Dating App Predator: California Man Charged with Murder, Luring Victims Online

In a disturbing case that has shocked Los Angeles communities, 34-year-old Rockim Prowell of Inglewood faces serious charges including multiple murders, attempted murder, and carjacking. Prosecutors allege Prowell used an unnamed dating app to lure unsuspecting men into deadly encounters. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has presented evidence of a calculated predator who targeted victims through online connections before subjecting them to violence that ended in death or serious injury.

The first victim in this tragic series was 51-year-old Miguel Angel King. According to prosecutors, King connected with Prowell through an online dating app on July 20, 2021, believing he was meeting someone for a legitimate date. Instead, authorities allege Prowell fatally shot King and stole his vehicle, which investigators later discovered just miles from Prowell’s residence. The forensic evidence recovered from the vehicle established a critical link to Prowell. King’s remains were not discovered until nearly a month later when they were found in Angeles National Forest on August 14, 2021, leaving his family in agonizing uncertainty for weeks.

Almost two years passed before Prowell allegedly struck again, using the same dating platform to arrange a meeting with 53-year-old Robert Gutierrez on August 21, 2023. The meeting location was approximately one mile from Prowell’s home, suggesting local familiarity and planning. Two days later, concerned family members reported Gutierrez missing. Despite extensive search efforts, Gutierrez’s body has never been recovered, leaving his loved ones without closure. When authorities finally arrested Prowell last week, they discovered Gutierrez’s car hidden in Prowell’s garage, along with additional evidence connecting him to the disappearance and presumed murder, revealing how Prowell had kept evidence of his alleged crimes close at hand.

The most recent attack attributed to Prowell occurred on February 22, when he allegedly used the same dating application to lure a 40-year-old man to a location near his home. Unlike the previous victims, this man survived to tell his harrowing story. Prosecutors describe how Prowell bound the victim, robbed him of his wallet, and brutally assaulted him with a baseball bat. When the victim managed to break free and escape, Prowell allegedly pursued him in a vehicle, striking him and causing a broken leg. The survivor’s testimony provided investigators with crucial information that helped build the case against Prowell, potentially preventing more victims from falling prey to similar tactics.

“Imagine the terror and horror these victims felt after being duped into believing they were meeting for one reason, only to face inexplicable violence,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman stated, highlighting the predatory nature of the crimes. “These were predatory acts that showed a total disregard of life.” The case has raised concerns about online dating safety and the vulnerability of users who connect with strangers through digital platforms. Dating apps, while providing convenient ways to meet potential partners, can also create opportunities for those with malicious intent to target victims, as the allegations against Prowell grimly illustrate.

Adding another layer to Prowell’s criminal history, authorities revealed he is currently on probation for a series of burglaries committed between 2019 and 2021 in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles. According to local FOX 11 reporting, Prowell may be connected to more than 30 masked burglaries across Southern California, where he allegedly wore a mask resembling a young white man’s face to conceal his identity. While it remains unclear if similar disguises were used in the dating app incidents, the pattern suggests a calculated criminal who went to significant lengths to avoid detection. If convicted on all charges, Prowell faces either death or life imprisonment without parole possibility, with prosecutors deferring the decision on whether to pursue capital punishment until a later date. This case serves as a sobering reminder of the potential dangers lurking behind digital profiles and the importance of taking safety precautions when meeting online connections in person.