Notorious Serial Killers – Richard Ramirez – Saul Roth

Image Credit: San Quentin State Prison, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

By Saul Roth

In 1984, Richard “The Night Stalker” Ramirez murdered at least 13 people in California.

When he was just 12 years old, a cousin who served in Vietnam showed him pictures of women that were allegedly raped and killed by Vietnamese natives. These images left an impression on him which only grew stronger over time.

After witnessing his cousin shoot and kill the woman he loved, Ramirez began breaking into homes. He dropped out of high school soon afterward to move back home with family in Los Angeles.

In 1984, Ramirez committed his first known murder. He raped and stabbed an elderly widow who was 79 years old at the time of her death (in 2009).

The link between Satanism and murder has been well established in America, with many victims being sexually assaulted and beaten. The most famous case of this type was that involving Ramirez who carried out his attacks at home invasions where he left behind symbols highlighting an interest in Satanism. Many people were killed during these rituals which involved torture before finishing them off with knife slashes across their throats or hearts; some survived after fighting back.

The man known only as “the Night Stalker” terrified people all over America after creating panic-induced spikes in gun sales during this time period.

On August 30, 1985, just days after his last known murder, Ramirez’s name and photograph were made public. A man in East Los Angeles saw him that same day and notified police, who then chased down this elusive criminal until they caught up with him at an auto repair garage where he tried stealing a car. Ramirez was then surrounded by an angry crowd who began beating him.

The trial of Ramirez began in early 1989 and he was convicted for 13 murders and a variety of other crimes. He notably drew a pentagram on his palm during this process and made various references to Satan.

When he was on death row, Ramirez became ill with cancer and died in 2013. He never expressed remorse for his crimes or said anything else before being executed except “Big deal; Death always went with the territory.”