A Man They Believed To Be an "Incurable Psychopath" and Predator, Taken Down by a Group of Courageous Women

In a two-hour special inspired by Dateline's popular podcast, Murder in the Hollywood Hills, a crucial witness in the case against Victor Paleologus finally speaks out after a period of silence.

Alice Walker, a key witness in the trial against a frightening murderer, is sharing her story for the first time in an all-new two-hour Dateline special.

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Alice Walker is revealing her experience exclusively to Dateline about the chilling encounter she had with convicted killer Victor Paleologus, the central figure in Dateline's popular podcast series Murder in the Hollywood Hills.

Dateline correspondent Keith Morrison delves into the case in the upcoming Dateline episode titled "The Girl with the Hibiscus Tattoo," scheduled to air on Friday, May 31 at 9/8c p.m. on NBC.

"Morrison had previously covered Paleologus, a terrifying murderer and serial predator who was apprehended by a brave group of women after he enticed them with false promises of fame and fortune amidst the glitz and glamour of Hollywood," as stated in Dateline's official synopsis.

Morrison provided further insight into the episode, discussing what he found particularly noteworthy about the case:

"It was not so much surprising as unsettling to discover how a cunning liar was able to manipulate the legal system in his favor," the seasoned correspondent disclosed to NBC Insider.

Who is Victor Paleologus?

Paleologus presented himself as a photographer assigned to cast actors, enticing women by promising to help them secure leading roles if they followed his instructions for a supposed photo shoot. These instructions included wearing long black stiletto heels, a black mini-skirt, and a man's white dress shirt.

Morrison not only interviews the women who narrowly escaped Paleologus's snares, but he also speaks with those closest to one of the victims, Kristi Johnson, who is currently missing.

"I constantly struggle with it," confessed one survivor. "It could have and should have been me."

During a prison interview with Morrison, Paleologus claimed that the women who had identified him as a suspect by selecting his photo were lying.

How did a group of women bring down a killer?

Cathy DeBuono, another crucial witness in the case, had her own history with Paleologus. However, she resolved not to let him prevail and ultimately "gathered a sisterhood of women" to help her bring him to justice.

"We have experienced him," DeBuono stated in the preview. "We know who he is."

Christine Kludjian will also recount her life-altering encounter with Paleologus.

"I said, 'He has done this before, he will do it again, and he will kill someone because he almost killed me,'" Kludjian recounted.

More individuals will share their courageous stories in the Dateline special, confronting one man's violence as a united front.

"We come together and utilize our voices," DeBuono added. "It is powerful."

According to one official, there would "most likely" not have been a case against Paleologus if it weren't for the women.

Morrison, the host of the Murder in the Hollywood Hills podcast, which debuted on March 26, 2024 and has received almost 3 million downloads, recently revealed to NBC Insider the most difficult aspect of the case.

According to him, delving into the past to unearth the forgotten narratives that have kept this case relevant even after more than twenty years was a formidable challenge. 

Furthermore, his ultimate aspiration is for viewers of the Dateline special to depart with a heightened comprehension of psychopathy and various other subjects.