Richard Ramirez was an American serial killer, rapist, and burglar. Richard, the son of Mercedes and Julian Ramirez, was born in El Paso, Texas on February 28, 1960. The jury selection process finally moved forward on July 22, 1988, and the trial itself commenced the following January. Then, he found his 79-year-old mother's body. 'He was the color green,' said the Post's source. 'Miracle' dog survives 17 days in Big Bear snowstorm before reuniting with family, I didnt realize: Woman mistakenly eats heart-shaped chip that could have won her 100K, PHOTOS: Snow makes spectacular sight across Southern California, LA's most dangerous intersections are in one neighborhood, Disneyland banned Rebel Wilson over selfie, actress says, Police Chase: Gunman waits for kids to cross street near Lakewood; Opens fire at several different locations, Florida Gov. He was known as the 'Night Stalker' before his real identity was exposed. Ramirez, a self-professed Satan worshipper, spent 23 years on death row. Ricardo "Richard" Leyva Muoz Ramirez (/ r m r z /; February 28, 1960 - June 7, 2013), dubbed the Night Stalker, the Valley Intruder (as his attacks were first clustered in the San Gabriel Valley), and the Walk-In Killer was an American serial killer and sex offender whose crime spree took place in California between June 1984 and August 1985. Richard Ramirez was born Ricardo Leyva Muoz Ramrez in El Paso, Texas, in 1960. Ramirez was responsible for. Police paid a visit to the dentist's office and discovered that their suspect had just visited five days earlier, not long before the Bennett, Nelson and Dickman attacks. Leaving the courtroom, Ramirez responded, "Hey, big deal, death always comes with the territory. I am beyond good and evil. Ramirez,. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. RM KKGYDB - Richard Ramirez 1984 mug shot. You are not capable of it. She refused. After five months of poring through evidence, police arrested cousins Angelo Buono Jr. and Kenneth Bianchi. After his sentencing, authorities transferred Ramirez to Californias San Quentin State Prison, which sits like a fortress along the bay north of the Golden Gate Bridge. But there had never been one quite like Richard Ramirez, who, over a period of 14 months, killed 14 people and attempted to kill five more. A shoe print supposedly left by the suspect. When Angelina refused to turn over her keys, Ramirez assaulted her by punching. Tim Stegeman, a Guardian Angel, pictured here She had been stabbed repeatedly and her throat was slashed so severely she was almost decapitated. They requested to print the car, but they couldn't access the vehicle for weeks. Witness Ester Petschar said she saw Richard Ramirez buying an AC/DC hat in a thrift store, which was later found at one of the crime scenes. They each were stabbed dozens of times. Mei Leung is thought to be Richard Ramirez's first murder victim Credit: . Detective Gil Carrillo spotted the similarities between the children's description and the one given by Maria Hernandez. Death always went with the territory. July 7, 1985: Ramirez beats to death Joyce Lucille Nelson, 61, of Monterey Park. The autopsy determined that the mutilations were post-mortem. May 29 June 1, 1985: Mabel Bell, 84, and her invalid sister, Florence Lang, 81, are beaten with a hammer in their Monrovia home. [Stream Invisible Monsters: Serial Killers in America in the A&E app.]. He spent over two years raping and torturing over 25 victims and killing more than a dozen people. (FOX 11), Richard Ramirez was known for breaking into homes through unlocked windows and doors. One case that raised alarms with Carrillo and Salerno was an attempted abduction near Eagle Rock, a neighborhood in northeast Los Angeles. (FOX 11), Witness Ester Petschar said she saw Richard Ramirez buying an AC/DC hat in a thrift store, which was later found at one of the crime scenes. Though he died of liver failure, the exact cause of the ailment has not been released due to federal patient privacy laws. All rights reserved. Was a Bad Childhood to Blame for Night Stalker Richard Ramirez Becoming a Serial Killer? Miguel was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was released four years later. He was charged in the shooting deaths of Peter Pan, 66, and his wife, Barbara, in 1985 just before his arrest in Los Angeles, but he was never tried in that case. How remorseless Stephen Bear continued his arrogant antics up until Do not sell or share my personal information. And it was right around the age of 13." shopping area lot. Carrillo and Salerno now agreed: These attacks were being perpetrated by one man. Photo Credit: Netflix. The name stuck. Photograph by Paul Chinn. 27, 1985: Ramirez shot Vincent Zazzara, 64, and his wife Maxine, 44. Before his 26th birthday, he would kill at least 13 more people and commit at least. He told police about a man from El Paso, Texas, who went by Rick a man who openly bragged about still-confidential information about the Night Stalker murders. In Ramirez's case it was a combination of all the above, but he suffered multiple brain injuries. It was sheriff's detective Frank Salerno who led the investigation of the Hillside Strangler case. "Hail Satan," he said as he exited the room. Right: Mei Leung, 9, was found dead in the basement of a hotel basement where Ramirez was living. Dubbed the 'Night Stalker,' Richard Ramirez was an American serial killer who killed at least 14 people and tortured dozens more before being captured in 1985. At trial, they testified that nine of Ramirezs teeth were decayed and that he was missing several teeth from both his lower and upper gums. He ran. After nearly 24 years on death row, Ramirez died on June 7, 2013, at the age of 53, from complications related to B-cell lymphoma. Maria Hernandez of Rosemead was able to escape. summer, He then tied her and left. In 1982, when Ramirez was 22, he moved from Texas to California. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. Sometime in early June 2013, Ramirez, at age 53, was taken from San Quentin to Marin General Hospital inGreenbrae, California. While growing up, Ramirez's cousin, Mike, was a big influence on . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Growing up Richard was a troubled . At age 13, Ramirez witnessed his cousin murder his wife. Two months after killing the Zazarra couple, Ramirez attacked a Chinese couple: Harold Wu, age 66, who was shot in the head, and his wife, Jean Wu, age 63, who was punched, bound and then violently raped. Unlike in the civilian world, they do not receive around-the-clock care. He was convicted in 1989 of 13 murders, five attempted murders, 11 sexual assaults and 14 burglaries, which terrorized Southern California in 1984 and 1985. Copyright IBTimes 2023. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Idaho Murders: What Led Police to Bryan Kohberger, Adnan Syed: A Complete Timeline of His Trial, Appeal and Killing of Hae Min Lee. Both victims survived. The shoe was a size 11 Avia trainer and that piece of evidence was critical in cracking the case. On June 7, 2013, he took his last breath. He believes food preferences speak volumes about a person's. Richard Ramirez, in full Ricardo Leyva Muoz Ramirez, byname Night Stalker, (born February 29, 1960, El Paso, Texas, U.S.died June 7, 2013, Greenbrae, California), American serial killer, rapist, and burglar who murdered at least 13 people in California in 1984-85. allowed officers into his store to You are shackled to your bed, and theres a guard outside the room, Mutch explains. July 7, 1985: Linda Fortuna, 63, was attacked, and Ramirez tried to rape her but failed. #Imagine #Crime #Accused. Bill was killed, and Lillian was robbed and sexually assaulted. I will be avenged. Thank you very much in advance. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) On Sept. 20, 1989, Ramirez was found guilty of 13 counts of murder, five attempted murders, 11 sexual assaults and 14 burglaries. But those familiar with his case believe he would not have been repentant. The man, who claimed to be the son of Satan, murdered more than a . Police found Avia sneaker footprints on the side of Nelson's head and on the concrete outside of her home. Though badly wounded, she survived. Lioy left Ramirez in 2009, when his DNA was matched to samples collected at the 1994 San Francisco murder scene. Los Angeles' KNBC called him the Walk-In Killer. her in the stomach. And, get breaking news alerts in the FOX 11 News app. Witch, Harridan, Harpy, and new insults like Karen and Terf. He was 53. Ramirez's highly publicized home invasion and murder spree terrorized the residents of the Greater Los Angeles area and later the San Francisco Bay Area over the course of fourteen months. June 28, 1984: Seventy-nine-year-old Jennie Vincow was found dead in her apartment. Aug. 17, 1985: Ramirez shot to death a 66-year-old man in San Francisco, also shooting and beating his wife, who survived the attack. Ramirez shot Carns in the head and raped Erickson. The defendant, a drifter from Texas, an alleged devil worshiper and a former cocaine addict, was arrested in August by East Los Angeles residents, who chased him down as he reportedly tried to. FOX 11's Gina Silva and Phil Shuman got a chance to look through evidence, photos and artifacts gathered during the Richard Ramirez investigations, a convicted serial killer known for terrorizing California in the mid 1980s. His wife and son were sexually assaulted but left alive. Sign up for FOX 11s Fast 5 newsletter. Two days later, his mug shots were broadcast on national television and printed on the cover of every major newspaper in California. For more than a year, the now infamous serial killer creeped into homes, where he attacked, tortured and murdered his victims. The same night, less than a mile away, Sophie Dickman was sexually assaulted in her Monterey Park home. Inside was Dayle Okazaki, age 34, whom Ramrez shot and killed. Tim became a Ramirez attempted to rape Keller but failed. At age 6, he was hit by a swing, knocked unconscious and this caused deep gashes. Ramirez believed that everyone has inherent evil in them. Top 10 Disturbing Facts About the "Night Stalker" Richard Ramirez. (a)),1 one count of second degree murder ( 187, subd. Ramirez shot Carns in the head and raped Erickson. Next to the car is a coroner's crime scene investigation truck. Between June 1984 and August 1985, serial killer and rapist Richard Ramirez, a.k.a. steal This turned out to be an enormously valuable tip. However, during his incarceration at San Quentin State Pri But Ramirezs time in San Quentins infirmary was likely much different than if he had received medical care outside of prison. -- Richard Ramirez. EXCLUSIVE: Head teacher of leading grammar school is sacked for sending parents a list of striking teachers. Updated: Nov 12, 2021 Photo:. LOS ANGELES - On this day in 1984, the serial killer known as the Night Stalker, who terrorized Southern California in the mid-1980s, began his killing spree. Just eight years earlier, from 1977 to 1978, two cousins who together became known as the Hillside Stranger killed at least 10 women and dumped their bodies on local hillsides. All Rights Reserved. By this time, the media was starting to suspect what the police already knew: There was a serial killer and rapist on the loose in Los Angeles. Again, the husband was executed. (FOX 11), After Richard Ramirez was arrested, multiple forensic dentists took casts of his teeth. At the time of his death, he became the 59th California inmate to die of natural causes while awaiting execution. On September 3, 1985, less than a week after his arrest, Richard Ramirez went to see a prison dentist. But they weren't able to recover any fingerprints. The Los Angeles Police Department responded by putting together a dedicated task force, with the FBI stepping in to assist. stolen, the Pastor whose church was Because the geographical spread of the crimes also complicated the scope of the trial with jurisdictional issues, some of the charges against Ramirez were dropped in order to expedite what was becoming a long journey to justice. Since he was not executed, Ramirez never had an opportunity to give the public a final statement or speak his last words. After the police determined that the attacks around the city were likely all by one assailant, they started looking into other similar cases from the same period. Cleveland kidnapping suspect Ariel Castro will plead 'NOT Santa Monica gunman, 23, was angry over his parents A COMPLETE TIMELINE OF THE NIGHT STALKER'S GRUESOME MURDERS, Mom who lost both sons to fentanyl blasts laughing Biden, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces, Isabel Oakeshott receives 'menacing' message from Matt Hancock, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' Then, a young man named James Romero came forward with some information: He'd seen a suspicious car in his Mission Viejo neighborhood. He noticed a window screen missing, the front door unlocked and his mother's belongings scattered around the home. From early June through early July, three more women were killed. Shell casings at the scene matched the ones found at the Northridge shooting. He was convicted and sentenced to . Copyright 2016-2022 True Crime Magazine, 10 Unseen Photos of Andrei Chikatilos Trial, A GRAPHIC Look Back at the Richard Speck Murders, A GRAPHIC Look Back At the Hillside Strangler Murders, Revisiting Ted Bundys Issaquah Dump Site, A GRAPHIC Look Back at Zodiac Killers Reign of Terror, A GRAPHIC Look Back At Richard Chases Reign of Terror, A GRAPHIC Look Back At Ted Bundys Execution, NSFW: The Blood-Soaked Trail of the Times Square Killer. In August of 1985, police brought her, and other victims, to the jail to see if they would pick Ramirez out of a lineup. She had been stabbed repeatedly, and her throat was slashed so severely she was almost decapitated. San Quentin inmates can qualify for this program, but there are only 17 beds for eligible prisoners. Code, 187, subd. A mug shot of the "Night Stalker" serial killer, who perpetrated a series of brutal murders in the Los Angeles area in 1984 and 1985. We have many You are not expected to. July 20, 1985: In Sun Valley, Ramirez shot and killed a 32-year-old man, Chitat Assawahem, and his wife, Sakima, 29, was beaten and forced to perform oral intercourse. Ramirez's actions on his final night of terror, on August 24, 1985, soon led to his capture. A full-scale police operation yielded no concrete results, and Ramirez repeated his attack pattern on pensioners William and Lillie Doi in May 1985. Photo by Paul Chinn. Dubbed the 'Night Stalker,' Richard Ramirez was an American serial killer who killed at least 14 people and tortured dozens more before being captured in 1985. Photo by Paul Chinn. Not only that, but along with the likes of Ted Bundy and Charles Manson, his infamy attracted swarms of girls rather than deterring them. Later in the same day, a Glendale couple, Maxson Kneiding, 66, and his wife, Lela, also 66, were shot and their corpses mutilated. His wife is beaten. Ramirez was finally caught in August 1985 (Photo: Netflix) Following a trial that began in 1988, he was convicted of 13 counts of murder, five counts of attempted murder, 11 counts of sexual. His unmistakable M.O., complete with Satanic symbolism, meant that the "Valley Intruder" moniker was no longer applicable; the press quickly coined a new name, the "Night Stalker," as most of his assaults took place at night in his victims' homes. He was 53. Ramirezs violence came to an end on August 31, 1985, when a crowd of citizens surrounded and captured him on the streets of East L.A. We have alleged these murders are in the first degree, were premeditated and occurred during burglaries and other crimes. That's it." Before he ran, he drew a pentagram, a Satanic symbol, into the dust on the windshield. At this point, little doubt remained that Ramirez was the one behind the Night Stalker attacks. She and the other children provided police with a description of their kidnapper that raised alarms and inspired a hunch for one homicide detective. On November 7, 1989, defendant Richard Ramirez was sentenced to death for the so-called Night Stalker murders following his convictions of 12 counts of first degree murder (Pen. The Night Stalker was found guilty on all 13 counts of murder committed in 1985 and 30 other felonies. Ramirez was finally run down and beaten in 1985 by residents of an East Los Angeles neighborhood while attempting a carjacking. In the U.S., about 3.5 percent of the nations prisons have on-site hospice programs. While examining the crime scene, police found another shoe print, just like the first two, on Bennett's comforter. Richard Ramirez was exposed to his cousins photos of pornographic torture of women during his time in the army, but that is no excuse for his monstrous actions. As an adolescent, Ramirez was heavily influenced by his older cousin, Miguel, who had recently returned from fighting in the Vietnam War. Night Stalker suspect Richard Ramirez stole Gregory's Toyota Feb. 21, 1985: Sisters Christina and Mary Caldwell, ages 58 and 71, were found dead in their home. The serial killer, who left satanic signs at murder scenes and mutilated victims' bodies, died reportedly after 'sitting up in his bed doing stretches' just the day before at Marin County Hospital. The elusive 'Night Stalker' was finally arrested on 30 . Its tragic, really. Police released the name and photo to the media, and by the next morning, Richard Ramirez was on the front page of the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, and his name and photo were all over the TV news. The gun used in the Kneiding murders matched the one used in the Dayle Okazaki case back in March. This jacket was found inside Richard Ramirez's locker at the Grey bus station in Downtown Los Angeles after his arrest. Before his 26th birthday, he would kill at least 13 more people and commit at least 11 sexual assaults, in a wave of seemingly random attacks that terrified residents of Southern California in the summer of 1985. True crime fans are currently obsessed over Richard Ramirez, aka the Night Stalker, thanks to a pair of Netflix documentaries that have taken the internet by storm. After the lineup of men read statements attributed to the Night Stalker aloud, Gil Carrillo asked the witnesses if they had any questions. Both Hernandez and the abducted children described their attacker as tall and light-skinned with brown-stained teeth, a pungent odor and a Member's Only-style jacket. RM 2H469C9 - 1970 ca , USA : The Satanist serial killer RICHARD RAMIREZ ( 1960 - 2013 ), born Ricardo Leyva Munoz Ramrez , when was a young boy aged . One is located at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, just outside of San Francisco. The two smoked marijuana together as Miguel told Ramirez about the torture and mutilation he had inflicted on several Vietnamese women, corroborating these stories with photographic evidence. Salerno said it was unheard of for a criminal to have such wide-ranging types of victims men, women and children and such varied methods of killing; Ramirez had used guns and knives, to this point. 'He looked like a green highlighter pen.'. To keep creating His DNA was matched to the crime scene in 2009. Even worse, many such slurs aren't from men but 'I couldn't do it without you': Victoria Beckham poses with her whole family after her PFW show - as she Brooklyn Beckham puts on a loved-up display with wife Nicola Peltz as they head back to hotel after Cruz Beckham supports his mother Victoria as he carrying his very own VB handbag on the way to her show Like father, like daughter! Ramirez next struck nearly nine months later. Ramirez himself often dressed in black, along with dark shades, for his courtroom appearances. The day after the Nelson murder, Carrillo and Salerno finally got their hands on the stolen Toyota. Photograph by Anne Knudsen. A shoe print left at the scene of multiple murders helped detectives link the Night Stalker to numerous cases. with his mother, Ruth. Sign up and stay up to date with our daily newsletter. Jennie Vincow's throat had been slashed, and she had been stabbed repeatedly. At age 2, a dresser fell on his head causing him to get 30 stitches, almost killing him. Ramirez reportedly instructed the wife to swear "to Satan" that she wouldn't look at him. stake Meanwhile, San Francisco police were also chasing down a lead surrounding a Rick from El Paso. Faustino Pinon and Jaime Burgoin sit in front of He journeyed north to San Francisco, where he took two more victims, Peter and Barbara Pan, on August 17. When incarcerated, prisoners tend to age more rapidly. A GRAPHIC Look Back at Richard Ramirez's Reign of Terror In the 1980s, California has seen a number of notorious killers, such as the Original Night Stalker, the Grim Sleeper, and the Freeway Killer. The cement at the site was still wet, and the print was extremely similar to the one found at the Zazzara home. She was killed in the basement of a residential hotel in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood where she lived with her family. Hearing the commotion, neighbors came outside and surrounded Ramirez. During this time, Ramirez attracted a cult-like following of supporters, many of whom were black-clad Satan worshipers. May 14, 1985: Ramirez broke into the home of William and Lillie Doi. On the night of May 1, 1985, Richard Ramirez drove a stolen Mercedes-Benz and killed two women, Mabel "Ma" Bell, 83, and Florence "Nettie" Lang, 81. I'll see you in Disneyland. 12. the Ford Mustang that Night Stalker Richard We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Between 1984 and 1985, the terrified people of Los Angeles County and the San Francisco Bay Area made sure their doors and windows were locked at night as there was a serial killer on the prowl. EVIL California serial killer Richard Ramirez was convicted of 13 murders and 11 sexual assaults in 1989, and spent 24 years on death row. ', Ramirez (pictured left, 2007, and right, in 1984) was convicted of 13 murders that terrorized Southern California in the 1980s, and was sentenced to death. Even in the last two published photos his looks are . He utilized guns, knives, and even telephone cords to murder his victims. See you in Disneyland. Richard Ramirez's Death: What Were the Final Days of the 'Night Stalker' Like? All of the children were sexually assaulted and then abandoned. The jury agreed, and in 1989 convicted Ramirez of 13 counts of murder, fiveattempted murders, 11 sexual assaults and 14 burglaries. At top left is Frank Salerno, a Los Angeles Sheriff's Department lead Detective. In 2009, Ramirez's DNA was matched to DNA obtained at the 1984 crime scene. out the stolen vehicle when it was found abandoned in a Rampart Plus, Mike boasted about the torture and rapes he had inflicted while in the U.S. Army by sharing Polaroid photos with Ramirez, including some where Mike posed with the severed head of a woman. We see footage of him . It worked. 25-caliber handgun and raped his. new content, we kindly appreciate any donation you can give to help On June 28, 1984, Jack Vincow visited his mother's apartment in Los Angeles' Glassell Park neighborhood. police after Night Stalker Richard Ramirez tried to The media coverage had citizens scared that they that just about anyone could fall victim to this still-unknown prowler. Oscar Cainer tells all. FOX 11 obtained exclusive access to the evidence that led to the identification and arrest ofRichard Ramirez, otherwise known as the Night Stalker. Richard Ramirez known as the "Night Stalker" was an American serial killer. Ramirez had been staying at nearby hotels. Richard Ramirez, center, with attorneys, Randall Martin, right and Daro Inouye, left in a San Francisco courtroom Oct. 5, 1990. Tim Stegeman, a Guardian Angel, pictured here LA Herald photo by Leo The Orange County crime lab processed the car and hit the jackpot the police had been waiting for these many months: a fingerprint. this occupied car in front of his shop. "When his cousin showed him those photographs," his biographer told A&E network, "Ramirez became sexually aroused. She was able to give a description of both Ramirez and his orange Toyota station wagon. Photograph taken by Chris Gulker. receiving strange calls. As it turned out, the bullets matched the ones found at the Northridge and Diamond Bar attacks. First, he was spotted outside a Mission Viejo home, where he unwittingly left a footprint, before the witness took note of his car and license plate. Less than an hour later, Ramirez struck again in Monterey Park, attacking 30-year-old Tsai 'Veronica' Lian Yu. with his mother, Ruth. Theft turned to violence with Ramirez's (then) first known murder on June 28, 1984; the victim was 79-year-old Jennie Vincow, who was sexually assaulted, stabbed and killed during a burglary in her own home. He'd just been sentenced to death following his conviction for 13 murders, five attempted murders,. It is usually flushed out of the body in urine or faeces, but a build-up of the waste product in the bloodsteam can lead to the change in skin color. Download for iOS or Android. Stranded Lake Arrowhead residents, including Michelle Calkins, are pleading for help on social media as the community continues to run out of food, medication, and deal with gas leak concerns. Miraculously, they both survived. Richard Ramirez and Other Serial Killers Whose Family Members Were Murdered. plans and enthusiasm The same morning that police were investigating the Kneiding murders, another body turned up a few miles away in Sun Valley.