What we know about Morgan Rowan: 16-year-old who survived Rodney Alcala’s attack

MORGAN Rowan is a survivor of Rodney Alcala, the infamous “Dating Game Killer.”

Her harrowing ordeal with the serial killer occurred in the summer of 1968 – but she didn’t say a word about it until 2021.

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kidnapping

In August 1968, Morgan Rowan met Rodney Alcala, also known as The Dating Game Killer, while she was with her friends at a teenage nightclub on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles.

Alcala, who was a skilled professional photographer at the time, persuaded Morgan to get into his car under the guise of going to an IHOP restaurant.

Instead of taking her to the restaurant, Alcala drove her to his apartment, claiming there was a party there.

There were other revelers at the gathering, and some of Morgan’s friends were even there and mingling with the crowd.

However, once they were inside, Alcala’s behavior changed drastically.

He dragged Morgan into his bedroom, blocked the door and then violently attacked her.

In May 2024, at age 72, Morgan told People: “I watched his transformation. I saw his face turn purple.

“He hit me between the eyes with a belt buckle.

“I saw stars shooting and fell to my knees.

“I wanted it to be over. I didn’t pray to live. I prayed for death.”

Escape

During the attack, Alcala bound Morgan’s wrists with a tie and raped her before leaving her for dead.

Her friends noticed something was wrong, broke into the room through a window and rescued her.

As they pulled Morgan from the apartment, Alcala fled the scene.

aftermath

Morgan lived with the trauma of her attack for years, unaware of her attacker’s true identity.

I wanted it to be over. I didn’t pray to live. I prayed for death

Morgan RowanPeople

It wasn’t until years later that she learned the full extent of Alcala’s crimes.

Weeks after escaping the killer, Morgan received a letter from a friend in Los Angeles containing a newspaper clipping about Alcala.

The article revealed that he was wanted for the kidnapping and rape of another young girl, eight-year-old Tali Shapiro, who was similarly attacked just weeks after Morgan’s ordeal.

Connection with Tali Shapiro

Learning of Tali’s survival had a profound impact on Morgan.

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She felt a deep sense of responsibility and connection to the younger victim.

When Morgan found out that Tali had survived, she contacted her on Facebook.

This connection led to an unexpected friendship between the two survivors.

As People reports, Tali considers Morgan “the sister I always wanted” and they consider themselves “chosen family.”

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Come forward

It was only after Alcala’s death in 2021 that Morgan, then 68, came forward with her story.

She contacted Steve Hodel, one of the original investigators in the Shapiro case, to share her experience.

Morgan’s testimony provided crucial insight into Alcala’s early predatory behavior, which predated his known murders by several years.

Morgan and Tali’s story is a powerful testament to the survival and healing power of connection between victims of violent crime.