Anna Maria Gutierrez is widely recognized as the mother of the infamous Dating Game Killer, Rodney Alcala, but there is a multitude of facets to her life far beyond this notorious association. Anna originated from Torreon, Mexico, having been born on January 10, 19090. Charting an academic path, she sought advanced education at the renown Sorbonne in Paris followed by a pursuit of both bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Southern California. Her academic endeavors didn’t stop there; she went on to garner another degree from Cal State LA.
It wasn’t limited to academia that Anna stamped her mark; she also had an artistic side. It is said that she played the harp, a skill in which she reached such a level of proficiency that she even performed for the Queen of Spain. In addition, she ventured into writing, creating popular children’s stories that captured the imaginations of her young audience.
In the course of her life, Anna married Raul Alcala Buqor, and together they welcomed their son Rodrigo ‘Rodney’ Jacques Alcala into the world on August 23, 1943. Life took this family from Texas to Mexico in 1951. However, their seemingly smooth journey faced disruption when Raul left Anna and their children just three years after the move to Mexico.
Not one to succumb to circumstances, Anna took proactive measures for her family’s survival. In 1954, she, along with Rodney and his two sisters, relocated to Los Angeles. Early on, Rodney appeared to possess a high intellectual prowess, hinting at a promising future.
Despite showing academic potential, Rodney’s life took a drastic turn in 1964 when he deserted the army following a breakdown. His criminal acts surfaced in 1968 when he kidnapped and attempted to violate Morgan Rowan. Rodeny’s victim managed to escape, but this marked the beginning of his notorious activities.
Regrettably, Rodney’s gruesome actions continued that same year, with an 8-year-old named Tali Shapiro falling victim to his crimes. He left Tali in a coma, but a passerby named Donald Haines saw Rodney luring the girl into his car, stepping in to save her life. Absconding the area, Rodney took refuge in New York, where he resumed academic pursuits at New York University, studying under the tutelage of Roman Polanski.
While residing in New York City, Rodney’s criminal instincts persisted. He ended the life of a 23-year-old flight attendant in a chilling act in 1971. Later that year, he was apprehended due to his attack on Tali Shapiro. However, prosecuting him was challenging due to Tali’s parents’ reluctance to put their daughter through the ordeal of testifying. As such, Rodney ended up being convicted of child molestation, but charges of rape and attempted murder did not stick.
Upon his release from prison in 1977, Rodney took on a new identity, ‘Jack Berger.’ His sinister operations evolved into a strategy that involved entrapping victims under the pretense of shooting photos for a modeling portfolio. His scheme would then culminate in killing the unsuspecting individuals.
In a shocking move, Rodney applied and was accepted onto the popular game show The Dating Game, where he tried to win over contestant Cheryl Bradshaw with his charm. However, his unsettling humor did not sit well with Bradshaw and she declined his offer for a date.
Despite the setback on the television game show, Rodney did not halt his criminal acts. On Valentine’s Day in 1979, Rodney kidnapped and violated a 15-year-old who was hitchhiking. Even after striking her head with a rock, the victim managed to escape while Rodney was using a gas station restroom.
Tragically, before Rodney was finally apprehended, 12-year-old Robin Christine Samsoe succumbed to his violent tendencies. The major break in this high-profile case came when police found a receipt in Anna’s house that belonged to Rodney. This receipt led authorities to a storage locker owned by Rodney.
A pair of earrings discovered in the locker turned out to belong to another one of Rodney’s victims, providing sufficient evidence for his arrest. In July of 1979, Rodney was taken into custody and in June 1980, he was sentenced to death. However, due to procedural reasons, the sentence was overturned; Rodney remained incarcerated until he passed away in 2021.
As the events of her son’s life unfolded in the public arena, Anna passed away aged 90 on February 18, 1999. Her obituary painted a portrait of a woman who left an indelible impact through her various achievements, such as her memorable performance for the Queen of Spain. Throughout her life, Anna didn’t openly discuss her son’s notorious crimes.
By the end of her life, the surname Alcala was no longer part of her identity. Anna had chosen ‘German’ as her surname, which was her second husband’s last name. Despite the turbulence her life witnessed due to her son’s actions, Anna is remembered for a life where she made significant contributions to society.