Richard Ramirez

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Richard Ramirez 1984 mug shot

Richard Ramirez

Richard Ramirez, also known as the "Night Stalker," was an American serial killer and rapist who terrorized Southern California during the mid-1980s. Born on February 29, 1960, in El Paso, Texas, Ramirez's reign of terror spanned from June 1984 to August 1985.

Ramirez's crimes were particularly heinous, as he targeted men, women, and children of various ages. His modus operandi included breaking into homes at night, where he would murder his victims in brutal ways. Ramirez was known for his Satanic beliefs and often left satanic symbols at the crime scenes.

The Night Stalker was finally captured in August 1985, thanks to the efforts of the Los Angeles Police Department and the public's assistance. Ramirez was convicted of 13 counts of murder, five counts of attempted murder, 11 sexual assaults, and 14 burglaries.

During his trial, Ramirez displayed a lack of remorse for his actions and even taunted the courtroom with devil horns and pentagrams drawn on his hand. He was sentenced to death in 1989 and spent over two decades on death row before dying of complications related to B-cell lymphoma in 2013.

Richard Ramirez's case remains one of the most infamous in American criminal history, and his legacy continues to fascinate and horrify people to this day.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD