Where is Rodney Alcala now? Woman of the Hour tells the true story of serial killer

However, it turns out that Alcala isn't exactly a photographer in the way Sheryl imagines: he's actually a prolific serial killer who photographs his victims after killing them.

As well as telling Sheryl’s story, the film is also about the women who became his victims.

Want to know more about the chilling true story behind the show? With the film now on Netflix, read on for everything you need to know about Rodney Alcala, who he killed and how he was finally caught, as well as what happened to Sheryl (Cheryl in real life).

What happened to Cheryl Bradshaw?

As depicted in the film, Cheryl Bradshaw was an aspiring actress whose agent put her forward to appear on The Dating Game to get her foot in the door.

After appearing on The Dating Game, Sheryl Bradshaw (Cheryl Bradshaw in real life) left California "to live a private life and raise a family", according to Netflix.

Not much is known about her whereabouts now.

Did Rodney Alcala really appear on The Dating Game?

Yes. In 1978, Rodney Alcala appeared on an episode of The Dating Game, which eventually saw him dubbed the "Dating Game Killer".

Alcala was introduced to the audience and Sheryl as a "successful photographer who got his start when his father found him in the darkroom at the age of 13, fully developed", which is changed in the movie.

By the end of the episode, Alcala had won a date with Sheryl, but she felt uncomfortable and told contestant coordinator Ellen Metzger the next day she did not want to go out with him.

Metzger explained the moment to ABC: "She said, 'Ellen, I can't go out with this guy. There's weird vibes that are coming off of him. He's very strange. I'm not comfortable. Is that going to be a problem?' And, of course, I said, 'No.'"

How was Rodney Alcala caught?

At the end of Woman of the Hour, Netflix explains that, in 1979, "a teenage runaway escaped Rodney Alcala by asking him to keep the encounter a secret".

While awaiting trial, he was released on bail and went on to murder a 21-year-old woman and a 12-year-old girl. He was arrested again, and it was from then the police uncovered his crimes.

"For over a decade, Alcala had been reported to law enforcement by survivors and other private citizens without consequence," it continues.

"He was eventually convicted of the murders of seven women and girls.

"After 31 years in prison, Alcala had a final chance for acquittal. The runaway, now a grown woman, appeared in court to testify against him.

"According to the prosecutor, 'She showed up and put the nail in Rodney's coffin.'"

What happened to Rodney Alcala?

In 1980, Alcala was sentenced to death for the kidnapping and murder of 12-year-old Robin Samsoe. Four years later, the judgement was reversed and he was granted a new trial.

In 1986, Alcala was sentenced to death for a second time for Samsoe's murder, but in 2003 this was overturned and he was given another new trial.

Later, his DNA matched those found in other murders and Alcala was indicted for the murders of four other women.

In 2010, Alcala was convicted of five counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced for the murder of Samsoe and four other women.

Two years later, Alcala was extradited to New York after facing charges for the murder of two women, in which he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 years to life.

In 2016, he was charged with the murder of a 28-year-old woman who had disappeared in 1978 and whose body was found in 1982.

Where is Rodney Alcala now?

In July 2021, Rodney Alcala died of natural causes while on death row.

Woman of the Hour is available to watch on Netflix now. Sign up for Netflix from £4.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.

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