He stayed with Robin’s case

More than 30 years after 12-year-old Robin Samsoe was murdered, former Huntington Beach Police Department Det. Steve Mack is still awaiting justice.

Rodney James Alcala, 66, was found guilty of killing the Huntington Beach girl for the third time last week.

He was also convicted of murdering four Los Angeles women.

Alcala was twice sentenced to death, but the convictions were overturned on appeal.

With the third conviction, the jury is left to decide whether Alcala will get the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

For Mack, the conviction brings Alcala one step closer to justice. It also brings Mack a step closer to closure for Robin’s family.

Mack was in his third year as an officer and first as a patrol officer in Huntington Beach when Robin disappeared June 20, 1979, on her way to ballet class.

He later worked as a detective on the case for five years, after it was overturned the second time.

He played a role in uncovering the earring with Los Angeles victim Charlotte Lamb’s DNA on it in Alcala’s Seattle storage locker.

“Even though my role was small ... working on [the case] was very satisfying to put another nail in his coffin,” he said.

While Mack is “elated” about the latest conviction, he said he is frustrated over the last two convictions being overturned.

Robin’s disappearance rocked the community and personally impacted how Mack’s children were raised. His two daughters and son were never allowed to go the beach alone, and he kept a much closer eye on them because of what happened to Robin.

At one point, Mack found out about a new street in a high-end development that was going to be named Alcala Street in Huntington Beach.

He contacted the project’s developer, insisting the name be changed.

“It was an innocent mistake,” Mack said. “But I found it offensive.”

Mack retired from the force in September 2008, but has kept up with Alcala’s case and attended the latest trial in Santa Ana to watch the portion addressing Robin.

While the jury will soon decide if Alcala will get the death penalty, Mack said the odds are that Alcala will die in jail — a fate that would still bring justice in Mack’s eyes.

“If God does what the courts won’t, then so be it,” he said.