Summary
Highlights
Richard Ramirez, known as The Night Stalker, believed himself to be evil and in line with Satan's wishes. The American media dubbed him a 'one man epidemic of madness and murder,' and the Los Angeles police warned the public to 'lock your doors, lock your windows' due to his spree of terror.
Ramirez's childhood was marked by trauma. His father was violent, his mother a religious zealot, and he sustained serious head injuries. He may have witnessed a molestation, and despite being liked as a child, a pivotal moment occurred at age 12 when his Green Beret cousin showed him gruesome photos from the Vietnam War, including severed heads. Later, he witnessed his cousin murder his wife, which he found to be a 'mystical experience.'
Ramirez began burgling houses, dropped out of school, and moved to LA, where he learned to steal and experimented with LSD and Angel Dust. Becoming obsessed with dark heavy metal and slasher films, he read "The Satanic Bible" at 18, leading him to San Francisco to meet the author and engage in satanic rituals where he claimed to feel Satan's touch. He severed ties with his family and committed robberies, believing Satan protected him.
Ramirez's first known murder, a rape and stabbing of a nine-year-old girl, was only discovered years later through DNA. His second murder, originally considered his first, involved stabbing and almost decapitating a 79-year-old woman. His attacks escalated, earning him the moniker 'Walk-in Killer' as he invaded homes, committing extreme violence, rape, and murder. He often made victims swear to Satan and left satanic symbols.
In 1985, Ramirez's killing spree intensified in Los Angeles. He committed heinous acts, including shooting husbands, raping and killing wives, and even taking victims' eyes. He assaulted and raped elderly women, drawing a pentagram on one's thigh. In one instance, he brutalized a woman and her 11-year-old son, but spared them. Another attack on a 16-year-old girl was thwarted when electric sparks scared him off, which he saw as God's intervention.
Ramirez's crime spree ended after a botched home invasion attempt. His stolen car was identified, and police found fingerprints. After his last attack, where he told a victim, 'Tell them the Night Stalker was here,' she provided a detailed description, leading to his identification. His picture was released to the public, and he was apprehended by an angry mob attempting a carjacking. In court, he presented as a Satan worshipper and was convicted of 43 charges, including 13 murders. He defiantly proclaimed, 'Lucifer dwells within us all.'
Despite his crimes, Ramirez gained attention from women, some of whom wanted to marry him, and even one juror showed interest. He garnered media attention, showing a smile of appreciation when ranked among the worst serial killers. Ramirez attempted to rationalize his actions, comparing them to wartime killings. He died in 2013 from cancer at age 53, having spent 23 years on death row and married while incarcerated.