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In what was expected to be another entertaining episode of "The Dating Game," a hidden nightmare was unfolding. On a fateful day in 1978, host Jim Lange introduced three bachelors to Cheryl Bradshaw, a young woman looking for love. Little did anyone know, one of the contestants, Rodney Alcala, was hiding a horrific secret behind his charming facade. Alcala, then 35, was embroiled in a violent spree of murders across New York, California, and Wyoming, having already claimed the lives of at least eight individuals.

The game show, known for its playful and suggestive banter, unknowingly gave a national platform to Alcala. "Bachelor No. 1 is a successful photographer who got his start when his father found him in the dark room at the age of 13 fully developed," quipped Lange. "Between takes you might find him skydiving or motorbiking. Please welcome Rodney Alcala!" His resume, while accurate about his photography, omitted the sinister use of his camera to lure and kill unsuspecting victims.

Unbeknownst to the producers and Bradshaw, Alcala was a seasoned criminal. His string of heinous acts included the brutal assault of eight-year-old Tali Shapiro in 1968, and the 1971 murder of Cornelia Crilley, a TWA flight attendant in her Manhattan apartment. Despite being added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List for Shapiro's assault, he managed to evade authorities and continued his killing spree upon his release on parole.

The Dating Game episode with Alcala remains a terrifying glimpse into how easily his charm masked his true nature. Criminal profiler Pat Brown noted the chilling irony of rewatching the episode knowing Alcala's criminal history. Even Mike Metzger, one of the producers, had reservations about Alcala’s mystique, which his wife Ellen found appealing.

Bradshaw’s intuition ultimately spared her from becoming another of Alcala's victims. After winning the date, she expressed discomfort about Alcala, citing "weird vibes." Her decision to cancel their outing likely saved her life, as Alcala was soon after charged with the murder of Robin Samsoe, a 12-year-old girl he had approached under the pretext of taking her picture.

In 1980, Alcala was found guilty of Samsoe's murder, although the conviction faced multiple appeals and retrials. His DNA later linked him to several unsolved cases starting in 2003. He received a death sentence in California and an additional 25 years to life in New York for his crimes. Alcala died in a California prison in 2021 at age 77. His story continues to haunt those involved in "The Dating Game" episode, a macabre reminder of the darkness that can hide behind the guise of normalcy.