Hypnotism's Weird History #1 - "The Dating Game Killer" Claimed Hypnosis as a Defense

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(Edited)

Note: This might be a series of posts if there is enough interest. I thought about titling this possible series "Weird Hypstory" but I didn't. You're welcome.

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Serial Killer Rodney Alcala was tried by a jury of his peers and sentenced to death by a California court in 1980 for the murder of Robin Samsoe. During the trial Rodney Alcala represented himself and as part of his defense claimed a witness named Dana Crappa had been hypnotized by investigators working for the police department to give a false story.

The 1980 conviction was later overturned due to jurors improperly being informed of facts that were deemed prejudicial. A second trial was held in 1986 and Rodney Alcala was again found guilty and sent to death row. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals later struck down the second conviction because the judge did not allow a witness for the defense to give testimony meant to support Rodney Alcala's claim concerning witness tampering through hypnosis.

According to official records the witness that Rodney Alcala claimed police investigators hypnotized was working as a park ranger when she discovered the corpse of Robin Samsoe and didn't report her discovery until days later.

Rodney_Alcala.jpg
Image Source: Wikipedia Commons; San Quentin State Prison, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation



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