Richard Ramirez aka. the Night Stalker was arrested for his terrifying crimes on August 31, 1985. Apart from being called the Night Stalker, his nicknames were also the Walk-In Killer and the Valley Intruder. The serial killer primarily operated in the San Gabriel Valley and several locations across California. His terror lasted from April 10, 1984, to August 31, 1985.
Ramirez was addicted to hard drugs and he would often rob people to acquire money for his addiction. Along with burglary, he would even participate in murders, attempted murders, rapes and even battery. To execute his criminal activities, he would use several weapons like handguns, knives, machetes, claw hammers, tire irons, etc.
What was Richard Ramirez’s early life like?
Richard Ramirez’s full name was Ricardo Leyva Muñoz Ramirez. He was born in El Paso, Texas on February 29, 1960. His mother Mercedes was a housewife and his father Julián initially used to be a cop. However, he soon began working as a laborer. Along with Richard, Mercedes and Julián had four other children.
Julián was not the best father figure. Under the influence of alcohol, he regularly physically abused his wife and children. Richard Ramirez too began smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol at the tender age of 10. Gradually, he began taking an interest in grotesque subjects. In his mid and early teens, he began exploring horrid and macabre themes. Furthermore, his cousin trained him in military skills, which he went on to implement in his criminal activities.
However, this was not the end of sinister thinking. He developed a strong interest in Satanism and the occult. According to some of his victims who survived his attacks, he used to force them to profess their love for Satan. He would tell them to “swear on Satan.”
Is Richard Ramirez dead?
The Night Stalker passed away at Marin General Hospital in Greenbrae, California, on June 7, 2013. He suffered from B-cell lymphoma which ultimately led him to his demise. He also had chronic hepatitis C viral infection due to years of drug abuse.
The serial killer’s trial began on July 22, 1988. During his first-ever appearance in court, he drew a pentagram on his palm. He furthermore, raised it and yelled “Hail Satan!”. According to a report by the Los Angeles Times, he tried to smuggle a gun into the courtroom but got caught with it at the entrance. Some jail employees overheard Ramirez planning the murder of the prosecutor.
On September 20, 1989, was convicted of 43 charges: 13 counts of murder, 5 attempted murders, 11 sexual assaults, and 14 burglaries. On November 7, 1989, the court sentenced him to death in a gas chamber in California. When reporters asked him about his death sentence, he said, “Big deal. Death always went with the territory. See you in Disneyland.”
His trial was the most expensive murder trial in the history of California until 1994. $1.8 million was spent on sending the Night Stalker to prison.
