later. When the guilty verdict was read in the courtroom in 2010 the crowd roared, Alcala was silent. He was given the death penalty.

Following that conviction, Huntington Beach PD released more than 100+ pictures taken by Alcala that had been found in his rental locker in Seattle, WA and posted them online asking for the public’s help in identifying them, in the hopes of ruling out any further victims of his. There was already four known of in New York. Alcala was indicted by a Manhattan Grand jury in January 2011 for the murders of Cornelia Crilley, the TWA flight attendant, and Ellen Hover, the Ciro’s heiress, in 1971 and 1977, respectively. He eventually pleaded guilty in those cases and was given an additional 25 years to life, as the death penalty hasn’t been an option in New York since 2007.

In September 2016, Alcala was charged with the murder of 28-year-old Christine Ruth Thornton, who disappeared in 1977. A relative of hers recognized her in one of the 100 pictures in 2013 posted of Alcala’s by the Huntington Beach PD and NYPD. Her body was found in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, in 1982 but was not identified until 2015 when DNA supplied by Thornton’s relatives matched tissue samples from her remains. Alcala admitted taking the photo, but not to killing the woman, who was approximately six months pregnant at the time of her death. Thornton is the first alleged murder victim linked to the Alcala photos made public in 2010. The 73-year-old Alcala was reportedly “too ill” to make the journey from California to Wyoming to stand trial on the new charges. He remains in California State Prison – Corcoran, pending further appeals of his death sentences. It is unknown how many women and girls he killed altogether.

6 people found this helpful

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Audrey

Unimaginable.

Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2022

3.5 - To the point, albeit, repetitive. I think I might have heard of Rodney Alcala in passing but realizing he’d made it onto The Dating Game in the middle of his crime spree was what got me to pick up the book. My heart goes out to his victims and their families.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Ceállaigh

I learned even more about Alcala

Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2019

Alan did a great job focusing on the victims while still thoroughly telling Alcala's story. It can be a hard one to follow, since Alcala was able to be active for so long and bounced around in location, but Alan puts everything together and includes details I hadn't previously known, despite hearing about Alcala many times on true crime podcasts. I appreciate what Alan did for the victims, and I'm sure I will be reading more of his books in the future!

2 people found this helpful

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Anony

Compelling and Unforgettable Narrative

Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2023

“The Killing Game: The True Story of Rodney Alcala (WildBlue Press True Crime)” by Alan R. Warren is a gripping true crime account that delves deep into the chilling story of Rodney Alcala. Warren’s masterful storytelling brings to life the details of this infamous case, keeping readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. With meticulous research and a keen eye for detail, the author presents a compelling and unforgettable narrative that sheds light on the mind of a serial killer. This book is a must-read for true crime enthusiasts, offering a chilling glimpse into the darkest corners of the human psyche.

Helpful

Loretta Goble

How crazy a person can be, yet still deny their involvement in these hidious crimes

Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2019

Very well written taking the story step by step throughout Alcala's gruesome crimes. Very detailed information about how crimes were committed and evidence found to prove guilt. Couldn't put the book down. If you like true stories you should read this book!

One person found this helpful

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HHH

Now I know the whole story

Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2019

I thought I knew about this serial killer. Turns out I only knew part of the story. I was unaware of his youngest victims and of how the system kept putting him back on the street!

One person found this helpful

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Jessa Kahler

Sooo good

Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2019

Once I picked this up, couldn't put it down!

Helpful