Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2259:
Game Show Killer Rodney Alcala Gets Two More Sentences -
His Body Language Warning Signs





Rodney Acala (Rodrigo Jacques Alcala-Buquor) also known as the "Game Show Killer" received additional sentences yesterday - two terms of 25 years to life after pleading guilty to murdering both Cornelia Crilley in 1971 as well as Ellen Hover who was killed in 1977, both in New York. The serial killer is already on death row in California for the strangling deaths of four other women and a 12 year-old girl.

The above video includes clips from Acala's 1978 appearance on "The Dating Game." Prior to the show, he had already served a 34 month prison sentence for the rape of an 8 year-old girl. So much for vetting. And although he had not yet been a suspect for the crimes - he had also raped, sodomized and killed Georgia Wixted and Jill Barcomb, both in California.

Also in the above video, criminal profiler Pat Brown (no relation to author) also makes some statements regarding serial killers' desire and skill of "blending in". In this edited segment, the narrator says that Ms. Brown "....watches that show and sees nothing unusual...." She may have indeed been misquoted here - most anyone who is on T.V., radio, etc. has had this unpleasant experience. I respectfully and very strongly disagree with the statement that there is "...nothing unusual..." - for Acala's body language displays some striking warning beacons.

Note that at several times during these brief clips, the killer displays a central forehead contraction (CFC). This contraction of the central forehead (with the sides, or lateral portions being relaxed) is a nonverbal signal that we expect to see when there is significant emotional or physical pain. These displays of painful emotions may be experienced directly - or secondarily for others via empathy. HOWEVER, when the central forehead is contracted in these contexts, the mouth should ALWAYS have a congruent expression - usually that of fear, pain or sadness. Particularly if a smile or an attempt at a smile is seen with the CFC - this is a warning signal. For a mouth smile to be sincere, the entire forehead must be relaxed and non-contracted. Here we see Acala's "social smile" - which is one-sided - another strong sign of insincerity. At the very best this combination of these two nonverbal signals smug incredulity and arrogance. We all display this body language occasionally - but those who display this CFC + pseudo-smile chronically - they should be highly suspect for narcissistic personality disorder, sociopathic tendencies or worse. The fact that we see this facial expression several times in these short excerpts is quite significant - and indeed a red flag for these personalities.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2231: A Common Facial Expression of Mass Killers - Using Body Language as a Threat Assessment Tool

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1910: Natasha Smith Sexually Assaulted in Tahrir Square -  Post Assault Interview

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2140: Joran van der Sloot's going to be a father -  Body Language Signs of Chronic Insincerity

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2040: Never Trust a One-Sided Smile - Ex-Lobbyist Jack Abramoff

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2192: Senator Elect Ted Cruz - "So by the third debate, I’m pretty certain  Mitt Romney actually French-kissed Barack Obama" - A Body Language Red Flag

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2042: Syrian Government Defector Nawaf al-Fares

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2257: Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian People and Spotting a Sociopath  - Another Naked Emperor





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