"He'd never brush his teeth," said Ray Garcia, who knew Ramirez growing up. This doesnt mean that everything was rosy in the childhood and adolescent years of Richard Ramirez. A judge later described Ramirez as particularly "callous and cruel". At the time, Ramirez responded,"Hey, big deal, death always comes with the territory. Copyright 2023 Distractify. This happened on May 4, 1973. On September 20, 1989, Ramirez was convicted of all 43 charges: thirteen counts of murder, five attempted murders, eleven sexual assaults, and fourteen burglaries. He was beaten up by an angry mob just before being arrested, 14. His cousin, though, was acquitted of murder for reasons of insanity. He is survived by his wife Doreen Lioy, one of his supporters that he married in 1996. He was sent to California'sSan Quentin Prison where he lived out his sentence before he passed away. The Caldwell sisters were found stabbed to death in their Telegraph Hill apartment on February 20, 1985. [59] The infuriated Ramirez shot her three times with the .22, killing her, then fetched a large carving knife from the kitchen. US Navy faces being totally outgunned by China in just seven years, says expert, Dances with Wolves actor pleads not guilty in 'sex cult' case, Star singer La Tigresa dies from a heart attack at 89 after storied career, TikTok star, 28, is charged with child abuse after 'attack on boyfriend', 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Serial killer Richard Ramirez pleaded not guilty to 68 felonies, including 14 counts of murder, Maria Hernandez, Richard Ramirez victim, 22 (shot with a .22 revolver), Richard Ramirez beat, raped and stabbed Mei Leung, 9, on April 10, 1984, docuseries Night Stalker: The Hunt For a Serial Killer. In 2016, it was revealed that a second suspect's DNA an unnamed man, said to be a convicted felon was also recovered at the scene (via New York Post). You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website. "Things started from there. Frequently abused by his father, Ramirez began developing gruesome and macabre interests in his early and mid-teens from his older cousin, Miguel ("Mike") Ramirez, who also taught him some of the military skills that he would go on to use during his year-long killing spree. (He made me) look at him and touch him, and things like that.". He was convicted and sentenced to death but died while in prison. He appealed his sentence in California State Supreme Court in 2006, but it was ultimately rejected. He then ran across the Santa Ana Freeway, and attempted to carjack a woman but was chased away by bystanders, who pursued him. Richard Ramirez was born in the county seat of El Paso, far southwestern part of the U.S. state of Texas. Nine months later from Vincow's murder on March 17, 1985, he attacked Maria Hernandez, who managed to escape his clutches. Ramirez's upbringing was anything but what society considers a normal, safe life for a child. [111], Based on a statement Ramirez made to an investigator, he is also a suspect in the San Francisco double murder of Christina and Mary Caldwell. He returned toLos Angelesthe following morning. She had been raped and murdered. Surgeons removed two of the three bullets from Carns's head, and he survived his injuries. What followed was a spree of brutal murders that followed the same pattern: shooting, brutal sexual assault, and stabbing. Frequently abused by his father, Ramirez began developing gruesome and macabre interests in his early and mid-teens from his older cousin, Miguel ("Mike") Ramirez, who also taught him some of the military skills that he would go on to use during his year-long killing spree. Later, once his eldest children were old enough to start getting themselves into trouble, Julian would succumb to the same actions that had once terrorised him as a child. The youngest of five children, Ramirez often witnessed his father beat his older siblings when they got into trouble, especially for substance abuse, per Digital Spy. Ramirez was born in El Paso, Tex. He died on June 7, 2013, of complications from B-cell lymphoma while awaiting execution on California's death row. As was shown in the series, charges were not brought against him for his sex crimes against children so as to spare the court the experience. Mike was found not guilty of Jessie's murder, by reason of insanity, and was released after four years in a state hospital to once again become an influence in Richard's life. [56] The two murders, and an attempted third, in a single day attracted extensive coverage from news media, who dubbed the attacker, described as curly-haired with bulging eyes and wide-spaced, rotting teeth, "The Walk-In Killer" and "The Valley Intruder". [46] He remained in the area for a few more days before heading back to the Los Angeles area. Ramirez would often commit burglaries to support his drug addiction, many of which were later frequently accompanied by murders, attempted murders, rapes, attempted rapes, and assaults. He shot her fiance before the woman called the police and provided a detailed description of her assailant. Some psychiatrists believe that he became one later on in life due to various elements coming together. [53] Hernandez played dead until Ramirez left the scene. Death always went with the territory. He moved to Los Angeles just before he started killing, 10. [60] He mutilated her body by cutting an inverted cross into her chest, then removed her eyes with the knife and placed them in a jewelry box. [124] During the penalty phase of the trial on November 7, 1989, he was sentenced to death in California's gas chamber. He did, however, open up about his family and childhood, telling detectives that his father would beat him and his brothers when they were younger. [13] Around this time, Richard began to seek escape from his father's violent temper by sleeping in a local cemetery.[13]. [128] Beginning in 1985, Doreen Lioy[129] wrote him nearly 75 letters during his incarceration. [62] After beating the mortally wounded man into unconsciousness, Ramirez entered Lillian's bedroom, bound her with thumbcuffs, then raped her after he had ransacked the home for valuables. The Mandalorian's Pedro Pascal on season 3, Neighbours announces seven more returning cast. Ramirez killed at least 14 people and raped and tortured at least two dozen more during the spring and summer of 1985. Ramirez took the little girl inside a house where she was forced to walk through a room with a couch, where "everything was dark and kind of slimy", according to Hronas. [69] He released Kyle to direct him to where the family's valuables were; he then raped her repeatedly. And it was right around the age of 13. A string of brutal murders and sexual assaults followed. [121][136][137] He had also been affected by "chronic substance abuse and chronic hepatitis C viral infection". His first known victim was 79-year-old Jennie Vincow, who was sexually assaulted, stabbed and killed during a burglary in her own home. "It was almost like 'I'm sorry that I'm doing this to you, but I'm not sorry because I'm not going to stop'," she said. [116] Ramirez ran across the street and attempted to take car keys from Angelina De La Torre. At 13 years old, Ramirez watched his cousin murder his wife. While the series admirably tried to centre the voices of those worst affected by his actions, by not sharing any psychological or expert analysis it inadvertently sensationalised the man responsible. [67], The next day, Ramirez drove the same car to Burbank, and sneaked into the home of Carol Kyle, age 42. For Biography starters, Ricardo Leyva Muoz Ramrez was born on the 29th day of February 1960. [133] Ramirez had additional appeals pending until the time of his death. At 5, he was knocked unconscious by a swing, and began experiencing epileptic fits as a result of the injury. His face was all over the news in Los Angeles shortly after his stolen car was discovered and his fingerprints were matched. [79] He shot the sleeping Chainarong Khovananth in the head with a .25 caliber handgun, killing him instantly,[80] then repeatedly raped and beat Somkid Khovananth. At 13 years old, Ramirez watched his cousin murder his wife. [76] He chose the home of Lela Kneiding, age 66, and her husband Maxon, age 68. During his assault, he demanded that she "swear to Satan" that she was not hiding any money from him. On February 29, 1960, Richard Ramirez was born to his parents. Ramirez's childhood is considered an influence on his crimes. They got married at Californias San Quentin State Prison (what a romantic place) but ended up splitting before his death. On multiple occasions, Richard joined the voyeur on his nightly escapades, which is the exact behavior he would replicate during his own assaults. Richard was present on May 4, 1973, when Mike fatally shot his wife, Jessie, in the face with a handgun during a domestic argument. "I'd say 'can I go to the bathroom?'. Richard Ramirez spent 23 years on Death Row in California's San Quentin Prison until he died from cancer in 2013 at the age of 53. Check it out with a 1-month free trial, only on Apple News+. As a teenager, he fell into the company of a sadistic cousin who was older than him. That night, he arrived at the home of James Romero Jr., who had just returned from a family vacation to Rosarito Beach in Mexico. [18], When he reached adolescence, Richard Ramirez began to meld his burgeoning sexual fantasies with graphic violence including forced bondage/BDSM, murder, mutilation, and rape. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Richard once witnessed . This was virtually the only evidence that the police had at the time. Unlike for instance Ted Bundy, who can be considered to be the prototype of a born psychopath, its assumed that Ramirez wasnt a born psychopath at all. The Night Stalker died from cancer on June 7, 2013, before his execution could be carried out. Nine months later, Ramirez attacked Maria Hernandez, who managed to escape his clutches on March 17, 1985. Ramirez had an impoverished childhood that included physical abuse and the early on-set of drug use. [111], Ramirez was charged with murder and burglary in relation to Higgins' murder. In 1984, her body was found in the basement of a hotel in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco. [19] While still in school, he took a job at a local Holiday Inn and used his passkey to rob sleeping patrons. The popstar's hit tracks 'Holiday' and 'Like A Virgin' inadvertently became a soundtrack to Hronas' horrific sexual assault. [23][24] In 1982, at the age of 22, he moved to and settled permanently in California. Richard Ramirez, also known as the Night Stalker, terrorized the city of Los Angeles between 1984 and 1985. But because he was incapable of shutting off his irrational thoughts, he became consumed by, and acted on, his more hellish instincts. venusdances 2 yr. ago. On March 27, 1985, Ramirez entered a home that he had burglarized a year earlier just outside of Whittier, California, at approximately 2 a.m. and killed the sleeping Vincent Charles Zazzara, age 64, with a gunshot to his head from a .22 caliber handgun. 26 Feb Feb Romero contacted the police with this information, believing James had chased away a thief. Richard suffered with epilepsy when he was younger, experiencing between one and two dozen petit mal seizures (now called absence seizures) until his early teens, according to the book. [58] While he ransacked the room, Maxine escaped her bonds and retrieved a shotgun from under the bed, which she was unaware was not loaded. Ramirez was said to have been staying at two hotels in the general area at that time, and DNA evidence linked him to the crime. to Mexican immigrants Mercedes and Julian Ramirez, and became known affectionately in the family as Richard or Ricky. The youngest of five children, Ramirez often witnessed his father beat his older siblings when they got into trouble, especially for substance abuse, per Digital Spy. The police press conference after the discovery made it very clear: We know who you are now, and soon everyone else will. All Rights Reserved. He didn't, but instead he became more withdrawn, and started stealing and getting high a lot more (Richard had first started smoking marijuana at the age of 10). Thinking there was a prowler, James, after observing Ramirez through his bedroom window, went to wake his parents, and Ramirez fled the scene. However, Lioy eventually broke ties with Ramirez in 2009 after DNA confirmed he had raped and murdered nine-year-old Mei Leung. 5. [75], On July 20, 1985, Ramirez purchased a machete before driving a stolen Toyota to Glendale, California. [78] After quickly fencing the stolen items from the Kneiding residence, Ramirez drove to Sun Valley, CA. At the age of 2, a dresser fell on Ramirez's head, causing a large forehead laceration. Ramirez then pulled up at a place with "a chain-like fence" and got out of the vehicle with his victim. Were "Night Stalker" Richard Ramirez's heinous crimes a product of a difficult upbringing? Michelle Nati. When she raised her head to get a look at what had happened, he shot Okazaki once in the forehead, killing her instantly.[54]. Some viewers, however, are knocking Night Stalker: Hunt for a Serial Killer for glossing over Richard Ramirez's childhood and how it shaped his most violent and murderous tendencies. He turned to Satanism after moving toCaliforniain the late 1970s and was arrested several times for drug possession, burglary, and auto theft. Ramirez was captured by authorities in 1985 after he was badly beaten by East L.A. residents while attempting two carjackings. As mentioned in the documentary, Ramirez became something of a celebrity following his arrest and as we've seen in other cases, such as Ted Bundy some women were drawn to him. A member of the jury got shot to death during the trial, 15. "[109], On the night of June 27, 1985, 32-year-old Patty Elaine Higgins was murdered in her Arcadia home. [116] The group of citizens forced and held Ramirez down and relentlessly beat him. His cousin boasted of raping and killing numerous women which fascinated Richard. 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