Richard Ramirez, Infamous 'Night Stalker,' Dies at 53
Richard Ramirez, the man who terrorized Southern California for two years, died at Marin General Hospital. He was only 53 but left behind a legacy of terror.
Ramirez's reign of terror began in 1984, and he quickly became known as the "night stalker" because he broke into homes and committed murders at night. During his killing spree, Ramirez murdered 13 people after strangling them, slashing their throats, or simply shooting his victims. He often left behind spray-painted pentagrams in the victims' homes and forced them to "swear to Satan" before killing them.
He was finally captured on August 31, 1985, when he attempted to steal a woman's car. Instead of going along with it or simply watching the crime take place, bystanders leapt into action and beat Ramirez until police arrived and took him into custody.
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Five years later Ramirez was found guilty of 13 murders, and just one month after that, a jury voted for him to receive the death penalty. He did not seem to mind the sentence.
"Big deal," Ramirez was quoted as saying. "Death always went with the territory."
His victims ranged in age from 9-year-old Mei Leung to 83-year-old Malvial Keller. He did let several victims go after torturing them, which provided some identifying information, but police were unable to capture him until he tried to steal a car.
Ramirez became somewhat of an infamous celebrity and reportedly received hundreds of letters during his incarceration. One particular fan was magazine editor Doreen Lioy, who wrote him at least 75 letters. The two married in San Quentin State Prison in 1996.
"He's kind, he's funny, he's charming," Doreen told CNN in 1997. "I think he's really a great person. He's my best friend; he's my buddy. I just believe in him completely. In my opinion, there was far more evidence to convict O.J. Simpson, and we all know how that turned out."
Ramirez attempted to appeal his death sentence in 2006, but the California Supreme Court upheld the verdict and sentence. Just one month later, the court denied his request for a retrial.
