Shivangi Sinha
Directed by Michelle Ouellet, Lifetime’s ‘The Girl Who Survived: The Alina Thompson Story’ tells the story of a teenager’s near encounter with a serial killer. At just 15, Alina Thompson dreams of becoming a model and secretly sneaks out for a photoshoot, where she meets William Bradford. He seems charming, but unbeknownst to her, he is a serial killer under police suspicion. In a terrifying moment, Bradford lures Alina into a deserted alley before her father intervenes and unknowingly saves her life. More than 20 years later, Alina learns how narrowly she escaped danger. The film explores themes of vigilance and trusting instincts. It reminds viewers to prioritize safety and open communication to prevent similar risks that are unfortunately common in society.
The Girl Who Survived is Based on the Real Crimes of a Convicted Killer
What makes ‘The Girl Who Survived: The Alina Thompson Story’ totally gripping is that it’s rooted in a true case. Screenwriter Christine Conradt based the film on the real-life crimes of William Bradford, a photographer convicted of the murder of two women in California during the 1980s. Bradford lured aspiring models under the pretense of photoshoots before attacking and killing them. When investigators searched his room, they found numerous photographs of women, one of whom was revealed to be the real Alina Thompson. Executive producers Ashley Jones and Pierre David were inspired to bring this story to life after overhearing Alina recount her experience at a dinner party at Spago in Los Angeles.
In 1984, Alina Thompson lived in California with her parents, Carl and Nancy Thompson, and three siblings. From a young age, she dreamed of becoming a model and often attended photoshoots and submitted herself for gigs. At just 14, during a shoot at Huntington Beach, she was approached by William Bradford, who introduced himself as a professional photographer and offered to take her pictures. He then asked her to follow him into an alley, but before anything could happen, her father arrived looking for her and found her just in time. Alina thought little of the incident then, but in 1984 Bradford was arrested on suspicion of two murders while already out on bail awaiting trial for a rape charge.
When Bradford was arrested at his home, police discovered a collection of headshots of young women he had photographed. Many of the images showed the women in vulnerable positions, appearing frightened, which led investigators to suspect him of additional crimes beyond those already under investigation. In 1988, Bradford was convicted of the murder of Shari Miller, a Los Angeles-based barmaid, and 15-year-old Tracey Campbell, his neighbor. Suspicion initially fell on him because he was the last person seen with Tracey, prompting police to obtain and execute a search warrant for his residence. Among the photos recovered was one of Shari, which investigators linked to remains found in the Mojave Desert. Using the rock formations visible in Tracey’s photos, police were also able to pinpoint the exact location and her body was discovered shortly after.
Alina Thompson Contacted the Police After Figuring Out Her Link to William Bradford
In 2006, the Los Angeles police released a data sheet containing the photographs recovered from William Bradford’s home, hoping the public could help identify the women pictured and potentially connect them to unsolved cases. Investigators believed some of the women might have been additional victims. Bradford has since been linked to other alleged murders and kidnappings, including those of Donnalee Campbell Duhamel and Nika LaRue, whose photos were identified among the collection. One of the people who came forward was Alina Thompson. When police visited her home and showed her the images, she was shocked to see numerous photos of herself. She realized Bradford had allegedly been stalking and photographing her without her knowledge for nearly two years.
This revelation made her reconsider their earlier encounter, understanding it might have been a setup and that her father’s timely intervention likely saved her life. The film does an excellent job of capturing the true nature of how events unfolded. A few narrative liberties are taken for dramatic effect, such as Alina meeting Bradford several times. In reality, she encountered him only once and narrowly escaped becoming a victim. In an interview, Alina shared, “If one person avoids that kind of fate, then me telling my story was worth it a hundred percent.” Other elements of the film, including Bradford’s chilling interactions with potential victims, reflect how investigators believe he lured Tracy and Shari as well. The filmmakers’ choice to use the victims’ real names serves as a powerful tribute to their lives and experiences.
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The Movie Serves as Alina Thompson’s Cautionary Warning to Anyone Who Needs It
Many of the women found in Bradford’s photographs remain unidentified to this day. Authorities believe that Bradford operated over the years in several states, including Michigan, Florida, Texas, Oregon, Illinois, Kansas, and Louisiana, facing criminal charges in multiple jurisdictions. Although he filed numerous appeals, he was never released from prison. According to reports, Bradford was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away on March 10, 2008, at the Vacaville prison medical facility in Vacaville, California.
Alina went on to build a career as a model and was even featured in Playboy. In recent years, she has adapted to the digital era and has also taken to sharing content on OnlyFans. She is a mother of three, Amber, Zayne, and Luca, and her daughter has followed in her footsteps by pursuing modeling. For Alina, sharing her story remains a deeply personal mission. She stated that if ‘The Girl Who Survived: True Story of Alina Thompson’ could help even one person avoid the fate she narrowly escaped, then speaking out would be entirely worthwhile.
