California Man Charged with Murders and Assaults Linked to Online Dating App

Rockim Prowell, a 34-year-old resident of Inglewood, California, faces several serious charges following accusations of using an online dating application to entice men, leading to tragic outcomes including murder and violent assault. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced on Monday that Prowell is charged with two counts of murder featuring a special allegation of multiple victims, along with counts of attempted murder, carjacking, second-degree burglary, and assault with a deadly weapon.

Prowell's criminal activities came to light after the death of his first alleged victim, 51-year-old Miguel Angel King, who had arranged to meet Prowell on July 20, 2021. Prosecutors claim Prowell fatally shot King and subsequently stole his car, which was later recovered near Prowell's residence, where forensic evidence tied him to the crime. King's remains were discovered in the Angeles National Forest a few weeks later.

After nearly two years, a second victim, 53-year-old Robert Gutierrez, was reported missing following a meeting with Prowell on August 21, 2023, after connecting through the same dating app. His body has yet to be located, but police discovered Gutierrez's car in Prowell's garage during his recent arrest, along with other incriminating evidence. Furthermore, Prowell's violent behavior escalated with an attempted attack on a 40-year-old man in February, where he allegedly restrained, robbed, and assaulted the victim using a baseball bat, resulting in serious injuries.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman expressed grave concern over Prowell's actions, emphasizing the fear experienced by his victims who believed they were meeting for social purposes only to encounter horrific violence. Prowell is currently on probation for previous burglary offenses and is under suspicion for over 30 masked burglaries in Southern California, during which he wore a mask that resembled a young, White man's face. If convicted, he could face either the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole, with the decision on capital punishment to be determined later.