You’ve probably heard of Rodney Alcala by now, or maybe you've seen the 2024 film Woman of the Hour. People call him the "Dating Game Killer" because he had the audacity to go on a national TV game show while he was in the middle of a literal killing spree. But there’s a specific part of his timeline that doesn't always get the headlines, and it involves a 15-year-old runaway named Monique Hoyt. Basically, her story is the reason we know just how depraved Alcala really was.
Monique was a runaway. Now, back in February 1979, the world was a different place for kids on the street. If you were a teenager trying to get somewhere, hitchhiking was just what you did. It's a terrifying thought today, but for a 15-year-old in Riverside County, it was a means to an end.
She had no idea she was stepping into a car with a man who had already spent years perfecting the art of the hunt.
The Night Monique Hoyt Encountered the Dating Game Killer
Rodney Alcala didn't just kill people. He "toyed" with them. That is the word prosecutors used, and it's nauseating. He would strangle his victims until they lost consciousness, wait for them to wake up, and then do it again. It was a cycle of torture. When he picked up Monique, he took her to his apartment and raped her. Then, he drove her to a secluded, rocky area in Joshua Tree.
This is where the "photographer" persona came in.
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Alcala was obsessed with his camera. He forced Monique to pose for photos in her underwear. He took pictures of the assault itself. To him, these weren't just crimes; they were trophies. Most people don't realize that when Alcala was finally caught, police found a storage locker in Seattle containing over 1,000 photos of women, girls, and boys. Many of them have never been identified.
How the Rodney Alcala Runaway Case Blew the Lid Off
Honestly, Monique Hoyt is a hero. After the assault in the desert, Alcala bludgeoned her in the head with a rock. He thought he was finishing the job. But he underestimated her. He started driving her back toward Riverside, and when he stopped at a gas station to use the bathroom, Monique saw her window. She didn't hesitate.
She ran.
She got to the police and told them everything. This led to Alcala’s arrest, but here is the part that will make your blood boil: his mother posted his bail. He was out. Free to walk the streets while the police were still piecing together the magnitude of his crimes. Because of that bail, he was able to stay out long enough to kidnap and murder 12-year-old Robin Samsoe just a few months later.
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Why we still talk about the 1979 runaway case
- It provided the first real physical evidence of his "trophy" photography.
- It showed the failure of the legal system in allowing a violent offender to post bail.
- Monique's testimony eventually became a cornerstone in the long-drawn-out legal battles to keep him behind bars.
The Photography Connection and the Unidentified Victims
When you search for Rodney Alcala runaway now, you’re often looking for the girls in the photos. After his 2010 conviction, the Huntington Beach Police Department released a massive gallery of the photos found in his locker. They were hoping people would recognize a sister, a friend, or a daughter who went missing in the 70s.
It worked.
In 2013, the sister of a woman named Christine Ruth Thornton saw a photo in the online database. She recognized her sister, who had been missing since 1977. Christine was six months pregnant when Alcala killed her. It took over 30 years to get that answer, all because of a photo Alcala took to satisfy his own ego.
The Long Road to Justice
Alcala was a nightmare to prosecute. He had an IQ of 135 and acted as his own attorney during his 2010 trial. He would sit there and ask himself questions, changing his voice to play both the "lawyer" and the "witness." It was a circus. He was sentenced to death three times for the murder of Robin Samsoe, with the first two being overturned on technicalities.
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He finally died of natural causes in 2021 at the age of 77. He was at a hospital near California State Prison, Corcoran. He never faced a needle, and he never gave up the names of the dozens of other women he likely killed. Experts believe the total count could be as high as 130.
What you can do with this information today
If you or someone you know is a fan of true crime, the most important thing is to remember the victims over the "genius" of the killer. Alcala wasn't a genius; he was a predator who exploited a system that didn't take runaways or "missing" women seriously enough.
- Look at the unidentified photos: The Huntington Beach Police Department still has the Alcala photo gallery available online. If you have family history involving a disappearance in the late 70s, it's worth a look.
- Support Cold Case units: Many of these identifications only happen because of dedicated cold case detectives and advances in DNA.
- Advocate for better bail reform: The fact that Alcala was able to kill Robin Samsoe because he was out on bail for the Hoyt assault is a lesson that still applies to modern criminal justice discussions.
The story of the Rodney Alcala runaway now reminds us that survival isn't just about luck—it's about the incredible bravery of people like Monique Hoyt who refused to become another nameless photo in a locker.