Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of murder and assault. Reader discretion is advised.
Considered one of the most prolific serial killers in US history, Richard Ramirez was also a rapist and burglar who actively terrorized California in 1985. During the summer of 1985, residents of California were warned to stay safe during the nights as Ramirez, who is known to have killed at least 14 people, haunted the streets, intruding homes and killing victims. As such, his criminal activities earned him the name of Night Stalker.
He was also known as the Valley Intruder and the Walk-In Killer because of the way he entered houses and assaulted people. Richard Ramirez raped and killed his victims before he left satanic symbols and signs at the crime scene, creating suspicions about the supernatural players involved.
In 1984, he broke into 79-year-old Jennie Vincow’s home and sexually assaulted her. According to the Independent, he slit Vincow’s throat and stole her money. Nine months later, in March 1985, the Night Stalker hid in a basement and opened fire on 22-year-old Maria Hernandez. Although she survived by pretending to be dead, her roommate and a driver, both women of ages 34 and 30, were killed by him.
Days later, Richard Ramirez murdered a middle-aged couple, Vincent and Maxine Zazzara, when he attacked them in their home. The serial killer carved an inverted crucifix on Maxine’s chest and left her eyeballs in a jewelry box. The Sun reported that in May of the same year, Bill and Lillian Doi were attacked in their home. While the latter was robbed and sexually assaulted, her husband was fatally shot and subsequently died. A few days later, sisters Mabel “Ma” Bell and Florence “Nettie” Lang were found dead.
The attacks continued through the next few months until August 24, 1985, when he shot Bill Carns and sexually assaulted his fiancee. This was reportedly the Night Stalker’s last known attack, following which authorities captured him on August 31, 1985. Investigators tracked Ramirez down with the help of fingerprints and footprints. Reportedly, Ramirez left them behind at the crime scenes, as well as cars that he regularly stole from his victims.
What was Richard Ramirez convicted of?
During Richard Ramirez’s trial, he pleaded not guilty. However, after a long trial, on September 20, 1989, he was finally convicted of 13 counts of murder, 11 sexual assaults, five attempted murders, and 14 burglaries. As per Independent, he was sentenced to death in the gas chamber on November 7, 1989.
For the rest of his life, Richard Ramirez was imprisoned at California’s San Quentin State Prison. He died on June 7, 2013, after he was diagnosed with secondary to B-cell lymphoma.
According to CBS News report, Richard Ramirez witnessed his father killing his mother in 1973. His father was found not guilty because of insanity and was housed at the Texas State Mental Hospital. Ramirez moved in with his sister Ruth and her husband Roberto, who took Ramirez on his night rides that many dubbed as voyeurism expeditions. Ramirez reportedly began using hard drugs during adolescence and started getting involved with cults and satanic ideas.
His first known victim, according to the Independent, had been identified as Mei Leung. A nine-year-old child, Ramirez invited her into a San Fransisco apartment basement. He reportedly raped and killed Leung. However, the case wasn’t conclusively tied to him until 2009, over two decades later. For a long time before that, it was believed that Jennie Vincow was Richard Ramirez’s first victim.
Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer is a Netflix documentary series that follows the investigation leading to the capture and conviction of Richard Ramirez. It was released in 2021 and is currently streaming on Netflix.
