Alcala photos discussion thread - latest updates, news, questions

[jessunlil]

I know I've posted this in 2 other threads, I hope the mods will forgive me and move anything that is posted in the wrong place!

Just finished listening to the audio found here:
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=313101

Judy Cole cleared up some of the confusion about which photo is her.
It is photo #196 on the NY Daily News site.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gall...ey_alcala.html

However, if you read the caption below that photo it says;
"One of 215 images of individuals believed to have been photographed by serial killer Rodney Alcala, who is in prison in California for a series of murders there between 1971 and 1979 (Read more here). Police request that anyone with information about any of the pictures should call (800) 577-TIPS and reference: Picture 169."

196 is the # the New York Daily News used in their slideshow but 169 is the reference # for the police.

I hope that made sense!
If not, listen to the interview, I recommend it anyway!

 

[Filly]

I know I've posted this in 2 other threads, I hope the mods will forgive me and move anything that is posted in the wrong place!

Just finished listening to the audio found here:
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=313101

Judy Cole cleared up some of the confusion about which photo is her.
It is photo #196 on the NY Daily News site.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gall...ey_alcala.html

However, if you read the caption below that photo it says;
"One of 215 images of individuals believed to have been photographed by serial killer Rodney Alcala, who is in prison in California for a series of murders there between 1971 and 1979 (Read more here). Police request that anyone with information about any of the pictures should call (800) 577-TIPS and reference: Picture 169."

196 is the # the New York Daily News used in their slideshow but 169 is the reference # for the police.

I hope that made sense!
If not, listen to the interview, I recommend it anyway!

Thanks button not enough.

Danka, Jess.

 

[Billylee]

Speaking of confusion and the pictures. There was an article that Cherry Greenman was not the woman in "A PICTURE". Which picture would that be, does anyone know? Back when were first discussing these photos, didn't several of you say you thought Cherry could be several different girls?

 

[Billylee]

Maybe if enough people raise hell like this, they'll finally get around to releasing photos of the jewelry:

"They should be in every newspaper, on TV and on the Internet," Sheila Weller, cousin of victim Ellen Hover, said before the NYPD decided to release the pictures last night.

"It is rare that someone kept trophies of the women he came into contact with."

Hover, 23, was found dead in Westchester County in 1978, and Alcala - who lived in New York City off and on in the 1970s - has long been a suspect.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_...lly_release_sicko_vic_pics.html#ixzz0m8KlGfpI


Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_...lly_release_sicko_vic_pics.html#ixzz0m8JzX0eD

 

[Redbird]

Because of the haphazard way the photos have been released, I think LE is only interested in the girls in the photos and family members coming forward to identify the people in the pictures. There is very little we can do to help with so little organization.

 

[socalgal2]

what are your thoughts on this woman and the UID reconstruction? They look so similar.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/photogalleries/localnews2011323273/87.html

UID reconstruction

http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PubCaseSearchServlet?act=viewChildDetail&caseNum=U10186&orgPrefix=NCMU&seqNum=1&caseLang=en_US&searchLang=en_US

 

[Redbird]

The date would be a good match.

 

[Imbackon]

what are your thoughts on this woman and the UID reconstruction? They look so similar.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/photogalleries/localnews2011323273/87.html

UID reconstruction

http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PubCaseSearchServlet?act=viewChildDetail&caseNum=U10186&orgPrefix=NCMU&seqNum=1&caseLang=en_US&searchLang=en_US

no scar that I can see like it says on the CAlif Jane Doe, otherwise good match

 

[Billylee]

no scar that I can see like it says on the CAlif Jane Doe, otherwise good match

Alcala was supposedly on the east coast during this time. According to the time line he was vacationing g from July 2 through August 15, 1977 in Chicago, Washington D.c. and New York. Since they have this info, I'm guessing they must have something showing that he was in one of those states on July 2, which makes it "unlikely" that he was back in CA on July 8. However, it does not say, unless I'm missing it, exactly when this girl was found and more importantly how long she'd been dead.

 

[socalgal2]

Alcala was supposedly on the east coast during this time. According to the time line he was vacationing g from July 2 through August 15, 1977 in Chicago, Washington D.c. and New York. Since they have this info, I'm guessing they must have something showing that he was in one of those states on July 2, which makes it "unlikely" that he was back in CA on July 8. However, it does not say, unless I'm missing it, exactly when this girl was found and more importantly how long she'd been dead.

That's what I was thinking. The July 8, 1977 date is the date she was found. Since they had to do some reconstruction it's possible she had been dead a week or longer before she was found. Still it's a fact that unless Alcala wrote her name on the back of the photo, she will remain unidentified possibly. ;(

 

[Filly]

Maybe I am throwing more into the game here, but it may be pertinent.

While Alcala was in jail/prison awaiting trial for Robin's murder (the first trial) there was a guy (maybe his cellie) who testified in court that Alcala told him he liked to bring the girls to a place where he could see the lights and water towers.

LE and the experts narrowed that down to a few spots but the place he murdered Robin at was not one of them.

How can we find parks in LA where you can see the lights and water towers?

 

[socalgal2]

There are water towers off the 405 freeway near Long Beach, Ca . There is a huge one on the way to LA. It has "Signal Hills" written on it.http://www.beachcalifornia.com/signalh.html Right near there at Long Beach Pier was an amusement Park called The Pike (it closed down at the end of the 70's http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pike

LA County starts around there.

There were plenty of lights of cities and The Pike's rides visible if you were up in the hills.

ETA: There are also canyons and parks in Orange County ,CA that are only 15 miles or so to get to from Huntington Beach etc. I am posting this so we don't just limit ourselves to LA canyons etc.

In the pics of the girl with the yellow shorts my first thought was "That's looks like Irvine Park.

All these places I am listing are secluded and back in the 70's, probably the 60's too, a big place where everyone went to party, hike, take pics, have picnics, etc.

Irvine Park, O'Neill Park, Trabuco Canyon, Silverado Canyon, Live Oak Canyon, Black Star Canyon, Santiago Canyon, Peter's Canyon, Irvine Lake, Saddleback, Holy Jim Canyon just to name a few! The main road into these canyons from Orange COunty was Chapman Ave. in Orange then it branched off to which ever place you were headed that day. You could also come in off the 5 fwy, that entrance is close to O'Neill Park. It wasn't built up like it is now in some areas out there.

I hope this helps. It's worth considering as another location Acala might take his prey.

 

[Filly]

There are water towers off the 405 freeway near Long Beach, Ca . There is a huge one on the way to LA. It has "Signal Hills" written on it.http://www.beachcalifornia.com/signalh.html Right near there at Long Beach Pier was an amusement Park called The Pike (it closed down at the end of the 70's http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pike

LA County starts around there.

There were plenty of lights of cities and The Pike's rides visible if you were up in the hills.

ETA: There are also canyons and parks in Orange County ,CA that are only 15 miles or so to get to from Huntington Beach etc. I am posting this so we don't just limit ourselves to LA canyons etc.

In the pics of the girl with the yellow shorts my first thought was "That's looks like Irvine Park.

All these places I am listing are secluded and back in the 70's, probably the 60's too, a big place where everyone went to party, hike, take pics, have picnics, etc.

Irvine Park, O'Neill Park, Trabuco Canyon, Silverado Canyon, Live Oak Canyon, Black Star Canyon, Santiago Canyon, Peter's Canyon, Irvine Lake, Saddleback, Holy Jim Canyon just to name a few! The main road into these canyons from Orange COunty was Chapman Ave. in Orange then it branched off to which ever place you were headed that day. You could also come in off the 5 fwy, that entrance is close to O'Neill Park. It wasn't built up like it is now in some areas out there.

I hope this helps. It's worth considering as another location Acala might take his prey.

Now we're talking. socalgal thanks so much.

I'll go back to find where the cellie said he told him he used such parks. He mentioned a highway with a number. However, they (LE) then said Robin was not murdered in one of those.

That doesn't mean he didn't use the others. I saw it in like a deposition type thing I found while looking around and surfing. I so will get it and maybe we can narrow it down.

Thank you for your expertise in all things California.

On an aside when I read it I thought "Hmmmmm he can see the lights. Signs of daily evenings going on, BUT they can't see him and his evil he was doing". The water towers? Who knows? Thank you again.

 

[Filly]

There are water towers off the 405 freeway near Long Beach, Ca . There is a huge one on the way to LA. It has "Signal Hills" written on it.http://www.beachcalifornia.com/signalh.html Right near there at Long Beach Pier was an amusement Park called The Pike (it closed down at the end of the 70's http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pike

LA County starts around there.

There were plenty of lights of cities and The Pike's rides visible if you were up in the hills.

ETA: There are also canyons and parks in Orange County ,CA that are only 15 miles or so to get to from Huntington Beach etc. I am posting this so we don't just limit ourselves to LA canyons etc.

In the pics of the girl with the yellow shorts my first thought was "That's looks like Irvine Park.

All these places I am listing are secluded and back in the 70's, probably the 60's too, a big place where everyone went to party, hike, take pics, have picnics, etc.

Irvine Park, O'Neill Park, Trabuco Canyon, Silverado Canyon, Live Oak Canyon, Black Star Canyon, Santiago Canyon, Peter's Canyon, Irvine Lake, Saddleback, Holy Jim Canyon just to name a few! The main road into these canyons from Orange COunty was Chapman Ave. in Orange then it branched off to which ever place you were headed that day. You could also come in off the 5 fwy, that entrance is close to O'Neill Park. It wasn't built up like it is now in some areas out there.

I hope this helps. It's worth considering as another location Acala might take his prey.

Sory for the double post.

I found it.

Alcala told another inmate Robert Dove that he liked to go near water towers in the mountains where he could see the lights. He mentioned "Big Tujunga". That was not the scene though where poor little Robin was murdered. That was "Santa Anita Canyon" although you can see lights and water towers.

Scroll down about a quarter of the page and that's where itis. The rest is just heart wrenching. How he ditched Robin's bike and how he locked the car doors. I tried to avoid most of that.

So, maybe that helped? Or maybe the dang inmates made it the heck up?




http://www.lawlink.com/research/CaseLevel3/8669

 

[socalgal2]

Sory for the double post.

I found it.

Alcala told another inmate Robert Dove that he liked to go near water towers in the mountains where he could see the lights. He mentioned "Big Tujunga". That was not the scene though where poor little Robin was murdered. That was "Santa Anita Canyon" although you can see lights and water towers.

Scroll down about a quarter of the page and that's where itis. The rest is just heart wrenching. How he ditched Robin's bike and how he locked the car doors. I tried to avoid most of that.

So, maybe that helped? Or maybe the dang inmates made it the heck up?




http://www.lawlink.com/research/CaseLevel3/8669

Thanks for the link. I have read some docs but hadn't heard some of the info before.

Things that I find unexcusable/no or minimal info from from LE etc regarding Alcala.

1. A Det.from HPD that was retiring in 1980 said that he had a sick feeling after Alcala's trial for Robin Samsoe,that we were at the tip of the iceberg and predicted we had a serial killer that might make Ted Bundy look like a boy scout!

2' Why didn't they look hard core into other unsolved cases of UID's/ when they found Alcalas photos?

3. Udate the pics and say when they know the fate or that the person is alive and trying to give details surrounding the encounter. Just having the pics removed and telling us how many, No need to further victimize them, we don't really nee to know that info in less they share it openly.

4. It seems like large blocks of his exsistant years are not being focused on.
He says he was in the Army from 1961 t0 1964, being AWOL numerous times! (Where was he? very helpful info right?) Also the statement "He was attending UCLA" it's like those years are a safety zone period! Just because he was enrolled doesn't mean he didn't take road trips! College isn't 24/7!

LE had him in a good position after he raped and tried to kill the 8 y/o and was caught We all know he immediatelty went to the East Coast. He could have stopped in many places on his way cross country. Nothing ,except the date of the camp(those poor kids), can be set in stone as to what state, county etc. he was in suring a given time period)

OK those things have been on my mind since I rushed home from work to look at the posted pics the day I learned about them, I was so scared that I would see one of me.No not everyone in the 70's were eagerly taking their clothes off for anyone! I needed to get that off my chest! Hopefully there are others that think the same or have similar thoughts about this case!

Sorry this is so long. I needed to say it to get things off my chest.

If I can be helpful with Cali info I am more than happy to try to answer questions about the area Alcala frequented, if I can! I think this site is awesome. I feel at home among fellow Sleuths!

 

[Claudette]

Has anyone contacted the LE with these photos to get confirmation on which have been identified? Perhaps if it is explained to them why we would like to know (not being nosey or curious but because we are a group of people that are trying to help them) they would be more forthcoming.

 

[Filly]

Thanks for the link. I have read some docs but hadn't heard some of the info before.

Things that I find unexcusable/no or minimal info from from LE etc regarding Alcala.

1. A Det.from HPD that was retiring in 1980 said that he had a sick feeling after Alcala's trial for Robin Samsoe,that we were at the tip of the iceberg and predicted we had a serial killer that might make Ted Bundy look like a boy scout!

2' Why didn't they look hard core into other unsolved cases of UID's/ when they found Alcalas photos?

3. Udate the pics and say when they know the fate or that the person is alive and trying to give details surrounding the encounter. Just having the pics removed and telling us how many, No need to further victimize them, we don't really nee to know that info in less they share it openly.

4. It seems like large blocks of his exsistant years are not being focused on.
He says he was in the Army from 1961 t0 1964, being AWOL numerous times! (Where was he? very helpful info right?) Also the statement "He was attending UCLA" it's like those years are a safety zone period! Just because he was enrolled doesn't mean he didn't take road trips! College isn't 24/7!

LE had him in a good position after he raped and tried to kill the 8 y/o and was caught We all know he immediatelty went to the East Coast. He could have stopped in many places on his way cross country. Nothing ,except the date of the camp(those poor kids), can be set in stone as to what state, county etc. he was in suring a given time period)

OK those things have been on my mind since I rushed home from work to look at the posted pics the day I learned about them, I was so scared that I would see one of me.No not everyone in the 70's were eagerly taking their clothes off for anyone! I needed to get that off my chest! Hopefully there are others that think the same or have similar thoughts about this case!

Sorry this is so long. I needed to say it to get things off my chest.

If I can be helpful with Cali info I am more than happy to try to answer questions about the area Alcala frequented, if I can! I think this site is awesome. I feel at home among fellow Sleuths!

Phew I'm glad we didn't see you in those photographs, Socal. Lord only knows what photos of me are out in this world someplace. Then again I subscribed to the two basic rules of the street back then.

1.) Never put anything in writing or sign it.

2.) Don't let anyone take naked photographs of you. Eventually they'll get passed around the bar where everybody knows ya.

In all seriousness I thank you for your help. I did come across something you may know about. Meta something or other has a discussion going about Alcala's photos. A woman who posted said way back in 78 or 79 her and a friend were having a picnic in "Griffith Park". A man drove up with two young girls and got out and started taking photos. It struck them as odd, but they did nothing. It bothered the woman for years.

SC, what do ya know about Griffith Park? Anything that may help?

TIA, SC. Here's the link where I found the woman's post.



http://www.metafilter.com/91343/The-Disturbing-Gallery-Of-Rodney-Alcala

 

[Billylee]

Phew I'm glad we didn't see you in those photographs, Socal. Lord only knows what photos of me are out in this world someplace. Then again I subscribed to the two basic rules of the street back then.

1.) Never put anything in writing or sign it.

2.) Don't let anyone take naked photographs of you. Eventually they'll get passed around the bar where everybody knows ya.

In all seriousness I thank you for your help. I did come across something you may know about. Meta something or other has a discussion going about Alcala's photos. A woman who posted said way back in 78 or 79 her and a friend were having a picnic in "Griffith Park". A man drove up with two young girls and got out and started taking photos. It struck them as odd, but they did nothing. It bothered the woman for years.

SC, what do ya know about Griffith Park? Anything that may help?

TIA, SC. Here's the link where I found the woman's post.



http://www.metafilter.com/91343/The-Disturbing-Gallery-Of-Rodney-Alcala

Isn't Griffith Park right near Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale? (that's where I've been looking at statues where the girl in the yellow shorts is posing.) Griffith Park also has an observatory, and I read somewhere here that he said he liked taking girls high up where he could see the lights.

 

[socalgal2]

Isn't Griffith Park right near Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale? (that's where I've been looking at statues where the girl in the yellow shorts is posing.) Griffith Park also has an observatory, and I read somewhere here that he said he liked taking girls high up where he could see the lights.

I think Forest Lawn/ Griffith Park are good guesses as to some of the locations Alcala might take people too.

 

[socalgal2]

Phew I'm glad we didn't see you in those photographs, Socal. Lord only knows what photos of me are out in this world someplace. Then again I subscribed to the two basic rules of the street back then.

1.) Never put anything in writing or sign it.

2.) Don't let anyone take naked photographs of you. Eventually they'll get passed around the bar where everybody knows ya.

In all seriousness I thank you for your help. I did come across something you may know about. Meta something or other has a discussion going about Alcala's photos. A woman who posted said way back in 78 or 79 her and a friend were having a picnic in "Griffith Park". A man drove up with two young girls and got out and started taking photos. It struck them as odd, but they did nothing. It bothered the woman for years.

SC, what do ya know about Griffith Park? Anything that may help?

TIA, SC. Here's the link where I found the woman's post.



http://www.metafilter.com/91343/The-Disturbing-Gallery-Of-Rodney-Alcala

Griffith Park seem like an ideal location for creepery. I never felt comfortable going to large parks with a vast area of hilly, vegetation everywhere! If it was just me a a few friends we made sure we were near other groups or we left. Remember there is one girl that was found in 1968 in Griffith Park at a picnic bench and she was passed and wearing a bikini in the early a.m. They think it was an OD. I always thought maybe she met up with Alcala for photos and he drugged her and he OD'ed her by accident.:detective: