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Richard Farmell argued that Alcala had sexually attacked agonizing death for Robin Samsoe. Robin, then killed her to keep from being identified. DEATH ROW As Alcala focused his camera on the giris, he was. Fameli introduced three other cases for which Alcaia was interrupted by a woman who knew Brigeut. When she convicted in attacks on young girls. A Superior Court judge asked what was going on, Alcala quickly walked away. But ruled the crimes showed a similarity to Robin's and allowed It wasn't the last they'd see of him. their introduction.. Not long after, Robin and her friend headed toward A jury took 1I days to convict Alcala of first degree murder Brigett's home. Robin was afraid she'd be late for her hour- and kidnapping. Jurors later recommended that Alcala should long ballet class, so she hopped on Brigett's yellow 10-speed die in Califomia's gas chamber for his crime and the judge Schwinn and headed toward her home in an affluent area agreed. about a mile away.. Alcala spent four years on death row. At home Robin grabbed her blue dance bag and biked off Then the California Supreme Court, under the direction of to class at the Seacliffe Center dance studio, where the aspiring Chief Justice Rose Bird, overtumed his conviction. Justice bailerina answered phones part-time so she could afford the Joseph Grodin. in a majority opinion for the high court, said lessons. She never arrived. the three prior crimes were not similar. Their introduction may Police combed the city, but tumed up have prejudiced jurors in the Samsoe case no leads. Bulletins to other police depart- against Alcala, the court wrote. ments went unanswered. Questioning of So amid the outcries of prosecutors, child-crime suspecis proved fruitless. police and the victim's family, Alcala was Two weeks later, her nude, skeletal returned to Orange County for a second remains were found along a road near the round. He came back into the ring smiling, Chantry Flats campground in the San but it wasn't for long. Gabriel Mountains above Pasadena. Deputy District Attorney Tom Goethals Aside from her long, honey-blonde took over the case in 1986. A fiery, well- hair, Robin was unrecognizable. Animals established prosecutor, Goethals matched had gnawed at her young body and she wits with the cunning Alcala. had to be identified through dental and X- They waged a long-standing personal ray records. battle. They exchanged words on several 1t was unclear whether she had been 18300 occasions, when Alcala poured over physi- sexually abused. Authorities determined cal evidence on breaks and Goethals was she'd probably been killed with the assigned to watch over him. Alcala blood-stained butcher knife that was accused the prosecutor of being overzeal- found in the nearby brush.. ous and politically motivated, while . She was laid to rest in a small pink and Goethals charged that Aicala was smug white casket. Her classmates at Dwyer and dangerously smart. Middle School planted a pine tree on Prosecutors estimate Alcala's IQ as "He always thought he could kick my campus in her memory. high as 160. Though highly intelligent. butt because he thought he was smarter While her family and friends grieved, he is handicapped by an enormous ego: than I was," Goethals said. "Well, maybe the widespread search for her killer he is, but like I told him, 'I'll be going began. home tonight, Rodney.'' The tanned, bespectacled Goethals took a personal dislike for Alcala, more than he had for any other defendant. His A police artist put together a sketch made from Brigett Wil- crimes turned the stomach of this devout Catholic prosecutor vert's description of the beach photographer. Over the next and he wanted Alcala to pay. month, investigators got dozens of calls from people who saw "I think I could be the person who could go up there and the composite drawing on the television news and recognized execute Rodney Alcala," Goethals later said. *I'rn sure that's the subject as Rodney Alcala. the penalty he deserves." Finally, Alcala's parole officer called police and confirned Alcala is a "sexual camivore ... and the prey is our children, the reports. It was him.. the most innocent members of our society," Goethals said. Alcala was arrested July 24, 1979, in connection with The stage was set for a stunning standoff. Robin's slaying. He was living at his parent's Monterey Park But Goethals was dealt a blow early in the trial when the home in Los Angeles County. prosecution's key witness from the first trial no longer could The evidence pointed strongly in Alcala's direction, police remember events from the day Robin, disappeared... said. It opened a chapter on one of Orange County's most. Forest ranger Dana Crappa testified in 1980 that she had shocking and notorious murder cases. seen a man who Iooked Iike Alcala dragging a blonde gir! into After several delays, the trial opened in 1980. Prosecutor the brush along Santa Anita Canyon, near where the corpse 62 POLICE OcTOBEr 1993