On September 10, 2018, 51-year-old Hispanic male Juan Antonio Ramirez was violently attacked in Santa Monica, California. Ramirez sustained severe head injuries during the assault and remained in a coma for over two years before succumbing to his injuries in January 2021. The attack was part of a broader crime spree perpetrated by Ramon Alberto Escobar, a 50-year-old man originally from El Salvador.
Escobar had a history of criminal activity, including prior convictions for burglary and assault, and had been deported from the United States multiple times.
Escobar's crime spree began in late August 2018 in Houston, Texas, where he murdered his 65-year-old uncle, Rogelio Escobar, and his 60-year-old aunt, Dina Escobar. After disposing of their bodies in dumpsters, he fled to California, arriving in the Los Angeles area on September 5, 2018. Over the next few weeks, Escobar targeted vulnerable individuals, primarily homeless men, attacking them while they slept. His weapons of choice included a baseball bat and bolt cutters. In addition to Ramirez, Escobar's victims included 24-year-old Branden Ridout, 59-year-old Kelvin Williams, 39-year-old Steven Cruze, and 63-year-old Jorge Martinez. Several other individuals were injured but survived the attacks.
Law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles and Santa Monica collaborated to identify and apprehend Escobar. Surveillance footage captured him committing some of the assaults, and distinctive features such as his bow-legged walk aided in his identification. Escobar was arrested shortly after the attack on Martinez on September 24, 2018. Upon searching his vehicle, authorities found a wooden baseball bat and bolt cutters believed to have been used in the attacks. During police interviews, Escobar confessed to the murders, citing various motives including irritation with the victims and a need for money.
In May 2022, Escobar pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including five counts of murder and seven counts of attempted murder in California, as well as the murders of his aunt and uncle in Texas. He was sentenced to two life terms without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 124 years to life. Escobar is currently incarcerated in a California state prison. In February 2023, he was charged with the murder of his cellmate, 53-year-old Juan Villanueva, whom he allegedly strangled due to grievances over hygiene. This incident underscores the ongoing threat Escobar poses, even while serving multiple life sentences.
