| For Immediate Release Case # C-42861
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Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
JURY RECOMMENDS DEATH PENALTY FOR SERIAL MURDERER CONVICTED OF KIDNAPPING-MURDER OF 12-YEAR-OLD ORANGE COUNTY GIRL AND SEXUAL ASSAULT-MURDERS OF FOUR LOS ANGELES WOMEN
*This is the defendant’s third conviction for the Orange County murder; he was linked to the Los Angeles murders through DNA
SANTA ANA – A jury recommended today that a serial murderer receive the death penalty for kidnapping and murdering a 12-year-old Orange County girl and raping and murdering four Los Angeles County women in the 1970s. Rodney James Alcala, 66, was found guilty by a jury Feb. 25, 2010, of five felony counts of murder and one felony count of kidnapping. The jury found true the sentencing enhancements for committing multiple murders, murder with torture, murder during the commission of rape, murder during the commission of kidnapping, murder during the commission of a burglary of an inhabited dwelling, and murder during the commission of a robbery. A date for the sentencing will be determined tomorrow.
Background on Alcala
In 1972, Alcala was convicted of kidnapping and molesting a child in 1968 in Los Angeles County. Upon serving a 34-month sentence, he was released from prison. After his release, Alcala lived in Monterey Park with his mother and was hired to work as a typist or typesetter for the Los Angeles Times. This is where he lived and worked in 1977 when he committed his first Los Angeles County murder. The evidence of this conviction was presented and argued to the jury.
Murder of Jill Barcomb, Los Angeles County
In November 1977, Alcala raped, sodomized, and murdered 18-year-old Jill Barcomb, a New York native who had recently moved to California. The defendant used a large rock to smash in the victim’s face, causing blunt force trauma, and strangled her to death by tying her belt and pant leg around her neck. He then left the victim’s body in a mountainous area in the foothills near Hollywood. The murdered victim was discovered Nov. 10, 1977, on her knees with her face in the dirt. The case was investigated but went cold. Biological evidence was collected at the scene, but DNA technology was not available at that time.
Murder of Georgia Wixted, Los Angeles County
In December 1977, Alcala raped, sodomized, and murdered 27-year-old nurse Georgia Wixted. The defendant used the claw end of a hammer to beat the victim and smash in her head. He strangled her to death using a nylon stocking and left her body in her Malibu apartment. The victim was discovered Dec. 16, 1977. The case was investigated but went cold. Biological evidence was collected at the scene, but DNA technology was not available at that time.
Murder of Charlotte Lamb, Los Angeles County
In June 1979, Alcala raped, beat, and murdered 33-year-old legal secretary Charlotte Lamb. The defendant strangled the victim to death using a shoelace from her shoe and left her body in a laundry room of an El Segundo apartment complex. The victim did not live in the complex.