What we know about Morgan Rowan: 16 year old who survived Rodney Alcala attack
MORGAN Rowan is a survivor of Rodney Alcala, the notorious ‘Dating Game Killer’.
Her harrowing ordeal with the serial killer occurred in the summer of 1968 — but she didn’t utter a word about it until 2021.
Abduction
In August 1968, Morgan Rowan met Rodney Alcala, aka The Dating Game Killer, while she was at a teen nightclub with her friends on the Sunset Strip, Los Angeles.
Alcala, who was then a slick professional photographer, convinced Morgan to get into his car under the pretense 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 revellers at the gathering, with some of Morgan’s friends even attending and mingling with the crowd.
Once inside, however, Alcala’s demeanor changed drastically.
He dragged Morgan into his bedroom, blocked the door and proceeded to brutally attack her.
In May 2024, aged 72, Morgan told People: “I watched his transformation. I watched his face turn purple.
“He punched me between my eyes with a belt buckle.
“I saw stars shooting, and I dropped to my knees.
“I wanted it to be over. I wasn’t praying to live. I was praying to die.”
Escape
During the assault, Alcala bound Morgan’s wrists with a necktie and raped her before leaving her for dead.
Her friends realised 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
For years, Morgan lived with the trauma of her attack, unaware of the true identity of her assailant.
I wanted it to be over. I wasn’t praying to live. I was praying to die
Morgan Rowan
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 had been attacked in a similar manner just weeks after Morgan’s ordeal.
Connection with Tali Shapiro
Learning about Tali’s survival had a profound impact on Morgan.
She felt a deep sense of responsibility and connection to the younger victim.
When Morgan discovered that Tali had survived, she reached out to her on Facebook.
This connection led to an unexpected friendship between the two survivors.
As reported by People, Tali thinks of Morgan as “the sister I always wished I had,” and they consider themselves “chosen family”.
Coming forward
It wasn’t until after Alcala’s death in 2021 that Morgan, then 68 years old, came forward with her story.
She contacted Steve Hodel, one of the original investigators on the Shapiro case, to share her experience.
Morgan’s testimony provided crucial insight into Alcala’s early predatory behavior, predating his known murders by several years.
Morgan and Tali’s story serves as a powerful testament to survival and the healing power of connection among victims of violent crimes.