Richard Ramirez

Serial Killer

Richard Ramirez: The Night Stalker

Background and Early Life

Richard Ramirez was an American serial killer, burglar and sexual predator whose seemingly random attacks terrified California during the mid-1980s. Born Ricardo Leyva Muñoz Ramirez on February 29, 1960, in El Paso, Texas, he grew up in a troubled household and was exposed to violence at an early age. He later developed a serious drug habit and committed thefts and burglaries before escalating to attacks inside occupied homes. Ramirez moved to California and drifted through Los Angeles, frequently stealing property that he could sell to finance his cocaine use. Unlike killers who followed a narrowly defined pattern, Ramirez selected victims of different ages, backgrounds and neighborhoods. He attacked men, women, couples, children and elderly residents, often entering through unlocked doors or windows during the night. His unpredictable choice of weapons and victims made it difficult for investigators to recognize that the crimes were connected.

The Beginning of the Murders

Ramirez was later linked through DNA evidence to the April 10, 1984, murder of nine-year-old Mei Leung in San Francisco. The child was found in the basement of the residential building where she lived. That killing was not connected to Ramirez during his original prosecution, and the DNA match was announced many years after he had been sentenced to death. The series of crimes that produced the Night Stalker investigation began in Los Angeles in June 1984. Ramirez entered the apartment of Jennie Vincow, an elderly woman living in the Glassell Park area, and killed her while burglarizing the residence. His fingerprints were recovered from a window screen, although investigators did not identify them as his until after his arrest. After an apparent pause, the attacks resumed in March 1985 and quickly increased in frequency. Ramirez moved between communities in and around Los Angeles, entering homes after dark and confronting residents in their bedrooms. He used firearms, knives, hammers and other objects, leaving investigators with crime scenes that initially appeared too different to have been committed by one person. ...

Confirmed Victims: (14)

Mei Leung Age: (9), Date of Death: 1984-04-10

Suspected Victims:

Mary Caldwell Age: (70), Date of Death: 1985-02-20

Christina Caldwell Age: (58), Date of Death: 1985-02-20

Patty Elaine Higgins Age: (32), Date of Death: 1985-06-27

Peter Pan Age: (66), Date of Death: 1985-08-18

Survivors:

Anastasia Hronas Age: (6), Date of Attack: February 25, 1985

Maria Hernandez Age: (22), Date of Attack: March 17, 1985

Lillian Doi Age: (56), Date of Attack: May 14, 1985

Florence Nettie Lang Age: (81), Date of Attack: May 29, 1985

Carol Kyle Age: (42), Date of Attack: May 30, 1985

Carol Kyles son Age: (11), Date of Attack: May 30, 1985

Whitney Bennett Age: (16), Date of Attack: July 5, 1985

Sophie Dickman Age: (63), Date of Attack: July 7, 1985

Somkid Khovananth , Date of Attack: July 20, 1985

Somkid Khovananths son Age: (8), Date of Attack: July 20, 1985

Chris Peterson Age: (38), Date of Attack: August 6, 1985

Virginia Peterson Age: (27), Date of Attack: August 6, 1985

Sakina Abowath Age: (27), Date of Attack: August 8, 1985

Sakina Abowaths son Age: (3), Date of Attack: August 8, 1985

Barbara Pan Age: (62), Date of Attack: August 18, 1985

James Romero Jr. and family , Date of Attack: August 24, 1985

Bill Carns Age: (30), Date of Attack: August 24, 1985

Inez Erickson Age: (29), Date of Attack: August 24, 1985

Richard Ramirez - Wikipedia