Richard Ramirez: The Night Stalker

Ramirez's first known murder took place on 28th June 1984. His victim was 79-year-old Jennie Vincow, who was viciously sexually assaulted, stabbed and murdered during a burglary in her own home.

His second known case occurred nearly nine months later, on 17th March 1985, when he attacked Angela Barrios, who managed to escape, and then killed her flatmate, Dayle Okazaki. Not satisfied with these assaults, he also shot and killed Tsai Lian Yu the same evening, triggering a media frenzy that saw Ramirez dubbed the “Valley Intruder” by the press.

On 27th March 1985, Ramirez murdered 64-year-old Vincent Zazzara and his 44-year-old wife, Maxine, in an attack pattern that he would later repeat. The husband was shot first, then the wife was brutally assaulted and stabbed to death. In this case, he also gouged out Maxine Zazzara’s eyes.

A full-scale police operation yielded no concrete results, and he repeated his attack pattern on pensioners William and Lillie Doi in April. Over the next two months, Ramirez’s attacks escalated rapidly, claiming another dozen victims in a frenzy of burglary, assault and brutal violence, accompanied by Satanic rituals that drove Los Angeles into a panic. A dedicated task force comprising hundreds of officers was established, and the FBI stepped in to assist as the press demanded that police do more to catch the killer.

Relentless media and police pressure, together with photo-fit descriptions provided by surviving victims, forced Ramirez to leave the Los Angeles area in August. He moved to San Francisco, where he claimed his first victims there, Peter and Barbara Pan, on 17th August 1985. His unmistakable modus operandi, complete with Satanic symbolism, made the “Valley Intruder” nickname obsolete, and the press quickly renamed him “The Night Stalker.” Each subsequent attack received extensive media coverage.

Ramirez’s next attack, on 24th August 1985, ultimately led to the identification of his stolen car by the victim four days later. Following a televised appeal, the vehicle was found with Ramirez’s fingerprints inside, and his criminal record finally enabled police to identify “The Night Stalker” by name.

National television and print media coverage, featuring his prison photo, flushed Ramirez out from where he was hiding in East LA the very next day and, when he tried to escape the growing lynch mob, it was only the arrival of the police that saved him from violent death at the hands of the mob, when he confessed to being “The Night Stalker”.

Ramirez later retracted his confession, claiming mistaken identity, and did everything possible to delay the start of his trial, where he faced charges of 14 murders and 31 other felonies related to his killing spree.

He changed his legal counsel several times, and the geographical spread of his attacks complicated the trial with jurisdictional issues. As a result, some charges were dropped to expedite what had become a lengthy path to justice. Almost three years after his apprehension, on 22nd July 1988, jury selection began. The trial lasted a full year because of the large number of witnesses and the extensive body of evidence.

During the trial, Ramirez attracted a large following of black-clad Satan worshippers who attended court daily, while his own nonchalant behaviour further unsettled the jury.

Another delay occurred when one juror was found murdered on 14th August 1989, but rumours that Ramirez had orchestrated her death proved unfounded.

On 20th September 1989, the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on 13 counts of murder, 5 counts of attempted murder, 11 counts of sexual assault and 14 burglary charges.

On 7th November 1989, Ramirez received 19 death sentences, to which he responded, "No big deal. Death always comes with the territory. I'll see you in Disneyland." Following sentencing, he was transferred to Death Row at San Quentin State Prison.

Ramirez’s loyal band of female admirers included freelance magazine editor Doreen Lioy, who had been in contact with him since his 1985 incarceration while he awaited trial. She proved to be the most persistent member of his following, and in 1988, during the course of his trial, Ramirez proposed marriage to her.

Despite his conviction, Lioy remained convinced of his innocence, and on 3rd October 1996 they were married in the main visiting area of San Quentin State Prison in the presence of Ramirez’s brother, sister and niece.

Conjugal rights were not extended to death row prisoners, and the marriage remained unconsummated.

Ramirez died of liver failure on death row at San Quentin State Prison on 7th June 2013 while awaiting execution.