Richard Ramirez

American serial homicide perpetrator, "the night stalker" who created a reign of terror in Los Angeles and environs from 10 April 1984 to 24 August 1985, before his capture on 31 August 1985. He beat, stabbed, shot, kidnapped and raped victims from the age of six to 84, brutal attacks in the dead of night, attacks upon strangers with no apparent process of selection other than availability. Many of the female victims had been sexually assaulted; five had their throats cut.

He was captured by a group of ordinary citizens who recognized him from police sketches, apprehended him and turned him over to the police. His trial began on 30 January 1989 and he was found guilty on 20 September 1989 of 13 murders and 30 other felonies. In November 1989, the penalty phase of his trial concluded with a death sentence.

An admitted devil worshipper, Ramirez had jagged teeth and a handsome, dark look of pure evil. On 3 October 1996, he married Doreen Lioy, a 41-year-old woman who said that she fell in love while visiting him on death row, finding him vulnerable and innocent. They were allowed to kiss during the ceremony but were not be allowed conjugal visits. Her relatives did not attend the wedding, aghast at her apparent insanity.

On 7 August 2006 his first round of state appeals was denied by the California Supreme Court, upholding his convictions and death sentence at San Quentin.

He died at 9:10 AM on 7 June 2013 at age 53 in Marin General Hospital, Greenbrae of complications from B-cell lymphoma while awaiting execution on California's death row.