Serial Killer Alcala Sentenced to Death

 

LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
MEDIA RELATIONS DIVISION

STEVE COOLEY District Attorney JOSEPH SCOTT Director
JOHN K. SPILLANE Chief Deputy District Attorney SANDI GIBBONS P.I.O.
JANE ROBISON News Secretary
SHIARA M. DÁVILA Asst. P.I.O.

18-1112 Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
210 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 974-3525
March 30, 2010

Serial killer formally sentenced to death for Los Angeles, Orange counties' murders

SANTA ANA – Rodney James Alcala was formally sentenced to death today for the murders of four Los Angeles County women and a 12-year-old Huntington Beach girl more than 30 years ago.

"Anyone who doubts the appropriateness and necessity of the death penalty should acquaint themselves with Rodney James Alcala and his life and times," Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley said during a joint news conference with Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas.

Noting the brutality of the crimes against four young women and the child, most of whom were tortured and sexually assaulted before they were bludgeoned, beaten and strangled, Cooley said "society has suffered by his presence."

The case was tried jointly by Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Gina Satriano and Orange County Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy after Cooley and Rackauckas agreed to try all the cases in Orange County.

Alcala, 66, had been twice before tried in Orange County for the murder of Robin Samsoe in 1979. His conviction and death penalty were twice overturned. Faced with a third trial on the Samsoe killing and newly discovered DNA evidence that linked Alcala to the four Los Angeles murders, Cooley said he and Rackauckas decided the best place to try all the cases was in Orange County.

Before formal sentencing, trial Judge Francisco Briseno denied motions to set aside the jury recommendation of death for Alcala and for a new trial. Appeal of the death sentence is automatic and Alcala will be back on his way to San Quentin's Death Row.

Family members and friends of the victims spoke in the crowded Santa Ana courtroom. Most urged Alcala to admit the murders as well as others in other states in which he is a suspect.

Survivors of the Los Angeles victims said that they did not know who killed their loved ones for more than 20 years and spoke of the horror of reliving the murders at Alcala's trial.

"If there is a Hell, I hope Rodney Alcala burns eternally," said Dee Dee Parenteau, sister of 21-year-old Jill Parenteau, who was found strangled in her Burbank apartment on June 14, 1979. "He is truly a devil and he does not belong on this earth."

The other Los Angeles County victims were Jill Barcomb, 18, whose body was found on Nov. 10, 1977, in the Hollywood Hills; Georgia Wixted, 27, whose body was found at her Malibu home on Dec. 16, 1977; and Charlotte Lamb, 32, whose body was found in El Segundo on June 24, 1978.

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Sandi Gibbons, Public Information Officer
Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office
Criminal Justice Center
210 W. Temple St., 18th Floor
Los Angeles CA 90012
Phone: 213-974-3528
Email address: sandi@da.lacounty.gov