The Night Stalker terrified Southern California residents in 1985. Cloaked in darkness and hidden in shadows, the night stalker exploited the night. He hunted freely, breaking into homes and killing without mercy.
Sgt Frank Salerno was involved in the investigation. The night stalker would sneak into homes through windows. kill any male occupants before sexually assaulting female occupants. His first known victim was a 79 year old woman who lived alone. He removed a screen to her apartment and silently entered. He brutally attacked her, stabbing her multiple times in the torso. One key piece of evidence was found on her body, a fingerprint. At the time, there was no computerized or centralized fingerprint database so the evidence would only be valuable when or if the perpetrator was caught.
The sheriff’s office collected bullet casings from crime scenes and were able to match the grooves, thus confirming their fears of a serial killer operating in the area. The Night Stalker also left a pentagram at the scene, declaring his allegiance to Satan. He believed he was the lone instrument of Satan, a private emissary deserving of a special position in life and death.
The Night Stalker took the eyes of some victims. Paranoid psychotics are often fascinated with the eyes, because within the eyes of their victims, for a moment, they see themselves.
Richard Ramirez was born in 1960, the fifth child of devoted, deeply religious parents. He had a loving mother but his father was extremely strict, often unleashing violent punishments. Richard suffered accidental but traumatic head injuries in childhood and had epileptic attacks which proved disruptive in his life. It is possible Richard was sexually assaulted by a pedophile.
His cousin Mike, taught Richard to kill at a young age. Mike returned from Vietnam with a box full of trophies of murders he committed during war and recounted the experiences to Richard. Richard was also a witness when Mike murdered his wife. After the murder, Richard’s behavior changed dramatically, including drug use, dropping out of school and odd sleeping habits. Richard was groomed to be a killer.
He raped and killed: the young and the old; the weak and the infirmed. He believed he was immune to punishment. The more violent and vile his acts, the more publicized his crimes became and the gory details made headlines across the country. True crime stories captivate and titillate audiences. His victims were completely random, including victim profiles and cities. It wasn’t until a witness took down the license plate of a car leaving a crime scene that police got a break in the case. A fingerprint taken from the vehicle matched a fingerprint taken from Ramirez years earlier when he was arrested for car theft. Finally police were able to identify The Night Stalker.
Ramirez attempted escape, but was recognized by a crowd, chased and eventually captured. A six month killing spree was over. Richard Ramirez avoided prosecution for several years and never showed remorse for his crime. Ramirez flaunted his devotion to Satan and relished the opportunity to relive his crimes. Groupies came to court dressed in black and courted his attention.
Ramirez was convicted of 14 murders and received 19 death sentences. He remains on death row in San Quentin. The victims continue to wait for justice to be served.
May 2, 2008 at 2:01 am |
What is wrong with our justice system? Why is this (blank) still alive?
May 2, 2008 at 5:49 am |
I can’t understand the women that flocked to court. This guy is CREEPY! Even for a serial killer. You always hear about the mild mannered guy who is a little odd, and everyone’s stunned when they turn out to be a SK. But RR, he LOOKS like a SK.
June 5, 2008 at 5:12 am |
he looks like a rockstar and he is intruiging.
June 9, 2008 at 11:51 pm |
I think Richard is one of the most facinating serial killers of all time. I know alot about him and am in the progress of writing him. Let me be clear, I don’t think he’s cool because he killed people, I find that the way his mind works is mind boggling. I want to be a criminal profiler. My ultimate goal is to go on death row and interview serial killers and then possibly write a book. I think he looks suave in his picture. He’s got this sorta sexy, mysterious, edgy thing about him. I like it….
June 28, 2008 at 2:45 pm |
I have been writing to Richard for quite a while now and find the way his mind works, to be normal in terms of him now. He was never declared insane, because, he is not. He is very smart and very much like us “normal” people, besides the crimes he commited 20 years ago. I am his friend and feel that yes, he is where he deserves to be for his criems, but i feel like we cannot changed the past, we can only learn from it. I never judge him and never found him creepy. He is a sweet guy, and even criminal profilers have trouble with him.
Satanism, in it having to deal with Richard, i think was an excuse for himself. To make him feel better about death and what he was doing at the time. In his mind Jesus, was looking down on him, so her turned to lucifer. i think it eases his mind in a way.
i just hope people who view this, have an open mind about everything. just remember, someone loved the killers too.
Delilah Aldama
July 18, 2008 at 5:28 am |
Delilah,
how can you call yourself a friend to somone who raped old woman and then beat them to death with a hammer? How can you be a friend to some one who gouged out the eyes of an innocent person?
Do you realize that it would have been you with that gun stuck upside your most private part?
What kind of a sick person are you???
You must be a friendless, antisocial personality like he was.
Yes you are. That explains it.
July 27, 2008 at 3:12 pm |
The man is a killer. The man is handsome. Does that make him “special”? Don’t think so. He should be dead already. Why are taxpayers paying for him to stay alive for nearly 20 years? He is intriquing, yes. He was brutal and killed many innocent people. There is no forgiveness for the grief he has caused. We may be taught of evil ways, beaten, abused. We are still US and we make the final decision on how our courses will run. Definitely not by murder. It’s past due for an ending in this story.
July 30, 2008 at 11:19 pm |
Those of you who are saying he is suave, and fascinating, and all that bullshit, are really stupid. Try spending a night alone with him in your house, see how the fuck you feel, see if you like it. Imagine it was your mama, or sister, or daddy, or son or daughter who was murdered by this nutcase…when you get it from that perspective, then talk. Until then, ya’ll are ignorant sheltered people, who probably have never left the little town you live in. Go get educated, and realize that everything you said before was bullshit.
July 31, 2008 at 9:27 pm |
So does anyone know if there is an execution date set yet?
August 5, 2008 at 3:03 am |
@ rick mccarter: Don’t you think it is worse punishment to make him go insane in a tiny cell for 20 years than it is to kill him right away?
August 23, 2008 at 8:51 pm |
i find Richard a very interesting subject
i like to read about convict and richard is my far most favorite
i will be writing to him soon
i want to no what a mind of a serial killer think
September 11, 2008 at 3:33 pm |
You know what not everyone is a saint
i write to Richard and i’m his friend and i know what he did was wrong
but the american army kill people when there at war. no one really says anything about that do they?
there peoples husbands and sons,friends..what gives them right to choose to blow up and shoot people? alot of those people in iraq might have had nothing to do with what the jihad’s did..
September 16, 2008 at 6:35 am |
Keith,
i understand where you are coming from but you do have to understand that he still is a person AFTER his crimes. i dont judge him on what he did. I have moved forward from that (which people should). It takes time, especially for the victims and families of his victims. I can be a friend to anyone, and so can you.
September 24, 2008 at 7:41 pm |
Well I guess this is what I think about Richard…
I dont know him personally YET…but I have just sent him my first letter.I am somehow intreaged by him, I am kinda in the same situation as delilah aldama. I do not know you but I feel the same as you do about Richard he is still a real person with feelings and I just cant wate to get to know the real Richard by him writing me.I am very interested in his story…and I might be writing a book on him.
I am a very normal person with a great heart of gold and LOTS of really good friends I am just interested in his life and his story. I do not like or suppory what he has done and I feel a horriable ammount of pain for all of the familys & friends who were effected by Richards acts but I am a religous person and I do believe that we are ALL Gods children and that he forgives US ALL!!!! I also think that he is where he is for a reason and Im glad that hes behind bars but then agian I just cant wate for him to return my letter!!! Call me CRAZY or whatever you want but we all have our own poinion….and this is mine!!!
September 25, 2008 at 4:17 am |
thanks janet. youll find he is really nice and open about his lifes journey. he gives some good advice too. youll enjoy his letters
October 4, 2008 at 6:40 am |
Richard….
Why are we all here writing and replying about him? Anyone who posts a response on this site is guilty. Of what? Interest. We don’t have to agree with him, we don’t have to defend him or ourselves. He is a figure of interest and controversy. The ladies find him attractive…so… he is. Don’t assume they are stupid or delusional about the horrific crimes he has done. Nobody wants to be raped and murdered. His life is an awful tale, a truly interesting one. People want to know whats going on inside of his head. We are shocked by his past actions its human to be curious. Its human to want to reach out to one of our own and just ask (why?) .
Women seem to be his biggest supporters and friends. Some say what if it were your mother, wife, Grandma that he attacked? Let’s be honest…what if he were your son? I think women want to help him. They want to be the one that changes him and make him good. That is where they are wrong. He is where he belongs. Ladies, its ok to write to Richard just don’t get carried away with it. And please don’t give him your home address. that would be foolish. And finally don’t fall in love with him! Its a false emotion because you don’t really know him, even if he has written to you many times.
Girls, go call your boyfriends. They miss you.
Leave this one alone. besides he’s married already.
-E
October 27, 2008 at 4:34 am |
I Think That God Dosent Forget And No Crime Will go Unpunished. I Feel Bad For Him Cause His Victoms are At Peace Now And His Heart Will Never Be.
October 28, 2008 at 6:27 pm |
Okay, first of all I have a life, am not antisocial, and have many friends. I am also pursuing a degree in Forensic Psychology. I do not understand the people on this forum who think that it is okay to insult and bash others for having a different view. It seems to me that it is these individuals who need to get an education. . .
I just started writing RR about 6 months ago; yes, he is intriguing. Even those of you who like to insult those of us who will admit it think that he is intriguing in one way or another. Why else would you even be wasting your time talking about him if he was so repulsive and un-intersting to you? Anyways. . .
I am writing Richard because I am want to get a taste of what makes him tick. How does that make me stupid or ignorant? It doesn’t. However I am also writing Richard because I believe that every human has the natural desire for human correspondance and contact. Yes, he committed horrific crimes and those victims should never be forgotten. But, he is still human with feelings and wants and desires. He has grown into a man behind the walls of San Quentin, without the influence of drugs and alcohol. I am currently writing a paper for school on methamphetamine and the effects it has on your brain. It is very interesting to learn how much drugs can affect your psyche even years after the abuse has stopped. I know that drugs did play a role in his killing spree.
I am not trying to disrespect anyone, I just want to point out that we are all different with different views and opinions. It is okay to disagree with someone so long as you do it a respectful manner where it can turn in to a discussion.
October 30, 2008 at 12:44 pm |
i think hes interesting , also! im currently writing a book on the minds of a serial killer!i hope to interview him soon to find out what hes thinking! me , too i do feel terrible for the families , but i also find him sexy and dark, and would like to know how someone raised in a christian home, could turn so bad! how can i write him ?someone give me the address please!
November 13, 2008 at 12:58 pm |
I’m happy to know that he is ok.
I love him with all my Heart and soul, until the end of time.
Richard I Love you!
And i don’t care what People are thinking about me….
November 27, 2008 at 10:57 pm |
I am intrigued by him only because I cannot imagine how/why someone would not just want to carry out such evil but actually really do it! To the people on here saying they ‘love’ him etc. and that he is a real person – you all need a life, you are all f’d up! Yes, he is rather attractive (I presume only with his mouth closed) so ask yourselves if you would be so pro the serial killer if he was fat and ugly?! No i didn’t think so, you’re all shallow as well as sick and stupid!
November 28, 2008 at 6:48 pm |
i think all u guys are crazy this man killed a lot of people in cold blood they were people too!! With families that cared you guys are just as crazy as he is, you deserve one another!!
December 10, 2008 at 1:36 am |
live and let live.
its mostly girls who are finding him interesting.
charm has many faces
god looks after these things.
sometimes we bring out the worst in people by being nice to them
even for his sake leave him alone
December 10, 2008 at 1:38 am |
making contact with this person enables his manipulative natere
leave him alone. its for the best
if you still have free will
and that evaporates quicker than lighnning
December 22, 2008 at 7:38 pm |
You empower these monsters and those that might be their succesors by your words of admiration. You self-righteous biggots should instead put yourself in the shoes of the victims and maybe you could feel some compassion. If only bleeding heart liberals suffered at the hands of evil, the rest of us would feel that justice is being served.
December 26, 2008 at 3:52 am |
richard Please go to hell!!!
December 28, 2008 at 10:51 pm |
you people are smoking crack how are anybody give him any type of glory for this?????????? How could anyone forgive him, and im sure its real easy for you guys 2 forgive him but think about the people he killed that cant. And you people write to him, id send him anthrax fuck a letter. i hate stupid people
January 8, 2009 at 9:56 pm |
I think RR is a really deep and fascinating person, and he’s got such beautiful eyes and killer bone structure. So many serial killers are all fat and out of shape. I mean have you seen David Berkowitz lately? Yuck. I mean I’m really interested in serial killers and how their minds work and everything and I tried writing to other serial killers like David Berkowitz but then when I’m reading their letters, even though they seem like really interesting people, I keep thinking how the letter was written by a fat, ugly person and I’m just like, eww why am I reading this?
I’m so curious and fascinated how RR could so such evil stuff since he was raised as a Christian. I grew up Methodist and I can’t even shoplift without feeling really really guilty so it’s hard to see how he can rape and stab women to death and pull out their eyeballs and stuff and not even worry about it.
It’s hard to imagine why one person does things that other people would never never do. It’s like we’re all totally different people or something. I do agree that God needs us all to forgive each other, not only so we can get on with our lives but so we can feel free to make emotional investments in dangerous, disturbed people who also have a lot of nice, interesting qualities.
So anyway I totally want to write to RR but I’m afraid he won’t like me and he won’t write back or something. I mean I guess if he’s stuck in jail on Death Row and has nothing else to do he might read my letters. Do you think he’d like me?? I want someone to like me. Anyone would be fine. If he writes back to me I think I’ll just die
January 10, 2009 at 7:33 am |
Wow. Your worried about fat? I think you shold look into peopl’s minds once in awhile. i checked out RR, what a loser, lol. David actuly has SOMTHING to say, lol.
yu should get wth it, just stop looking for bods.
January 11, 2009 at 11:13 pm |
Sorry ALH but RR is way more inteligent than anybody else on deathrow and NOT a loser. Try writing to him sometim. Im going to!
As for Berkowitz Im sorry but letting yourself get fat like that just shows a total lack of self respect and that’s a total turn-off to me. I mean OK he’s in jail but cant he at least geta rowing machine or something? RR would never let himself go like that.
Anyways women always pick out good looking guys because of biologic programming and we need to have healthy children.
January 15, 2009 at 11:31 pm |
I am writing to address the comments of “Shilelagh” (if that is indeed her real name), and “Ann Lee H.” (ditto). Both of these women are to be pitied. Their addiction to criminals reflect the stark realities that confront women in this culture. Unused to self-determination, women in the age of “liberation” often make these destructive choices, preferring the company of strong-minded murderers to entering into the competitive world that they themselves have helped to create.
Could it be that women make these unhealthy choices because they, in reality, are not suited for these difficult tasks? The evidence says Yes!
Also, these womens’ adulation of men like “rr” and “david” reflect, on a deeper psychological level, a retrospect of what women really want and desire– a powerful male dominant who will allot them their justly earned respect in return for providing the kind of support that a powerful man justly deserves.
The fact that these women have foisted their innate desires onto serial killers does not render their desires any less true. In fact the very unhealthiness of their choices serves to uphold the truth of a Woman’s need to subserviate, in an age when, according to the religion of Political Correctness, she cannot. What a sad situation!
We should, as thinking men & women, work to return an era when women did not need the attention of jailed murderers to receive the kind and paternal attention they love so much, nay, sometimes too much.
January 18, 2009 at 6:59 am |
I would like to writr Richard Ramirez, does anyone have his address?
January 20, 2009 at 8:00 pm |
hello i wanted to ask the persons whom
have already wrote to Richard if they could
possibly give me the address..please
January 20, 2009 at 8:01 pm |
hello i wanted to ask the persons whom
have already wrote to Richard if they could
possibly give me the address..please
send it to
soka.alvarez@live.com
January 24, 2009 at 10:50 am |
Jennie Carr , soka and anyone else wishing to write to this evil piece of crap , should
please note the following 2 points : No.1 . You’re all sickos and No.2 , why not have a think about it and pat yourself on the back when it dawns on your tiny warped minds
that if you put Richard Ramirez , c/o Death Row , San Quinten , U.S.A. on an envelope
and stick it in the post , it might just get there . I’m so glad that I’m not in the same gene-pool as you lot . You’re all fucked up .
January 24, 2009 at 11:14 am |
To Jeannie Carr , soka and anyone else who wants to write to this evil piece of crap .
Two points : 1. You’re all sickos and 2. If you put your tiny , warped minds to it , I’m
sure even your gene pool could work out that if you put Richard Ramirez c/o Death Row , San Quinten , U.S.A. on an envelope and manage to remember to post it , it’ll
probably get there . You bunch of whack-jobs .
February 1, 2009 at 10:47 am |
“For all the souls impacted by San Quentin, your spirit will forever be a part of Metallica”
That’s their opinion for example, no question about it, as we can all see it at the end of the “St. Anger” video…
If huge rockstars think this way as well, what do we expect from others?
March 8, 2009 at 10:21 am |
i cant believe some of u people actually thinking there is nothing wrong with this sick twisted individual,he killed, tortured women men and children,anyone who could think he is normal is just as sick as he is.he deserves death,and thats not as much pain as he inflicted on his victims,remember he had a choice so all u sick women writing this monster should be ashamed of ur self,may god have mercy on your souls,god bless the families left without their loved ones because some monster took them away,and may their souls rest in peace
March 8, 2009 at 10:27 am |
you women wanting to write this monster need to ask yourselves,how would u feel if it were your families who went through this,being raped slashed and carved into their bodies,shot ,raped and sodomized ,would u still feel the same way?doubt it,you all are as sick as him and should seek professional help…god will not have mercy on his soul,you better hope he does on yours,sickos
March 8, 2009 at 10:35 am |
SHILELAGH—YOU GOT ALOT OF PROBLEMS TO EVEN THINK HE CUTE OR INTELLIGENT SO INTELLIGENT THAT HE GOT CAUGHT YOU ARE A SAD EXCUSE 4 A WOMEN,LIVE IN THE REAL WORLD AND FIND A NON MURDERER MAYBE THAT WILL HELP UR SELF BECAUSE U MUST LIVE IN FANTACY LAND,U COULD OF BEEN 1 OF THOSE VICTIMS UR STUPID AND I THINK U SHOULD GO TO HELL,TRYING TO GIVE ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT HE IS A GOOD PERSON U ARE PLAIN DESPERATE AND NEED TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP LOSER
March 8, 2009 at 10:37 am |
RICHARD RAMIREZ IS WHERE HE BELONGS AND HE GETS THE EASY WAY OUT BY DEATH TO BAD ITS NOT LIKE THE OLD DAYS,WHERE HE WOULD OF BEEN BEAT TO DEATH LIKE HE DID HIS VICTIMS
April 4, 2009 at 10:23 pm |
Soo will there ever be a date wen he will be getting executed??? And all the lil groupies on all his websites need to be investigated for sanity……your lilttle babies are crzy and sick…..picture some1 doing that to ur moms or grandmas then look at evil and say he is sexy…..stuppid little girls
April 7, 2009 at 10:12 pm |
he is kind of attractive. but he was sloppy. he left a fingerprint on his first victim.
April 13, 2009 at 11:35 am |
I’m a 100% sure, that if the night stalker was ugly as sin, perhaps fat as well, all those women on this board and others, as well as the ones that write to him, would not even pay him a second thought.
It’s very sad to see these women being purely swayed by the outer looks and beauty. And lets face it. He does have a certain sex appeal. But would he still have that same sex appeal and intrigue to you, once he puts a gun to your head and breathes down on you with his bad breath?
I think most of those women have low self-esteem. They thrive in the shadow of a dangerous, goodlooking, unpredictable individual.
But the truth of the matter is that he’s a monster, who doesn’t care one bit about other people. There is no mercy in him, no empathy. He doesn’t even understand if you’d tell him that you understand him and love him. He’ll just perhaps smile and play along for his own pleasure.
Get a reality check all the people who think he’s intriguing.
April 14, 2009 at 8:45 pm |
I can’t believe some of you people! You don’t think I should be his friend just because he murdered 14 people OVER 20 YEARS AGO??? And, please, what does it matter if he raped 83-year old women?? We have no right to judge him!
I’m pretty sure he has said out loud that he is now a follower of Christ. Some of YOU have probably never made a claim like that. If I want to write to him and feed his ego and metaphorically spit in the faces of people who went through the worst of torture before being robbed of their lives, not to mention their loved ones, I WILL!
And BESIDES, I have an interest in psychology and true crime, so that makes me better than other girls who are writing to him! And look at you all! YOU are on this thread, too! I doubt you got here because you were searching for information, like is he alive or dead – or what is his execution date – because you will feel a lot better and safer when he meets his maker!
The Lord said judge not lest ye be judged, so why would you turn your back on someone just because of multiple murders, rapes, and bludgeonings?
BTW, since not all of you seem to be among Our County’s Brightest Minds, this is sarcasm. I hope an accident occurs at his execution that causes him severe pain.
April 14, 2009 at 9:21 pm |
To all u dumb women who think he cute and good looking, plz the dude is ugly and looks like the demon he is. What would u say if ur daughter or son was at the end of that 22 or hammer ” go ahead kill them because u are so cute”. Do society a favour and kill you’ll selves for being stupid.
April 19, 2009 at 7:49 pm |
im sure all the girls here have various harvard degrees and are all just into it for his brilliant mind. face it, if he were fat and ugly you wouldnt give a shit.your groupie behaviour is sad and sickening. as is all that pretentious shit about compassion . youve seen his picture and now youre swooning like fucking teenagers. not much more to it.
and im sure once you got a letter back from him youll feel like you REALLY GET TO KNOW THE ONE BEHIND THE MASK ,right? ever occurred to you that he actually might be way beyond really connecting with anybody ,especially 17 year old teenagers or frustrated overweight housewifes? or just use you for a little fun? just like you try to use him ,as an excuse for you to get some little exictement into your pathetic own life.
and to janet and all the other deluded women who think about “writing a book” about him, please learn to spell first. jesus, english isnt even my first language and im not fucking up my spelling. that beeing said i am against the death penalty and i think he is where he belongs.the whole case in its complexity stands for the sad frightening state of our society. i feel deeply sorry for the victims and even for the obviously very ill murderer to some degree.but ladys hes no poster boy stick to orlando bloom (or marilyn manson for the little gothic gals )if you feel the need for someone completely out of reach, into whom you may safely project all your shitty little romance novel dreams. i am not having a go at all the women here ,just at the ones plain stupidly asking for his address ,obviously too mentally limited to find out ,girls, he hasnt exactly moved the last 20 odd years a lot ,has he now?