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[[File:Ramirez.gif|right|thumb]]'''Richard {Ricardo} Munoz Ramirez''' {b.Febraury 29, 1960-d.June 7, 2013} aka "The Night stalker" was a convicted American serial killer awaiting execution on California's death row. He is one of the most gruesome and disturbing villains in American history; on many accounts said to be much worse than [[Jeffery Dahmer|Dahmer ]] and [[Ted Bundy|Bundy]] . | |||
==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
Ramirez was born in El Paso, Texas, the youngest of [[Julian Ramirez|Julian]] and Mercedes Ramirez's five children. His father, a policeman who later became a laborer on the Santa Fe railroad, was abusive and believed in corporal punishment | Ramirez was born in El Paso, Texas, the youngest of [[Julian Ramirez|Julian ]] and Mercedes Ramirez's five children. His father, a policeman who later became a laborer on the Santa Fe railroad, was abusive and believed in corporal punishment. | ||
As a child, Ramirez sustained two serious head injuries: one which occurred when a dresser fell on top of him and the second when he was knocked out by a swing. He also suffered from frequent epileptic seizures which he eventually grew out of. | As a child, Ramirez sustained two serious head injuries: one which occurred when a dresser fell on top of him and the second when he was knocked out by a swing. He also suffered from frequent epileptic seizures which he eventually grew out of. | ||
Ramirez may have been influenced into killing by his cousin, [[Mike Ramirez]], a Special Forces veteran who boasted of his gruesome | Ramirez may have been influenced into killing by his cousin, [[Mike Ramirez|Mike]], a Special Forces veteran who boasted of his gruesome exploits during the Vietnam War and showed him Polaroid pictures of his victims. These included pictures of [[Mike Ramirez|Mike ]] raping a Vietnamese woman. The last picture of that series showed Mike posing with the woman's severed head. Ramirez was present the night Mike shot and killed his wife, and her blood spattered on Ramirez's face. Ramirez was 13 years old at the time. After the murder, his behavior changed dramatically; he dropped out of school, began using drugs, and adopted odd sleeping habits. | ||
==The Murders== | ==The Murders== | ||
On April 10, 1984, 9-year-old Mei Leung was found dead in a hotel basement where Ramirez was living at the time. In 2009, Ramirez's DNA was matched to DNA obtained at the 1984 crime scene. | On April 10, 1984, 9-year-old Mei Leung was found dead in a hotel basement where Ramirez was living at the time. In 2009, Ramirez's DNA was matched to DNA obtained at the 1984 crime scene. | ||
On June 28, 1984, 79-year-old Jennie Vincow was found dead in her apartment. She had been stabbed repeatedly, and her throat was slashed so severely she was almost decapitated. | On June 28, 1984, 79-year-old Jennie Vincow was found dead in her apartment. She had been stabbed repeatedly, and her throat was slashed so severely she was almost decapitated. | ||
On February 21, 1985, sisters Christina and Mary Caldwell, aged 58 and 71, were found dead in their home. They each were stabbed dozens of times. | On February 21, 1985, sisters Christina and Mary Caldwell, aged 58 and 71, were found dead in their home. They each were stabbed dozens of times. | ||
On March 17, 1985, Ramirez attacked 22-year-old Angela Barrios outside her home. He shot her, | On March 17, 1985, Ramirez attacked 22-year-old Angela Barrios outside her home. He shot her before entering her house. Inside was Dayle Okazaki, age 34, whom Ramirez immediately shot and killed. Barrios survived. The bullet had ricocheted off the keys she held in her hands, as she lifted them to protect herself. Within an hour of killing Okazaki, Ramirez struck again in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monterey_Park,_California Monterey Park]. He attacked 30-year-old Tsai-Lian Yu and pulled her out of her car onto the road. He shot her several times and fled. A police officer found her still breathing, but she died before the ambulance arrived. The two attacks occurring on the same day bolstered media attention, and in turn caused panic and fear among the public. The news media dubbed the attacker, who was described as having long curly hair, bulging eyes and wide-spaced rotting teeth, "The Walk-in Killer" and "The Valley Intruder". | ||
On March 27, Ramirez shot Vincent Zazzara, age 64, and his wife Maxine, age 44. Mrs. Zazzara's body was mutilated with several stab wounds and a T-carving on her left breast, and her eyes were gouged out. The autopsy determined that the mutilations were post-mortem. Ramirez left footprints in the flower beds, which the police photographed and cast. This was virtually the only evidence that the police had at the time. Bullets found at the scene were matched to those found at previous attacks, and the police realized a serial killer was on the loose. Vincent and Maxine's bodies were discovered in | On March 27, Ramirez shot Vincent Zazzara, age 64, and his wife Maxine, age 44. Mrs. Zazzara's body was mutilated with several stab wounds and a T-carving on her left breast, and her eyes were gouged out. The autopsy determined that the mutilations were post-mortem. Ramirez left footprints in the flower beds, which the police photographed and cast. This was virtually the only evidence that the police had at the time. Bullets found at the scene were matched to those found at previous attacks, and the police realized a serial killer was on the loose. Vincent and Maxine's bodies were discovered in their [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whittier,_California Whittier] home by their son, Peter. | ||
By this time, a multi-county police investigation was in operation. The law enforcement agencies worked through the month of April with no additional attacks by Ramirez. Two months after killing the Zazarra couple, Ramirez attacked a Chinese couple: Harold Wu, age 66, who was shot in the head, and his wife, Jean Wu, age 63, who was punched, bound, and then violently raped. For unknown reasons, Ramirez decided to let her live. Ramirez's attacks were now in full throttle. He left behind more clues to his identity, and was named | By this time, a multi-county police investigation was in operation. The law enforcement agencies worked through the month of April with no additional attacks by Ramirez. Two months after killing the Zazarra couple, Ramirez attacked a Chinese couple: Harold Wu, age 66, who was shot in the head, and his wife, Jean Wu, age 63, who was punched, bound, and then violently raped. For unknown reasons, Ramirez decided to let her live. Ramirez's attacks were now in full throttle. He left behind more clues to his identity, and was named 'The Night Stalker' by the media. Survivors of his attacks provided the police with a description of a tall Hispanic man with long dark hair. | ||
On May 29, 1985, Ramirez attacked Malvial Keller, 83, and her disabled sister, Blanche Wolfe, 80, beating each with a hammer. Ramirez attempted to rape Keller, but failed. Using lipstick, he drew pentagrams on Keller's thigh and on the wall in the bedroom. Wolfe survived the attack. The next day | On May 29, 1985, Ramirez attacked Malvial Keller, 83, and her disabled sister, Blanche Wolfe, 80, beating each with a hammer. Ramirez attempted to rape Keller, but failed. Using lipstick, he drew [[Pentagram|pentagrams]] on Keller's thigh and on the wall in the bedroom. Wolfe survived the attack. The next day, Ruth Wilson, 41, was bound, raped, and sodomized by Ramirez, while her 12-year-old son was locked in a closet. Ramirez slashed Wilson once, and then bound her and her son together, and left. | ||
On June 2, 1985 Edward Wildgans, 29, was shot and killed by Ramirez. His girlfriend was raped several times by Ramirez but survived. From early June through early July, three more women were killed. Two had their throats slit, one was beaten to death, and all three had their homes invaded. On July 5, sixteen-year-old Whitney Bennett survived after being beaten with a tire iron by Ramirez. | On June 2, 1985 Edward Wildgans, 29, was shot and killed by Ramirez. His girlfriend was raped several times by Ramirez but survived. From early June through early July, three more women were killed. Two had their throats slit, one was beaten to death, and all three had their homes invaded. On July 5, sixteen-year-old Whitney Bennett survived after being beaten with a tire iron by Ramirez. | ||
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On July 7, Linda Fortuna, 63, was attacked and Ramirez tried to rape her, but failed. On July 20, he again struck twice. In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Valley,_Los_Angeles,_California Sun Valley] he shot and killed a 32-year-old man, Chitat Assawahem, and his wife Sakima, 29, was beaten and forced to perform oral intercourse. Ramirez then collected valuables and proceeded to leave. Later in the same day a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glendale,_California Glendale] couple, Maxson Kneiding, 66, and his wife Lela, also 66, were shot and their corpses mutilated. | On July 7, Linda Fortuna, 63, was attacked and Ramirez tried to rape her, but failed. On July 20, he again struck twice. In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Valley,_Los_Angeles,_California Sun Valley] he shot and killed a 32-year-old man, Chitat Assawahem, and his wife Sakima, 29, was beaten and forced to perform oral intercourse. Ramirez then collected valuables and proceeded to leave. Later in the same day a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glendale,_California Glendale] couple, Maxson Kneiding, 66, and his wife Lela, also 66, were shot and their corpses mutilated. | ||
On August 6, Ramirez shot both Christopher Petersen, 38, and his wife Virginia, 27, in the head. Miraculously, they both survived. On August 8, Ramirez attacked a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_Bar,_California Diamond Bar] couple, fatally shooting Ahmed Zia, 35, before raping, sodomizing, and forcing Zia's wife, Suu Kyi, 28, to perform [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fellatio fellatio] on him. The description of their attacker fit the previous ones given for "The Walk-in Killer". | On August 6, Ramirez shot both Christopher Petersen, 38, and his wife, Virginia, 27, in the head. Miraculously, they both survived. On August 8, Ramirez attacked a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_Bar,_California Diamond Bar] couple, fatally shooting Ahmed Zia, 35, before raping, sodomizing, and forcing Zia's wife, Suu Kyi, 28, to perform [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fellatio fellatio] on him. The description of their attacker fit the previous ones given for "The Walk-in Killer". | ||
Ramirez then left [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Los_Angeles_Area Los Angeles], and on August 17, he shot to death a 66-year-old man in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco,_California San Francisco], also shooting and beating his wife. The wife survived her wounds and was able to identify her attacker as "The Walk-in Killer" from police sketches. Since "The Walk-in Killer" no longer fit the | Ramirez then left [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Los_Angeles_Area Los Angeles], and on August 17, he shot to death a 66-year-old man in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco,_California San Francisco], also shooting and beating his wife. The wife survived her wounds and was able to identify her attacker as "The Walk-in Killer" from police sketches. Since "The Walk-in Killer" no longer fit the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modus_operandi modus operandi] of the attacker, the news media re-dubbed him the "Night Stalker". The next big break in the case came on August 24, 1985; Ramirez traveled 50 miles south of Los Angeles to Mission Viejo, and broke into the Mediterranean Village apartment of Bill Carns, 29, and his fiancée, Inez Erickson, 27. Ramirez shot Carns in the head and raped Erickson. He demanded she swear her love for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satan Satan] and afterwards, forced her to perform oral intercourse on him. He then tied her and left. Erickson struggled to the window and saw the car Ramirez was driving. She was able to give a description of both Ramirez and his orange [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota Toyota] station wagon.A teenager later identified the car from news reports and wrote down half its license plate number. The stolen car was found on August 28, and police were able to obtain one [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fingerprint fingerprint] that was on the mirror of the vehicle. The prints belonged to Richard Muñoz Ramirez, who was described as a 25-year-old drifter from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas Texas] with a long [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rap_sheet rap sheet] that included many arrests for traffic and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_drug illegal drug] violations. | ||
==Capture== | ==Capture== | ||
Two days later, his [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mug_shot mugshots] were broadcast on national [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television television] and printed on the cover of every major [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newspaper newspaper] in California<sup>.</sup> The next day Ramirez was identified, chased, surrounded, and severely beaten by an angry mob in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Los_Angeles_%28region%29 East Los Angeles] as he was trying to steal a car. Police broke up the mob, preventing them from [[Lynching|lynching]] Ramirez. | Two days later, his [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mug_shot mugshots] were broadcast on national [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television television] and printed on the cover of every major [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newspaper newspaper] in California<sup>.</sup> The next day Ramirez was identified, chased, surrounded, and severely beaten by an [[Angry Mob|angry mob]] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Los_Angeles_%28region%29 East Los Angeles] as he was trying to steal a car. Police broke up the mob, preventing them from [[Lynching|lynching]] Ramirez. | ||
==Trial and Conviction== | ==Trial and Conviction== | ||
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_selection Jury selection] for the case started on July 22, 1988, and on September 20, 1989, he was found guilty of 13 counts of murder, 5 attempted murders, 11 sexual assaults and 14 burglaries During the penalty phase of the trial on November 7, 1989, he was sentenced to die in California's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_chamber gas chamber]. The trial of Richard Ramirez was one of the most difficult and longest criminal trials in American history, taking over four years to finalize Nearly 1,600 prospective jurors were interviewed. More than one hundred witnesses testified, and while a number of witnesses had a difficult time recalling certain facts four years after the crimes, others were quite certain of the identity of Richard Ramirez. | |||
On August 3, 1988 the ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Times Los Angeles Times]'' reported that some jail employees overheard Ramirez planning to shoot the prosecutor with a gun, which Ramirez intended to have smuggled into the courtroom.Consequently, a metal detector was installed outside the courtroom and intensive searches were conducted on people entering. On August 14, the trial was interrupted because one of the jurors, Phyllis Singletary, did not arrive to the courtroom. Later that day she was found shot to death in her apartment. The jury was terrified; they could not help wondering if Ramirez had somehow directed this event from inside his prison cell, and if he could reach other jury members. However, Ramirez was not responsible for Singletary's death; she had been shot and killed by her boyfriend, who later committed suicide with the same weapon in a hotel. The alternate juror who replaced Singletary was too frightened to return to her home. | |||
By the time of the trial, Ramirez had fans who were writing him letters and paying him visits. Beginning in 1985, freelance magazine editor Doreen Lioy wrote him nearly 75 letters during his incarceration In 1988 he proposed to her, and on October 3, 1996, they were married in California's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Quentin_State_Prison San Quentin State Prison] Lioy has stated that she will commit suicide when Ramirez is executed<sup>.</sup> By some estimates, he could be in his early seventies before the execution is carried out, due to the lengthy California appeals process. He died of liver failure June 7, 2013 while still awaiting death row appeals. | |||
[[Category:List]] | |||
By the time of the trial, Ramirez had fans who were writing him letters and paying him visits. Beginning in 1985, freelance magazine editor Doreen Lioy wrote him nearly 75 letters during his incarceration In 1988 he proposed to her, and on October 3, 1996, they were married in | [[Category:Male Villains]] | ||
[[Category:Tragic Villain]] | |||
[[Category:Heroes Turned To The Dark Side]] | |||
[[Category: | [[Category:Absolute Evil]] | ||
[[Category:Murderer]] | |||
[[Category:Rapists]] | [[Category:Rapists]] | ||
[[Category:Serial Killer]] | [[Category:Serial Killer]] | ||
[[Category:Mass Murderer]] | |||
[[Category:Criminals]] | [[Category:Criminals]] | ||
[[Category:Abusers]] | [[Category:Abusers]] | ||
[[Category:Villains With Mental Illness]] | |||
[[Category:Sadists]] | [[Category:Sadists]] | ||
[[Category:Child Abusers]] | |||
[[Category:Child Murderer]] | |||
[[Category:Satanism]] | [[Category:Satanism]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Completely Insane]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Imprisoned Villains]] | ||
[[Category:Deceased Villains]] | |||
[[Category: | |||