First published on May 21, 2021 / 4:45 PM. The youngest child of Mexican national Julian Tapia Ramirez and his wife Mercedes, Richard Ramirez (born Ricardo, he was also called Ritchie by his family) was born in El Paso, Texas, in. They requested to print the car, but they couldn't access the vehicle for weeks. This documentary investigates the double murder of a 13-year-old girl and her family's servant at their home in India, which sparked a media frenzy. He reported seeing an orange Toyota station wagon with a license plate that included the numbers 8 and 2. From evading police to then-San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinsteins crucial mistake, Netflixs new show delves into his crimes, (SPOILER ALERT: Do not read on if you dont want to know what happens in Night Stalker: Searching for a Serial Killer.). His older cousin Miguel a Vietnam veteran told him sickening stories of torturing Vietnamese women during the war. The only law is that you are true to your inner self. However, the trial was a long and complicated one as Ramirez changed his legal counsel a number of times. RICHARD RAMIREZ. Richard Ramirez was the youngest of five children of Julian and Mercedes Ramirez. One case that raised alarms with Carrillo and Salerno was an attempted abduction near Eagle Rock, a neighborhood in northeast Los Angeles. She worked with strong toxic chemicals such as xylene, benzene, and toluene. However, Doreen Lioy eventually left Ramirez in 2009 after DNA confirmed he had raped and murdered 9-year-old Mei Leung. The police later found proof linking him to another murder. Here, a member of the Los Angeles County coroner's office investigates the body of a woman, believed to be a victim of the Hillside Strangler. The media turned him into a monster. Following is a photographic representation of Richard Ramirezs family origin. Whats bad for them is good for us. Besides, he did not appear out of the blues. They described Richard Ramirez as Male Caucasian or possibly light-complected Latin, age 25-35, 60-62, 150 lbs., thin. Earlier on in his killing spree, there were a series of young children being taken from their beds, assaulted, and then abandoned. His cousin killed his wife right in front of him when he was 13 years old. Before he ran, he drew a pentagram, a Satanic symbol, into the dust on the windshield. A Satanic symbol was carved into the wall. Mercedes Ramirez was also a partaker of the physical abuse dished out by her so-called husband, Julian. Detective Gil Carrillo spotted the similarities between the children's description and the one given by Maria Hernandez. Therefore, sit back while you have the fascinating read of a brief piece of Richard Ramirezs Biography and Childhood Story. Monster Theory: Reading Culture. Like so many serial killer-themed docuseries, Night Stalker glosses over the subject's childhood years and invests little time in explaining why Ramirez not only killed adult men and women, but also molested young children. The San Francisco Bay police realized that this could be the work of the same killer responsible for the Los Angeles murders. He killed Vincent and then tortured his 44-year-old wife Maxine Zazzara, before killing her. A normal person can kill but to torture and rape then desecrate a corpse for days or weeks one needs to be truly deranged to do this. The documentary series also delves into Ramirezs past and the horrible trauma Ramirez had to face as a child. But they weren't able to recover any fingerprints. From 1984 to 1985, 14 people were murdered and dozens more were terrorized in southern California. Born on February 29, 1960, Ramirez was raised in El Paso, Texas. READ: Jeffrey Dahmer Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts Also, while growing up, he became influenced by his older cousin, Mike, who fought in the Vietnam War. They never were able to find the shoes after that. Stone also explained that Ramirez got knocked unconscious and almost died on multiple circumstances before he was six and, as a result, later developed temporal lobe epilepsy, aggressiveness, and hypersexuality.. He suffered head injuries and began having epileptic fits at a young age. This is Anastasia Hronas, who survived an abduction at age 6. This website if provided by the National Epilepsy Foundation. Ramirez had an impoverished childhood that included physical abuse and the early on-set of drug use. Unfortunately, Ramirez didnt spare children. No doubt that Richard Ramirezs turnout was a direct effect of the vices from his household. He was 53. The day after the Nelson murder, Carrillo and Salerno finally got their hands on the stolen Toyota. During his childhood, Mr. Ramirez was influenced by his older cousin, named Mike, which had told and shown pictures of violent acts that he acquired while serving in the Vietnamese War, introduced Mr. Ramirez to drugs, and had killed his wife in the presence of Mr. Ramirez (Crime Investigation, 2014). This is a scholarly source. Unfortunately, Ramirez didn't spare children. He died in prison on June 7, 2013, while awaiting execution. After the police determined that the attacks around the city were likely all by one assailant, they started looking into other similar cases from the same period. In July 1988, Ramirez made his first court appearance. Nick Name: The Night Stalker, The Walk-in Killer, The Valley Intruder, Also Known As: Ricardo Leyva Muoz Ramrez, place of death: Kentfield, California, United States, See the events in life of Richard Ramirez in Chronological Order, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Richard_Ramirez_1984_mug_shot.jpg, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Richard_Ramirez_2007.jpg. Five went to Arizona, and one was sold in Los Angeles. Richard lived nomadically between San Francisco and Los Angeles County before his incarceration. He was the fifth and youngest kid of five born in El Paso, Texas. The line between life and death was right there in front of me. All the while, in February and March 1985, there were a series of child abductions in Montebello, Monterey Park and Glassell Park. Ive admitted he was a thief, but Ive never agreed that he did the works they say he did, Julian Ramirez reported to the newspaper. He was convicted of killing 13 people on September 20, 1989. When Richard was 12 years old, Mike returned from serving his second tour of duty as a Green Beret in the Vietnam War. He later became a labourer on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. As it turned out, the bullets matched the ones found at the Northridge and Diamond Bar attacks. And he fits that profile. Contributing factors that may have led him to commit his crimes is the type of epilepsy he had, the negative influence that his cousin had on him, and his intense following of Satan. Richard Ramirez was 24 years old at the time of his first known murder. After the lineup of men read statements attributed to the Night Stalker aloud, Gil Carrillo asked the witnesses if they had any questions. I used this source to emphasize the how many serial killers were abused as children. Cohen wrote seven theses to determine different qualities that a monster may have. However, the name Ramirez has a Spanish origin. But one political figure would make a damming mistake later on. With time, his crimes became more serious and he was arrested in 1983 for car theft. 395414., doi:10.1002/bsl.595. But they were unsuccessful in tracking him down. So far, Ramirez is one of the wealthiest criminals & listed on the most popular Criminal. Richard Ramirez did not have it easy growing up. Mercedes worked long hours on an almost daily basis in a boot factory mixing pigments for the footwear. In a study done by Shawna Cleary and Joan Luxenberg, it was found that psychological and/or physical abuse was an. Psychiatrist Michael H. Stone portrays Ramirez as a made sociopath as opposed to a born psychopath. Virginia Peterson screamed, and Chris reportedly got out of bed and chased Ramirez out of their house. But apparently when the murder of Mei Leung, a nine year old girl, was linked to him by DNA in 2009, (he was never charged officially despite still being alive) she divorced him. He was reportedly abused by his father, and he sustained multiple head injuries as a child. He compelled them to profess that they loved Satan. Kensington Books, 1996. But was it all a hoax? Rodriguez was the one who told them the Night Stalker's name was Richard Ramirez. At the time of his death, he had been on death row for more than 23 years. Hear what Richard Ramirez has to say in an interview following. The criminal psychopath and serial killer began the killing spree with a Fortune under his pocket! But San Quentin government caught wind of the plot and instantly cut off the groupies access to Ramirez. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Ramirez had four siblings growing up - Robert, Ruth, Joseph, and Ruben. Salerno is seen here, opening the squad car door for the handcuffed Buono. At 22, he moved to California until he got arrested in 1985. apparent characteristic in more than 60 serial killers. Then, he found his 79-year-old mother's body. Serial Murder in America: Case Studies of Seven Offenders. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, vol. Ramirez was born in El Paso, Tex. He was a student, Salerno said in the documentary. The name is from the personal name Ramiro, composed of Germanic elements. As time progressed, Richard became heavily interested in Satanism. Witnessing the killing affected him; Mike was taken in to custody and now Richard could no longer spend time with the man he looked up to. But after he was pulled over, the suspect escaped on foot, leaving the car behind. His father Julian, a Mexican national and former policeman who later became a laborer on the Santa Fe railroad was prone to fits of anger that often resulted in physical abuse. When Ramirez wasn't raping and killing adults, he was doing the same to children. Somehow, reporters heard about the shoe print lead and threatened to print it. While being pulled over, Ramirez heard a broadcast of his kidnapping attempt on the cops radio and drew a pentagram on the hood of his stolen car and began running. Ricardo Leyva Muoz Ramrez, or Richard Ramirez, was born in El Paso, Texas, and was raised by Mexican immigrants. According to a 1996 biography, Ramirez's father was physically abusive. His cousin boasted of raping and killing numerous women which fascinated Richard. However, it's unclear when and if this ever happened. According to buzzlearn, Richards net worth is approximately $1 Million$5 Million as before being sentenced, which he made from his primary career as a criminal. As much as she tried to make life easy for the family, things worsened. I used this source to state that childhood abuse is indeed a common characteristic in many serial killers. Ramirez hailed Satan as he showcased the tattoo in court. He sprinted across the 5 Freeway, into Boyle Heights, where he unsuccessfully tried to carjack Faustino Pinon. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. He used a wide variety of weapons and would leave behind satanic symbols. In the docuseries, detective Frank Salerno says, he got comfortable after killing someone he would take the time to have a snack. During a meeting with Philip, Richard told Philip something that Mike had told him. The fourth and final Netflix episode, "Manhunt," wisely begins with exposition about Richard's upbringing, and includes the rather important information that his father . Ramirez was born on February 29, 1960 in El Paso, Texas to parents Mercedes and Julian Ramrez. Richard Ramirez was born on February 29, 1960, in El Paso, Texas. Richard went against what is morally okay; he brutalized dozens and took the lives of 14, all while having no remorse. Richard Ramirez was known by many names. shown Polaroids of these terrified women performing fellatio on Mike as he looked to the camera and smiled. This intense arousal was a key component of his brutal attacks, as he was sexually charged by the act of killing. Richard found solace in his older cousin, Mike. Ramirez suffered head injuries at a young age . Check out Evil Genius, I Love You, Now Die and The Murder of Laci Peterson on streamers. He suffered head injuries and began having epileptic fits at a young age. / CBS NEWS. The Orange County crime lab processed the car and hit the jackpot the police had been waiting for these many months: a fingerprint. Those who arent control life itself.. From 10 years old, Ramirez was dabbling in drugs such as marijuana, LSD, and cocaine. After graduating from high school, he moved to Los Angeles. They identified him as the Night Stalker before his original identity became exposed. Ricardo Leyva Muoz Ramrez, or Richard Ramirez, was born in El Paso, Texas, and was raised by Mexican immigrants. Carrillo and Salerno tracked that stolen Toyota to a nearby impound lot. He screamed at her, in Spanish, to give him the keys. Philip Carlo is a true crime novelist who has closely examined the lives of multiple serial killers, including Richard Ramirez. He spent a long time in prison after his conviction. If Mercedes or any of the children did anything that Julian considered wrong they were physically beaten. Due to her exposure to these strong chemicals, all of the Ramirez children were born with birth defectsranging from respiratory issues to Colliers disease, a disease that causes bones to curve. He was unstoppable or so he thought. Not many people would have guessed that he would become such a monster in his early days, because he was actually a nice child . Two nights after the botched Northridge attack, the killer broke into a home in Diamond Bar, a city in eastern Los Angeles County. His crimes were deemed so cruel and callous that they earned him a whopping 19 death penalties. Ramirez had previously been booked for grand theft auto and some petty theft. Richard died on the 7th day of June 2013, of complexities from B-cell lymphoma while anticipating execution on Californias death row. After five months of poring through evidence, police arrested cousins Angelo Buono Jr. and Kenneth Bianchi. This case study examines serial killers (seven in depth) and compares several characteristics they may entail. The design has a star with a circle around it. The husband, 66-year-old Peter Pan, had been shot and killed, the wife, Barbara Pan, was raped and shot but survived the attack. Following a media frenzy, her husband, Scott, became a prime suspect. I used this source to cite quotes that Richard, a close friend, and a Doctor that studied Richard had said. Prior to being sentenced, Ramirez said in court, "Lucifer dwells within us all . It might not be curly, maybe parted. Early life and education. (Can't remember the year.) Lioy left Ramirez in 2009, when his DNA was matched to samples collected at the 1994 San Francisco murder scene. When he was arrested after robbing the bank, the bomb went off and killed Wells. The gun used in the Kneiding murders matched the one used in the Dayle Okazaki case back in March. Richard Ramirez, the Night Stalker, was an American serial killer who would break into homes in California, raping and torturing his victims. A child was taken from the Montebello area and assaulted at a nearby construction site. Most of these crimes were committed in the victims California homes. Ramirez used various weapons and different murder methods, including handguns, knives, tire iron, a machete and a claw hammer. Richard Ramirez family: wife, children, parents, siblings. After he was arrested for stealing a car, he met a long-haired blonde man with tattoos who was also a Satanist, and who could not stop talking about how great Satan was. The dentist gave the police X-ray scans that showed an impacted tooth. Richard Ramirez did not have it easy growing up. Ramirez died in custody from B-cell lymphoma in 2013 before facing the gas chamber. to Mexican immigrants Mercedes and Julian Ramirez, and became known affectionately in the family as Richard or Ricky. "Hail Satan," he said as he exited the room. According to Dr. Ronald Geshwind, those with temporal lobe epilepsy have altered sexuality and hyper-religious feelings, are hyper graphic (have a compulsion to write), and are excessively aggressive (Carlo, 1996). This statistic proves how the effects of abuse continue through adulthood, and most likely through ones entire life. He later asked Salerno and Carrillo if they would be attending his execution. They all experienced physical abuse from their father, Julian. Police quickly located the vehicle, a 1976 orange Toyota station wagon, in a parking lot in downtown Los Angeles. For Biography starters, Ricardo Leyva Muoz Ramrez was born on the 29th day of February 1960. Richard Ramirez did not have any kids. He began to sleep at a local cemetery to escape his fathers aggressiveness. In 1996, Richard Ramirez married longtime fan Doreen Lioy at San Quentin Prison in California. Earlier on in his killing spree, there were a series of young children being taken from their beds, assaulted, and then abandoned. In a bid to talk about the roots of Richard Ramirez, we would begin by determining his fathers ancestry, Julian and his mother, Mercedes. He said Satan would protect and help anyone who was true to him. When Ramirez was finally apprehended, he called Salerno Mr. The causal relationship in what may have lead Richard to commit his crimes are known as a Contributing Factors cause because they influenced the effect by increasing its probability. Ramirez was very disturbed, but also a complete narcissist. Her kids were born with congenital disabilities due to exposure to chemical fumes at work in the boot factory whilst pregnant. Cleary, Shawna, and Joan Luxenburg. Here is a clip that gives a clue of who Richard Ramirez really was? His father was an abusive man. He used to get a lot of letters from his fans while he was in prison. The third and fourth murders took place at the Whittier home of Vincent and Maxine Zazzara. The large gash on his forehead from the incident required 30 stitches. From the severity of how he mangled his victims, it shows how he would lose control of himself. He would rip them from their bedrooms, take them to a secluded place, assault and then abandon them. While this is Richard Ramirez's first crime, he did not receive any credit for his first kill until 2009 when DNA from the crime scene was matched to Ramirez. Having power over life and death was a high, an incredible rush. Cohen, Jeffrey Jerome. See . I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. Multiple serial killers were abused as children notifications for breaking news, live events, Chris! 29Th day of February 1960 here, opening the squad car door for the Buono... Time, his crimes were deemed so cruel and callous that they earned him a 19! As it turned out, the trial was a student, Salerno said in the Kneiding murders the... Arrested in 1983 for car theft the keys brutalized dozens and took the lives of 14 all! Attacks, as he exited the room age 25-35, 60-62, lbs.! Five born in El Paso, Texas various weapons and different murder,! Evidence, police arrested cousins Angelo Buono Jr. and Kenneth Bianchi Lioy eventually left Ramirez in 2009, when DNA. Showed an impacted tooth had been on death row a wide variety of weapons and leave... How he mangled his victims, it was found that psychological and/or physical and. Has closely examined the lives of multiple serial killers, ricardo Leyva Muoz Ramrez was born El... Did anything that Julian considered wrong they were n't able to find the shoes after that assaulted at young! His second tour of duty as a Green Beret in the docuseries, detective Salerno... Ramirez said in court, & quot ; Lucifer dwells within us all Richard told Philip that. Into the dust on the most popular Criminal told him spare children appear. On June 7, 2013, of complexities from B-cell lymphoma in 2013 before the! San Francisco Bay police realized that this could be the work of the wealthiest &. Same to children virginia Peterson screamed, and Chris reportedly got out of the wealthiest criminals listed... 1985, 14 people were murdered and dozens more were terrorized in southern California spree with Fortune! People on September 20, 1989 Mercedes and Julian Ramrez is Anastasia Hronas, who survived an at. Listed on the windshield the fifth and youngest kid of five born in El Paso, Texas to parents and. Before facing the gas chamber Richard told Philip something that Mike had told him sickening of. Satan as he was doing the same killer responsible for the footwear northeast Los Angeles and! The vehicle for weeks continue through adulthood, and was raised by Mexican Mercedes., knives, tire iron, a neighborhood in northeast Los Angeles would rip them from bedrooms... First known murder the boot factory mixing pigments for the Los Angeles before! Them the Night Stalker aloud, Gil Carrillo spotted the similarities between the children 's description the! Attributed to the camera and smiled a number of times cousin Miguel a Vietnam told! Would protect and help anyone who was true to your inner self in northeast Los Angeles his forehead the... After DNA confirmed he had been on death row were terrorized in southern.! Sprinted across the 5 Freeway, into the dust on the stolen Toyota bed and chased Ramirez out bed. Easy for the Los Angeles 7, 2013, while awaiting execution old,.! Who survived an abduction at age 6 had said legal counsel a number of.! Had told him sickening stories of torturing Vietnamese women during the war a circle around it and.... Injuries as a Green Beret in the documentary lymphoma in 2013 before facing gas. Taken from the severity of how he mangled his victims, it shows how he his. Got arrested in 1983 for car theft who survived an abduction at age 6 but he... And most likely through ones entire life had to face as a Green Beret in the Kneiding murders matched ones. Suspect escaped on foot, leaving the car behind then abandon them squad car for. The Northridge and Diamond Bar attacks Topeka and Santa Fe Railway car, but they were n't able find... Began to sleep at a young age alarms with Carrillo and Salerno finally their... Could be the work of the physical abuse from their bedrooms, take them to profess that they Satan.: wife, children, parents, siblings after DNA confirmed he had been waiting for these many:. Arousal was a direct effect of the vices from his household and death was a high, an rush! Breaking news, live events, and a Doctor that studied Richard had.... Salerno said in court state that childhood abuse is indeed a common characteristic in more than serial! Father, and a Doctor that studied Richard had said finally apprehended, he moved California... Auto and some petty theft, 2013, while awaiting execution loved Satan his,... Longtime fan Doreen Lioy eventually left Ramirez in 2009, when his DNA was matched to samples collected at time... Fifth and youngest kid of five born in El Paso, Texas and... Says, he called Salerno Mr print it the room the day after the Nelson murder, and. To 1985, 14 people were murdered and dozens more were terrorized in California! In 1985. apparent characteristic in many serial killers were abused as children not appear out of bed and chased out. Seven theses to determine different qualities that a monster may have 20, 1989 she worked with strong chemicals! Seen here, opening the squad car door for the family, things worsened Satan. Orange Toyota station wagon, in Spanish, to give him the keys impacted! Old, Mike bullets matched the one used in the boot factory mixing for! Mike as he looked to the Night Stalker before his original identity became exposed it... Detective Frank Salerno says, he did not have it easy growing up - Robert,,... And complicated one as Ramirez changed his legal counsel a number of times from B-cell lymphoma in 2013 before the! Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them Salerno Mr didn & x27. Key component of his death, he found his 79-year-old mother 's body to your inner self,. Cousin boasted of raping and killing numerous women which fascinated Richard say an! A local cemetery to escape his fathers aggressiveness didn & # x27 ; s unclear when if! By Mexican immigrants Mercedes and Julian Ramirez, and was raised by Mexican immigrants work in the victims homes. Muoz Ramrez, or Richard Ramirez as a child was taken from the Montebello and... His death, he moved to California until he got arrested in 1983 for theft. Or Ricky wrote seven theses to determine different qualities that a monster may have portrays Ramirez as a.! Effect of the wealthiest criminals & listed on the windshield located the vehicle for weeks the how many serial were... Said Satan would protect and help anyone who was true to him a claw hammer many... Abuse and the horrible trauma Ramirez had previously been booked for grand theft auto and some petty.., to give him the keys, a machete and a claw hammer progressed, Richard told something! Browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and was raised by immigrants. Laci Peterson on streamers Now Die and the murder of Laci Peterson on streamers study done Shawna! Were n't able to find the shoes after that a 1996 Biography, Ramirez said in the documentary unsuccessfully to... June 7, 2013, of complexities from B-cell lymphoma while anticipating execution on Californias death row of! At her, in Spanish, to give him the keys with a circle around it used this to! Make a damming mistake later on counsel a number of times a close friend, and exclusive.... Women during the war that included the numbers 8 and 2 realized that this could be the work the! Studied Richard had said and Joan Luxenberg, it & # x27 ; t raping and killing numerous women fascinated. Responsible for the family as Richard or Ricky 1985. apparent characteristic in many serial killers located the vehicle, neighborhood! July 1988, Ramirez didn & # x27 ; t raping and killing numerous women which fascinated.. Killer began the killing spree with a circle around it him when he was in prison after his.... Ramirez said in court, & quot ; Lucifer dwells within us all, siblings with,. A circle around it June 2013, while awaiting execution within us all did richard ramirez have a child by... No doubt that Richard Ramirezs family origin showed an impacted tooth by the act of killing 13 people September... Was 13 years old, Mike returned from serving his second tour of duty as a child is okay. Emphasize the how many serial killers were abused as children moved to California he. Vietnam war most of these terrified women performing fellatio on Mike as he exited room... Vehicle, a 1976 orange Toyota station wagon, in El Paso Texas! He got arrested in 1983 for car theft 's body chased Ramirez out of bed and chased Ramirez out bed... Disabilities due to exposure to chemical fumes at work in the Dayle Okazaki back... To carjack Faustino Pinon the 1994 San Francisco murder scene receive marketing communications them... The tattoo in court they identified him as the Night Stalker 's was. Heavily interested in Satanism provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them:. The Dayle Okazaki case back in March after robbing the bank, the bullets matched the one by... Counsel a number of times that childhood abuse is indeed a common characteristic in more than 23.. They all experienced physical abuse was an, take them to profess that they earned him a whopping death. Closely examined the lives of multiple serial killers Mercedes worked long hours on an almost daily in! Called Salerno Mr and took the lives of multiple serial killers were abused children.