Podcast Summary: "I Caught 'The Dating Game' Killer"

Podcast: What It Was Like
Host: Julian Morgans
Guest: Judge Craig Robeson (formerly Detective Robeson, Huntington Beach PD)
Date: October 31, 2025

Episode Overview

This gripping episode delves into what it was like to be the detective who finally apprehended Rodney Alcala—infamously known as "The Dating Game Killer." Host Julian Morgans sits down with Craig Robeson, who as a young detective in Huntington Beach, cracked open the case that would ultimately reveal Alcala as a prolific serial predator. Through vivid storytelling, the episode covers not just the police work, but also the serendipity, trauma, and aftermath of catching a killer hiding in plain sight.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. How Alcala Came Into Focus

• Triggering Event: The disappearance of 12-year-old Robin Samsoe on June 20, 1979, set the investigation in motion ([09:12]).
• Alcala’s Modus Operandi: He posed as a photographer to approach young women and girls, using a camera as a pretext to engage and assess potential victims ([11:29]).
• The First Witness: Significant testimony came from Dana Krappa, a firefighter who saw Alcala pushing Robin toward bushes (initially withheld from police) ([12:26], [13:50]).
• Body Discovery: Robin’s remains were found in the hills above Los Angeles, setting off a chain of forensic investigation ([14:44]).

2. Old-School Detective Work

• Era Limitations: No DNA, internet, or even fax machines; much legwork and reliance on phone tip lines and sketches ([08:30]).
• Artist’s Sketch: A talented police sketch artist produced an image that closely matched Alcala’s booking photo, a breakthrough in the investigation ([25:50]).
• Connecting the Dots: Multiple tips, including one from Alcala’s own parole officer, brought detective attention to him ([24:00]).

3. The Dating Game Moment

• Shocking Serendipity: A detective sees Alcala—then a prime suspect—appear as a contestant (and winner) on national TV’s "The Dating Game" ([01:07], [29:08]).

  • Quote (Craig Robeson, [29:09]):
    “...the guy that we just got all excited about as a potential suspect is on television... if you believe in divine guidance, that's like the finger of God coming down and pointing.”

• Ego on Display: Both host and guest reflect on Alcala's brazen ego, still seeking the spotlight mid-killing spree ([01:47], [30:00]).

4. Breakthroughs and Building the Case

• Storage Locker Discovery: Detective work leads to Alcala’s storage locker in Seattle, holding boxes of photographs and mementos—including items belonging to known and unknown victims ([43:24], [44:48]).

• Jewelry as Evidence: A unique pair of gold earrings, physically altered by Robin’s mother, forensically links Alcala to Robin ([45:23]).

  • Quote (Robeson, [47:18]):
    “I think he took those earrings from Robin Samsoe’s body. And we didn’t have DNA technology at that time, but those earrings were a big piece of evidence at his first trial and every trial, actually.”

• Photos: Haunting Artifacts: Hundreds, possibly thousands, of photos found—many strikingly artful but chilling in context, feature unidentified women and girls ([43:27], [56:02]).

5. The Horror of Discovery

• Forensic Detail: Robeson describes the scene of Robin’s murder and surreal finds (deck shoe, hair matted into leaves, a murder knife), offering a deeply personal and graphic account ([14:44]–[19:07]).

  • Memorable Moment:
    • “It was spider webs, but it wasn’t spider webs. It was human hair...this entire head of hair that belonged to this little girl when she was alive.” ([18:25])

• Patterns Emerge: Tracking photos matches Alcala’s movements; a series of roller-skate images leads to another near-miss, Lorraine Wirtz ([49:37]).

6. Victims Identified through Photos

• Wyoming Case: A Wyoming detective spots a location in publicized Alcala photos, leading to the identification of a previously unknown murder victim ([53:16]).

  • Quote (Robeson, [55:20]):
    “They were able to develop an identity...her sister was able to identify her because of the birth defect (rolled pinky toe)...she was six months pregnant.”

• Unfathomable Scope: Former acquaintances later call the tip line, recalling how Alcala bragged of “raped six women and murdered three” as early as 1966 ([56:02]–[57:18]).

7. Arrest and Aftermath

• Arrest Day: Alcala arrested July 23, 1979, as he prepared to leave for Seattle ([57:49]).
• Interrogation and Evasiveness: Alcala never confessed, remained “closed...guarded,” and would not give up details ([64:46]).
• Trial Oddities: Alcala eventually represented himself in court, focusing only on contesting the Huntington Beach charges ([66:13]–[67:39]).

8. The Personal Toll and Reflection

• Detective’s Guilt and Empathy: Robeson reflects on the trauma witnesses endured, survivor guilt, and his own lasting memories ([36:41], [74:19]).

  • Quote (Robeson, [74:19]):
    “This was personal, you know, I mean, this is the one. If you sit quietly with another detective in an area that you both know, this is where this girl died. Yeah. This is where she was murdered...just sitting there with our thoughts and just imagining the horror of that. It's personal.”

• On Evil: After seeing much darkness, Robeson emphasizes the importance of vigilance as a parent—while still believing in the good in people ([72:54], [74:10]).

  • Quote (Robeson, [74:10]):
    “But there's good in people too...I see the good in people and I work with a lot of people over the years, really good people that do hard work and thank God for them.”

• Legacy of the Victim: Robeson credits Robin Samsoe’s sacrifice, “She should get the credit, because what she gave in order to catch this guy was the ultimate price...” ([77:36]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Serendipity ([29:09]):
  “...the guy that we just got all excited about as a potential suspect is on television...if you believe in divine guidance, that's like the finger of God...” — Craig Robeson

• On Alcala’s Ego ([30:00]):
  “At this point he's committed serial homicide, and he's still got the ego to appear on a dating show on national TV. I mean, that's just so crazy.” — Julian Morgans

• On the Haunting Photos ([56:02]):
  “Are they still alive? It's haunting to me, knowing what I knew about him at that point in time. And you just wonder, what is the story for each of these girls, these women?” — Craig Robeson

• On Trauma of Witnesses ([36:41]):
  “If you saw this woman testify, there's no way that you wouldn't believe...she was sitting...and she would just rock like this. And the jurors were just locked in...hanging on her every word.” — Craig Robeson on Dana Krappa

• On Investigative Satisfaction ([75:34]):
  “I take a certain amount of satisfaction of knowing that he was never able to do that to anybody else.” — Craig Robeson

• Robin’s Memory ([79:23]):
  “There’s a statue of her down by the pier in Huntington Beach...the school that she attended, they planted a tree...I go by there once in a while and it's grown a lot.” — Craig Robeson

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [09:12] – Robin Samsoe’s disappearance and initial investigation
• [14:44] – Discovery of Robin’s remains, forensic details
• [24:00] – First tip-off linking Alcala
• [25:50] – Sketch artist breakthrough
• [29:08] – Detective sees Alcala on "The Dating Game"
• [43:24] – Discovery of Alcala’s storage locker and photos
• [45:23] – Gold earrings as vital evidence
• [53:16] – New victim identified through publicized photos
• [55:20] – Wyoming detective solves a cold case
• [57:49] – Alcala’s arrest
• [64:46] – Alcala’s behavior under interrogation
• [74:19] – Robeson reflects on the personal impact
• [77:36] – Tribute to Robin Samsoe

Tone & Delivery

• Julian Morgans is empathetic, curious, but direct—the tone is grave but respectful regarding the violence discussed.
• Craig Robeson balances professionalism, compassion, and vulnerability, revealing the emotional weight of the case on him and the intense satisfaction in bringing Alcala to justice.

Conclusion

This is a chilling, humanizing account of how painstaking detective work, unforeseen moments of luck, and perseverance against evil led to the capture of a notorious serial killer. The episode honors the memories of victims, the doggedness of law enforcement, and underscores the indelible scars such cases leave on all touched by them.

For those seeking the full story, this summary offers the episode’s most important insights, moments, and quotes, allowing you to understand the journey that brought "The Dating Game Killer" to justice without needing to listen.