new content, we kindly appreciate any donation you can give to help Ramirez was the youngest of five . View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Maintained by: Find a Grave Originally Created by: Kris 'Peterborough K' Peterson 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says, Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images via Getty Images, Eric Luse/San Francisco Chronicle/Getty Images, Harvey Meston/Archive Photos/Getty Images, Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images, Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer. with his mother, Ruth. Inside was Dayle Okazaki, age 34, whom Ramrez shot and killed. Los Angeles detectives followed a tip from a local woman whose father believed he had befriended the killer. Two days later, his mug shots were broadcast on national television and printed on the cover of every major newspaper in California. WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE https://youtu.be/R_6z97omEVI That trail of clues, involving a stolen bracelet, led them to a man named Armando Rodriguez, a friend to Ramirez. In 1982, when Ramirez was 22, he moved from Texas to California. His girlfriend was raped several times by Ramirez but survived. However, during his incarceration at San Quentin State Pri Richard Ramirez was born Ricardo Leyva Muoz Ramrez in El Paso, Texas, in 1960. 600 Richard Ramirez Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Images Creative Editorial Video Creative Editorial FILTERS CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO 600 Richard Ramirez Premium High Res Photos Browse 600 richard ramirez stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Two nights after the botched Northridge attack, the killer broke into a home in Diamond Bar, a city in eastern Los Angeles County. "I've been accused of almost every crime you can imagine.". ', Unapologetic: Ramirez responds to reporters in 1989 after hearing the verdict in his trial, The wife of Ramirez, Doreen Lioy, center, walks with her head bowed as she is escorted by guards after her prison wedding on Oct. 3, 1996, A wedding photograph is displayed to the media of the "Night Stalker" Richard Ramirez and his new bride Doreen Lioy, outside the gates of San Quentin Prison. Hey, big deal, death always comes with the territory. 8 Disturbing Moments During The Trial Of Richard Ramirez. Then, a young man named James Romero came forward with some information: He'd seen a suspicious car in his Mission Viejo neighborhood. ET . 27, 1985: Ramirez shot Vincent Zazzara, 64, and his wife Maxine, 44. On June 7, 2013, he took his last breath. The mutilations were post-mortem, according to an autopsy. Richard's older cousin, Miguel Ramirez, often bragged about crimes he committed in Vietnam, even showing young Richard a photo of himself posing with the severed head of a Vietnamese woman he had abused. Ramirez's dental hygiene was an issue starting at a young age. Hearing the commotion, neighbors came outside and surrounded Ramirez. (FOX 11), These sunglasses were found inside Richard Ramirez's locker at the Grey bus station in Downtown Los Angeles after his arrest. The Ramirez likely suffered from terminal cancer, although the full nature of his illness remains unclear. Ramirez next struck nearly nine months later. You are shackled to your bed, and theres a guard outside the room, Mutch explains. Photograph by Anne Knudsen. Ramirez shot Carns in the head and raped Erickson. Again, the husband was executed. Since he was not executed, Ramirez never had an opportunity to give the public a final statement or speak his last words. Night Stalker Richard Ramirez attempted to steal Angelina's car, and when . The bullet had ricocheted off the keys she held in her hands, as she lifted them to protect herself. Health Food Store employee John Quinn stands June 28, 1984: Jennie Vincow, 79, was found dead in her apartment. It started as every other evening did, with Richard over at Miguel's house smoking pot and playing miniature pool, when he reached into the fridge for a cold drink. How Prince Harry's chat with guru who compared Hamas terrorists to Jews who battled the Nazis has appalled JAN MOIR: Goodbye Ken, the world always seemed safer with you on the airwaves, Abstaining from masturbating RAISES risk of anxiety, depression and erectile dysfunction, study warns. https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/richard-ramirez-death. Wolfe survived the attack. They recognized him because his picture had appeared that day in the news media. Ramirez was born Ricardo Leyva Muoz Ramrez on February 29, 1960, in El Paso, Texas, the fifth child of Mexican immigrants Mercedes and Julian Ramrez. When Night Stalker Richard Ramirez Stay up to date with our daily newsletter, Ramirez and his orange Toyota station wagon, Richard Ramirez Dies Of Natural Causes In San Quentin State Prison, Exclusive-Nvidia's Plans For Sales To Huawei Imperiled If U.S. Tightens Huawei Curbs-draft, Hong Kong Court Convicts 3 Members Of Tiananmen Vigil Group For Security Offence, Michigan Judge Dismisses School Staff As Defendants In Lawsuits Over Mass Shooting, Hundreds Of Fearful Sub-Saharan Migrants Flee Tunisia, Hatching Leatherback Turtles Get Helping Hand On Thai Beach. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson led the team to the NBA Finals in the summer of 1984. Mar. many people went to extremes for security. / CBS NEWS. I am beyond your experience.". 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. She was killed in the basement of a residential hotel in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood where she lived with her family. He claimed his first known victim, a 79-year-old woman named Jennie Vincow, on June 28, 1984. The comments below have not been moderated. Apprehended in August 1985, Ramirez was sentenced to death at the conclusion of his trial in 1989. Ramirez was, indeed, a serial killer active in the summer of 1984, although in reality his killings mostly took place in the following year. He spent over two years raping and torturing over 25 victims and killing more than a dozen people. But before he left the courtroom, Ramirez raised his hand to show a drawing of a pentagram on his palm. ago. As an adolescent, Ramirez was heavily influenced by his older cousin, Miguel, who had recently returned from fighting in the Vietnam War. Inside Matt Hancock's 41-hour battle to save his career when photo of 'a snog and heavy petting' with aide Will Vladimir Putin's empress pay the ultimate price for his war on the West? His violent crime spree including murders, sexual assaults, child abductions, and home invasions threw California into a state of panic in the mid-eighties. In 2009, police matched Ramirez's DNA with a sample collected at the scene of an unsolved murder of a 9-year-old girl in San Francisco in 1984. At age 13, Ramirez witnessed his cousin murder his wife. The trial of Ramirez took a year, but the entire case which was bogged down in pretrial motions and appeals lasted four years, one of the longest criminal cases in U.S. history. He shot her before entering her house. The next day, Ruth Wilson, 41, was bound, raped and sodomized by Ramirez, while her 12-year-old son was locked in a closet. Murderpedia has thousands of hours of work behind it. Police quickly located the vehicle, a 1976 orange Toyota station wagon, in a parking lot in downtown Los Angeles. Richard Ramirez was known for ransacking the victims' homes. Here, a member of the Los Angeles County coroner's office investigates the body of a woman, believed to be a victim of the Hillside Strangler. July 7, 1985, two days after the Bennett attack, 60-year-old Joyce Nelson was murdered in her home in Monterey Park. A full-scale police operation yielded no concrete results, and Ramirez repeated his attack pattern on pensioners William and Lillie Doi in May 1985. Richard Ramirez was known for breaking into homes through unlocked windows and doors. Meanwhile, San Francisco police were also chasing down a lead surrounding a Rick from El Paso. Richard Ramirez known as the "Night Stalker" was an American serial killer. Many of these illnesses will eventually become terminal. He ran. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. 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. Apartment building of Night Stalker victim in RM 2A25Y9X - Photograph of Richard Ramirez (Nightstalker). Known as Richard or Ricky, Ramirez reportedly sustained multiple head injuries at an early age; after he was knocked unconscious by a swing at age 5, he began experiencing epileptic fits. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. .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. Richard, the son of Mercedes and Julian Ramirez, was born in El Paso, Texas on February 28, 1960. need your help for this. Tim Stegeman, a Guardian Angel, pictured here Ramirez, who was dubbed the Night Stalker, was convicted of 13 murders that terrorized Southern California in 1984 and 1985. Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife and son, Biden had cancerous skin lesion removed last month, doctor says, White supremacist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes kicked out of CPAC, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Biden team readies new advisory panel ahead of expected reelection bid, At least 10 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, House Democrats unhappy with White House handling of D.C.'s new criminal code. Ramirez previously was tied to killings in Northern California. The third and fourth murders took place at the Whittier home of Vincent and Maxine Zazzara. The Night Stalker was found guilty on all 13 counts of murder committed in 1985 and 30 other felonies. With plenty of horrific facts and stories surrounding Richard Ramirez, the visual retrospective of the Night Stalkers reign of terror remains one of the most spine-chilling pieces of true crime history. He was 53 years old.. Virginia Peterson screamed, and Chris reportedly got out of bed and chased Ramirez out of their house. Photo: Bettmann/Contributor via Getty Images, Idaho Murders: What Led Police to Bryan Kohberger, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Name: Ricardo Leyva Muoz Ramirez, Birth Year: 1960, Birth date: February 29, 1960, Birth State: Texas, Birth City: El Paso, Birth Country: United States. "The Night Stalker" terrorized parts of Los Angeles and San Francisco, Ca. Jennie Vincow, 79, was found murdered in her Los Angeles apartment, nearly . Here is part of his statement, which he recited before being convicted of 13 murders: "You don't understand me. Richard Ramirez (1960-2013) ,aka "The Night Stalker", terrorised California between June 1984 and August 1985 with a spree of murders and sexual assaults. But Ramirezs time in San Quentins infirmary was likely much different than if he had received medical care outside of prison. Carrillo and Salerno tracked that stolen Toyota to a nearby impound lot. Ramirez had been housed on death row for decades and was awaiting execution, even though it has been years since anyone has been put to death in California. Mrs Zazzara's body was mutilated. He was convicted and sentenced to . Richard Ramirez was 29 when he spoke those words in a Southern California courtroom in 1989. Watch popular content from the following creators: (@nicolexahs), Makayla (@youlooklikerichard), richard (@.richardramirezz), Sunrae! (@lovely.zachvill), richard (@.richardramirezz), Charlie MF(@charlesmaddoxford333), Serial Killers(@serial.killers . 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. Ricardo Leyva Munoz Ramirez (1960-2013) an American serial killer, rapist, and burglar. In July 1988, Ramirez made his first court appearance. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. His family called him Richie. He shot her before entering her house. One such girl attracted to the Night Stalker's charm was Christine Lee. So I cut her and pulled her eyes out. Even in the last two published photos his looks are . After murdering them, he drew pentagrams on their bodies and on the walls of the bedroom. According to San Quentin corrections officers, Ramirez's death came shortly after he was taken to Marin General Hospital in Greenbrae, California. He told investigators that a friend recently had an orange Toyota station wagon stolen in Chinatown. Satanic symbols were left at murder scenes and some victims were forced to 'swear to Satan' by the killer, who entered homes through unlocked windows and doors. He was known as the 'Night Stalker' before his real identity was exposed. On Aug. 8, Ramirez attacked a Diamond Bar couple, fatally shooting Ahmed Zia, 35, before raping, sodomizing and forcing Zia's wife, Suu Kyi, 28, to perform fellatio on him. We have many Shortly after the car was Right: Mei Leung, 9, was found dead in the basement of a hotel basement where Ramirez was living. Richard Ramirez was an American serial killer, rapist, and burglar. Photo by Paul Chinn. Richard Ramirez, also known as the "Night. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Ct. No. Copyright IBTimes 2023. (a)),1 one count of second degree murder ( 187, subd. the Murderpedia project stay alive. His DNA was matched to the crime scene in 2009. May 14, 1985: Ramirez broke into the home of William and Lillie Doi. Yet another delay occurred when one juror was found murdered on August 14, 1989, but rumors that Ramirez had orchestrated her death proved unfounded. 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. 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. Salerno is seen here, opening the squad car door for the handcuffed Buono. Chinatown near the Pasadena Freeway. (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. Inexplicably, Ramirez, a native of El Paso, Texas, had a following of young women admirers who came to the courtroom regularly and sent him love notes. He sprinted across the 5 Freeway, into Boyle Heights, where he unsuccessfully tried to carjack Faustino Pinon. Photo: Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images. By Daily Mail Reporter and Associated Press Reporter, Published: 10:51 GMT, 9 June 2013 | Updated: 12:11 GMT, 9 June 2013. The shoe was a size 11 Avia trainer and that piece of evidence was critical in cracking the case. Using lipstick, he drew pentagrams on Keller's thigh and on the wall in the bedroom. Glendale police asked for ballistics information on the shell casings at the scene. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. However, his first known murder occurred as early as April 1984; this crime was not connected to Ramirez nor was it known to be his doing until 2009. It was here that As of 2021, Lioy's net worth is around $53,500, which is the average salary of an American magazine editor. Richard Ramirez spent half of his life in prison; according to USA Today , executions were on hold for years in California due to "ongoing legal challenges." When he died of natural causes on June 7, 2013, at the age of 53, the coroner's office announced that the cause of death was "complications from B-cell lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic . Death always went with the territory. Photo by Leo Jarzomb. Ramirez eventually was linked to more vicious crimes. Astrological Sign: Pisces, Death Year: 2013, Death date: June 7, 2013, Death State: California, Death City: Greenbrae, Death Country: United States, Article Title: Richard Ramirez Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/richard-ramirez, Publisher: A&E Television Networks, Last Updated: November 12, 2021, Original Published Date: April 2, 2014. Aug. 6, 1985: Ramirez shot both Christopher Petersen, 38, and his wife, Virginia, 27, in the head. The media coverage had citizens scared that they that just about anyone could fall victim to this still-unknown prowler. Her husband, Manuel De La Torre, ran out of his house and hit Ramirez in the head with a metal pole. San Quentin inmates can qualify for this program, but there are only 17 beds for eligible prisoners. Not satisfied with these assaults, he also shot and killed Tsai-Lian Yu the same evening, spurring a media frenzy that saw Ramirez dubbed the "Valley Intruder" by the press. Ramirez is one of the most notorious serial killers in US history, after a huge police investigationled to him being found guilty of 13 murders, five attempted murders, 11 sexual assaults and 14. 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. AP The 9-year-old girl at the heart of a reignited 1984 San Francisco cold case was sacrificed during a ritual-style slaying . Download for iOS or Android. 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. This jacket was found inside Richard Ramirez's locker at the Grey bus station in Downtown Los Angeles after his arrest. She refused. Ramirez shot Vincent Zazzara, 64, and his wife Maxine, 44. 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. Ramirez, 53, had been taken from San Quentin's death row to a hospital before his death. the Ford Mustang that Night Stalker Richard Inside was Dayle Okazaki, age 34, whom Ramirez immediately shot and killed. Night Stalker: The Hunt for Serial Killer focuses on Ramirez's killing spree that left as many as 13 people dead in 1984 and 1985, and Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel, mentions how he was a guest at the Cecil Hotel . Bill was killed, and Lillian was robbed and sexually assaulted. Richard Ramirez was 24 years old at the time of his first known murder. At this point, police released a composite drawing of the suspect. Police needed a suspect to compare the prints from the stolen car. 17, 1985: On March 17, 1985, Ramrez attacked 20-year old Mara Hernndez outside her home. March 27, 1985: Ramirez shot Vincent Zazzara, age 64, and his wife, Maxine, age 44. Most of these crimes were committed in the victims California homes. 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. Police took this 1984 booking photo to the informant in San Francisco. listed on the literature began All the while, in February and March 1985, there were a series of child abductions in Montebello, Monterey Park and Glassell Park. Then-mayor of San Francisco Dianne Feinstein gave a press conference shortly after the Pan murders. A few days later, in Northridge, California, Ramirez walked through an unlocked door to the home of husband and wife Chris and Virginia Peterson and shot both in head. 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. The U.S. Supreme Court refused in 2007 to review the convictions and sentence. Richard Ramirez is taken into the Men's Central Jail after his capture on August 31, 1985. National TV and print media coverage featuring his prison photo, along with a series of clues from witnesses and survivors, led to Ramirez's capture on August 31, after he was badly beaten by East L.A. residents while attempting two carjackings. A771272 Defendant and Appellant. 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. ', On his way to a jail bus, he sneered in reaction to the verdict, muttering: 'Big deal. The black-clad killer, unrepentant to the end, made his comment in an underground garage after a jury recommended the death penalty for his gruesome crimes. Photograph by Paul Chinn. Mei Leung is thought to be Richard Ramirez's first murder victim Credit: . Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Ken Bruce finishes his 30-year tenure as host of BBC Radio 2, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Hershey's Canada releases HER for SHE bars featuring a trans activist, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Family of a 10-month-old baby filmed vaping open up. Jennie Vincow's throat had been slashed, and she had been stabbed repeatedly. Moments later, another officer spotted the Toyota committing a traffic violation. Copyright 2023 IBTimes LLC. parked in the spot where the light Ramirez was sentenced for his crimes. He was the 87th inmate in the state to die while awaiting execution, according to CNN. '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. It appears the killer was showing signs of severe jaundice in the final throes of his illness. But the Night Stalker would die of natural causes, not an execution. In 2006, the California Supreme Court upheld Ramirez's convictions and death sentence. He made a name for himself then as a talented homicide investigator. 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. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. 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. By most estimates, Ramirez would have been in his 70s before being placed in the gas chamber due to Californias lengthy appeals process. Tim became a According to a 1996 biography, Ramirez's father was physically abusive. He'd just been sentenced to death following his conviction for 13 murders, five attempted murders,. Photograph taken by Chris Gulker. Sign up and stay up to date with our daily newsletter. Onlookers cheered as Ramirez was placed in the squad car. He spent the remainder of his days at California's San Quentin Prison, before dying from cancer on June 7, 2013, at age 53. Ramirez, 53, spent 24 years on Death Row after a spree of demonic murders in California. When Angelina refused to turn over her keys, Ramirez assaulted her by punching. 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. At age 6, he was hit by a swing, knocked unconscious and this caused deep gashes. terrorized the Greater Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay areas of California, crowd of citizens surrounded and captured. He died in jail in 2013. May 30, 1985: Carol Kyle, 41, of Burbank, was raped and sodomized by Ramirez. stole Bill Gregory's Toyota station wagon, there was religious His marathon trial, which ended in 1989, was a horror show in which jurors heard about one victim's eyes being gouged out and another's head being nearly severed. Ramirez,. Ramirez believed that everyone has inherent evil in them. Ramirez, tried to steal. I am beyond good and evil. We see footage of him . While growing up, Ramirez's cousin, Mike, was a big influence on . You are not expected to. The name stuck. 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. The killer of Jean summer, 76 Corolla station wagon was Ramirez wasresponsible for the brutal murders, rapes, torture, kidnapping and assaults of men, women and children of all ages across Californiabetween 1984 and 1985. All Rights Reserved. I'll see you in Disneyland. So, police continued following other leads to track down the man now known as the Night Stalker. While continuing to appeal his conviction and awaiting execution, Ramirez was diagnosed withB-cell lymphoma, a form of blood cancer. All the lives he took, and the people we can never bring back. He reported seeing an orange Toyota station wagon with a license plate that included the numbers 8 and 2. Ramirez dumped the stolen car used in the Mission Viejo attack. At age 10, Ramirez begins smoking weed after hanging out with his. A shoe print left at the scene of multiple murders helped detectives link the Night Stalker to numerous cases. Two more botched attacks happened in Orange County in late August 1985. During the Night Stalker Ramirez had previously been booked for grand theft auto and some petty theft. Netflix's new true crime docuseries Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer follows the life of Richard Ramirez, a serial killer who became known as the Night Stalker.Ramirez terrorized San Francisco and Southern California in the mid-1980s before he was eventually caught and convicted of killing 13 people and committing 11 sexual assaults. He'd been in prison for 24 years when he died. Known to use a wide variety of weapons, such as a handgun, knife, machete, tire iron, and hammer, Ramirez went down as one of the most ruthless serial killers of all time, earning him the flashy, fearsome tabloid nickname The Night Stalker., The judge who sentenced Ramirez remarked that his deeds exhibited cruelty, callousness, and viciousness beyond any human understanding..