need to add title here

The Killing Game

September 25, 2010 7:45 PM

The late Harold Dow's final report on serial killer Rodney Alcala's 40-year odyssey of rape, murder and eluding justice.

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by Pennyspen April 14, 2013 5:40 PM EDT
Such a horrific monster. That poor little girl, what she went through and survived. I don't know if this is Tali Shapiro's page, but it looks like she's been haunted forever. http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pinup_shop/ I'm sad for this woman's pain.
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by theedrstrangelove February 4, 2013 5:34 PM EST
I think Harold Dow did the first story or a story on the first episode of 48 hours. Before they did exploitation stories like this.
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by toddsjag September 5, 2012 10:09 PM EDT
Steve Vai's bro
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by WakeUpPeople001 August 12, 2012 1:12 PM EDT
America needs a **swift** judicial system like in China.
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by GuceLeeroy July 18, 2012 6:34 AM EDT
Harold Dow. My favorite 48 hours mystery interviewer/reporter. Admired how he never changed his demeanor and was always in full control during interviews. RIP.
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by john_writer November 30, 2011 1:02 PM EST
Last February, I heard that Linda Martin at CBS 48 Hours is doing a new show on Cornelia "Michael" Crilley, the stewardess and 1971 slaying victim in NYC. I think I will put a youtube tribute video up for her on my channel. RIP.

I am a seasoned crime writer also, but I just find these victims stories to be so especially sad, and in Miss Crilley's case, the way she was charmed by this monster into helping move furniture into her new apartment. He probably even dropped his Roman Polanski BS on her to wow her. Crilley's old boyfriend, Leon Borstein, suspects this is how he got inside and killed her. It was a secure apartment building. You see... back then, women were just getting out and being independent, some were maybe too trusting and naive...but charm and good looks was all it took for Alcala. Women back then thought a creep was some ugly guy in a trench coat in the alley..and the term "serial killer" had not yet been invented.

Being a fun-loving child of the 60's from a good Irish family, Miss Crilley would never have imagined the horror at her doorstep. To this day, I have girlfriends who are that way... trusting of the wrong people, just because of their looks and charm. This worries the crap outta me. Men like Alcala prey on their good nature and trust. He is pure evil incarnate.

BTW, the book on the Game Show Killer by Stella Sands is very good, with a decent sized chapter on Miss Crilley and her background...because not much is known about her and I was very curious. Hers was the coldest case, and that made me sad. I'm glad it is now solved. Pick the book up, or read parts of it at Google Books... it's well worth your time!

RIP Harold Dow

Regards all,
John in Houston
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by sanfran1 October 28, 2011 7:07 PM EDT
I will really miss Harold Dow - he was a fantastically talented reporter and interviewer who could ask hard questions without seeming aggressive. This episode really highlighted another scary psychopath Acala who I believe was overshadowed by uber-psycho Ted Bundy because of the similar time frame, so many people did not hear about Acala.

RIP Harold Dow - you will be missed.
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by briaudrey September 20, 2011 10:16 AM EDT
LORD HAVE MERCY!! When i was 12 or 13yrs old, my parents took our family to Florida. I remember a man, coming up to me and 2 of my friends on the beach, asking if he could "take our picture"..we agreed, i stood in the middle, with the 2 girls, and we posed for the man..he didnt offer a reason for wanting our picture, he just took it, and we left. I was blissfully unaware of any murders, or any serial killers at the time. This story totally freaks me out! I could have encountered this man, without knowing he was a killer..I am 40yrs old now..I wonder...is he the man that asked for my picture those many years ago?
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by CarlosMexico September 7, 2011 9:54 AM EDT
I knew Tali Shapiro at the time when she went to live with her family to Puerto Vallarta in Mexico
Tali is a beautiful trustworthy sensitive person to say the least, that I had the pleasure to know.

Tali and her family went to live at a beautiful place where you could only get by boat, surrounded by beautiful cascades palm trees and nature by the beach.
I understood by Taly's own words that they were living very near Roman Polanski's Residence while the Charles Manson's murders took place
After this other incident that she never mentioned to me, Now I can see clearly why they just left their home at LA leaving all behind.

I think that Rodney should not be put to death, this is the easiest way out, it is like disconnecting him and saving him from all the pain he has to suffer, I would certainly put him in a high security prison and in solitary confinement for the rest of his life the longer the best, just not letting him know about it.
Also this could let us go deep into the mind of this serial a%$&#&E and try to determine what causes this type of behavior in order to prevent it

My best regards
Carlos
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by laniedayz April 14, 2011 5:52 PM EDT
It's sad that Talia Shapiro's family wouldn't allow her to testify. Think of how many people could have been saved, if she would have testified and he would have gotten a more lengthy sentence.

I am sure that it's tough for parents of children who have been raped to have their child relive it, but it is necessary to keep guys like this off the streets. Plus I think it gives the child some measure of strength to be able to testify against their tormentor. And it is NOTHING to be ashamed of - for a child, adult woman or adult man -- to admit they have been raped. I think it is more beneficial to a survivor to face the abuser head on.
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