Richard Ramirez: The Night Stalker

Richard Ramirez, known as the “Night Stalker” was an American serial killer who raped and tortured about 25 people and killed about 13 of them in their own house in California. Ramirez was influenced by one of his cousin, Mike, that was a veteran from the war in Vietnam. Mike introduced him to satanic worship and talked to him about his experiences at the war, and how he took part of torturing and mutilating Vietnamese women. He also showed him a few pictures as evidence of what he did. Mike also introduced him to smoking marijuana. All this led him to the start of a criminal life. He started with petty crimes to fuel his drugs habit, causing him to separate from his catholic parents and spending more time with his cousin. Ramirez was even present when Mike murdered his wife, this was the turning point of his life. He went from being a theft to a murderer, his first victim was Jennie Vincow a 79-year-old, she was sexually assaulted, stabbed and murdered at her own house. After this followed a list of brutal murders, rapes, and burglary. leaving more than 25 victims in its wake. Ramirez final attack was on August 24, 1985 which

He was charged with 14 murders, and 31 other felonies that were connected with the murders. What made it even more complicated was that he changed his legal council, the geographical spread of his attacks were an jurisdictional issue, and some of the charges dropped making it even longer for all the victims to have justice. After almost three years of his captured, on July 22, 1988, the jury selection process began. After that another delay occurred, one of the jurors was found murdered on August 1989, but there was no proof to connect Ramirez with it. On September 20, 1989, the jury returned with his verdict. He was found guilty of thirteen counts murders, five counts of attempt of murder, 11 sexual assault charges, and 14 burglary