Offender Record · OFF-2026-147
Richard Ramirez (photo from the Radford University biography)
Richard Leyva Ramirez
Also known as Ricardo Leyva Muñoz Ramirez, The Night Stalker, The Walk-In Killer, The Valley Intruder
Sex
Male
Race
Hispanic
Height
6'1"
Weight
190 lbs
Born
1960
Custody
Deceased
States
CA, TX
Distinguishing featuresVisible scar on forehead from childhood injury; severe tooth decay and poor personal hygiene by early 1980s
Custody
Deceased at San Quentin State Prison, Death Row
Custody record at the facility
Died June 7, 2013, of natural causes (B-cell lymphoma) while awaiting execution; had been on death row since November 7, 1989
This record documents arrests, charges and convictions reported by courts, law enforcement agencies and news organizations. Every statement is tied to a cited source with an archived copy. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt; a person charged is presumed innocent unless convicted. Where a record says named by police, no charge was ever filed: the record rests on a law enforcement agency's public identification of the deceased person, cited below. Not guilty by reason of insanity means the court found the act proven but the person not criminally responsible. Solve the Case does not allege that this person committed any offense beyond what the cited records state, and this record is not a suggestion that the person is connected to any unsolved case. How records are built, corrected and removed.
Summary of the record
Richard Ramirez was convicted of 13 counts of murder, 5 counts of attempted murder, 11 counts of rape, and 14 counts of burglary between June 1984 and August 1985 in California. His crimes occurred primarily in the Los Angeles area and San Francisco Bay Area. He was arrested on August 31, 1985, in Los Angeles, convicted on September 20, 1989, and sentenced to death on November 7, 1989. Ramirez died on June 7, 2013, of B-cell lymphoma complications while incarcerated on death row at San Quentin State Prison.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date Jun 28, 1984, Los Angeles, California
First-degree murder (Jennie Vincow)
Los Angeles County Police · Los Angeles County Superior Court · Docket A771272 · Penal Code § 187, subd. (a) · Arrested Aug 31, 1985 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death (among 19 death sentences)
On June 28, 1984, Ramirez entered through open window and violently stabbed a 79-year-old woman. Her throat was slashed so deeply she was nearly decapitated. He sexually assaulted the corpse. Found in her apartment in Glassell Park/Eagle Rock, Los Angeles.
SourcesRichard Ramirez: The story, the evidence, the Night Stalker; Radford University serial killer biography: Ramirez, Richard; People v. Ramirez; What it was like to cover the trial of 'Night Stalker' Richard Ramirez
Offense date Mar 17, 1985, Rosemead, California
Attempted murder (Angela Barrios)
Los Angeles County Police · Los Angeles County Superior Court · Docket A771272 · Penal Code §§ 187/664 · Arrested Aug 31, 1985 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death (among 19 death sentences)
On March 17, 1985, Ramirez shot a 22-year-old woman in the face outside her Rosemead condominium as she entered. She survived the gunshot wound.
SourcesRichard Ramirez: The story, the evidence, the Night Stalker; People v. Ramirez
Offense date Mar 17, 1985, Rosemead, California
First-degree murder (Dayle Okazaki)
Los Angeles County Police · Los Angeles County Superior Court · Docket A771272 · Penal Code § 187, subd. (a) · Arrested Aug 31, 1985 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death (among 19 death sentences)
On March 17, 1985, Ramirez shot and killed a 34-year-old male in a Rosemead condominium during a burglary. A female roommate, Angela Barrios (age 22), survived being shot in the face.
SourcesRichard Ramirez: The story, the evidence, the Night Stalker; Radford University serial killer biography: Ramirez, Richard; People v. Ramirez
Offense date Mar 17, 1985, Monterey Park, California
Murder (Tsai-Lian Yu)
Los Angeles County Police · Los Angeles County Superior Court · Docket A771272 · Penal Code § 187, subd. (a) · Arrested Aug 31, 1985 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death (among 19 death sentences)
On March 17, 1985, Ramirez shot and killed a 30-year-old woman after dragging her from her car at an intersection in Monterey Park. Same evening as Okazaki murder.
SourcesRichard Ramirez: The story, the evidence, the Night Stalker; Radford University serial killer biography: Ramirez, Richard; People v. Ramirez
Offense date Mar 27, 1985, Whittier, California
Murder (Maxine Zazzara)
Los Angeles County Police · Los Angeles County Superior Court · Docket A771272 · Penal Code § 187, subd. (a) · Arrested Aug 31, 1985 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death (among 19 death sentences)
On March 27, 1985, Ramirez stabbed and killed a 44-year-old woman in her Whittier home. Body was mutilated with a T carved on left breast and eyes gouged out. Body had pentagram-like markings. Same residence as Vincent Zazzara murder.
SourcesRichard Ramirez: The story, the evidence, the Night Stalker; Radford University serial killer biography: Ramirez, Richard; People v. Ramirez
Offense date Mar 27, 1985, Whittier, California
Murder (Vincent Zazzara)
Los Angeles County Police · Los Angeles County Superior Court · Docket A771272 · Penal Code § 187, subd. (a) · Arrested Aug 31, 1985 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death (among 19 death sentences)
On March 27, 1985, Ramirez shot and killed a 64-year-old man in his Whittier home during a burglary. Victim's wife Maxine Zazzara (age 44) was also killed and severely mutilated.
SourcesRichard Ramirez: The story, the evidence, the Night Stalker; Radford University serial killer biography: Ramirez, Richard; People v. Ramirez
Offense date May 14, 1985, Monterey Park, California
Murder (William Doi)
Los Angeles County Police · Los Angeles County Superior Court · Docket A771272 · Penal Code § 187, subd. (a) · Arrested Aug 31, 1985 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death (among 19 death sentences)
On May 14, 1985, Ramirez shot and killed a 65-year-old man during a burglary of his Monterey Park home.
SourcesRichard Ramirez: The story, the evidence, the Night Stalker; Radford University serial killer biography: Ramirez, Richard; People v. Ramirez
Offense date May 29, 1985, Monrovia, California
Murder (Mabel Bell)
Los Angeles County Police · Los Angeles County Superior Court · Docket A771272 · Penal Code § 187, subd. (a) · Arrested Aug 31, 1985 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death (among 19 death sentences)
On May 29, 1985, Ramirez attacked an 83-year-old woman and her disabled sister (age 80) with a hammer in their Monrovia home. The 83-year-old was shot and killed. Pentagram drawn on victim's thigh. Attempted rape was unsuccessful.
SourcesRichard Ramirez: The story, the evidence, the Night Stalker; Radford University serial killer biography: Ramirez, Richard; People v. Ramirez
Offense date May 30, 1985, Monrovia, California
Rape (Ruth Wilson)
Los Angeles County Police · Los Angeles County Superior Court · Docket A771272 · Penal Code § 261 · Arrested Aug 31, 1985 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death (among 19 death sentences)
On May 30, 1985, Ramirez bound, raped and sodomized a 41-year-old woman while her 12-year-old son was locked in a closet in Monrovia. After assault, victim and son were tied together and left.
SourcesRichard Ramirez: The story, the evidence, the Night Stalker; Radford University serial killer biography: Ramirez, Richard; People v. Ramirez
Offense date Jul 02, 1985, Arcadia, California
Murder (Mary Louise Cannon)
Los Angeles County Police · Los Angeles County Superior Court · Docket A771272 · Penal Code § 187, subd. (a) · Arrested Aug 31, 1985 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death (among 19 death sentences)
On July 2, 1985, Ramirez beat and slit the throat of a 75-year-old woman during a burglary of her Arcadia home.
SourcesRichard Ramirez: The story, the evidence, the Night Stalker; Radford University serial killer biography: Ramirez, Richard; People v. Ramirez
Offense date Jul 07, 1985, Monterey Park, California
Murder (Joyce Lucille Nelson)
Los Angeles County Police · Los Angeles County Superior Court · Docket A771272 · Penal Code § 187, subd. (a) · Arrested Aug 31, 1985 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death (among 19 death sentences)
On July 7, 1985, Ramirez beat to death a 61-year-old woman during a burglary of her Monterey Park home. Same evening attacked Linda Fortuna (age 63), attempted rape but failed.
SourcesRichard Ramirez: The story, the evidence, the Night Stalker; Radford University serial killer biography: Ramirez, Richard; People v. Ramirez
Offense date Jul 20, 1985, Sun Valley, California
Murder (Chainarong Khovananth)
Los Angeles County Police · Los Angeles County Superior Court · Docket A771272 · Penal Code § 187, subd. (a) · Arrested Aug 31, 1985 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death (among 19 death sentences)
On July 20, 1985, Ramirez shot and killed a 32-year-old man in his Sun Valley home. His wife Sakima (age 29) was beaten and forced to perform oral sex. Their 8-year-old son was bound and sodomized. $30,000 in valuables stolen.
SourcesRichard Ramirez: The story, the evidence, the Night Stalker; Radford University serial killer biography: Ramirez, Richard; People v. Ramirez
Offense date Jul 20, 1985, Glendale, California
Murder (Maxon Kneiding)
Los Angeles County Police · Los Angeles County Superior Court · Docket A771272 · Penal Code § 187, subd. (a) · Arrested Aug 31, 1985 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death (among 19 death sentences)
On July 20, 1985, Ramirez shot and killed a 66-year-old man in his Glendale home. His wife Lela (age 66) was also killed. Multiple valuables taken.
SourcesRichard Ramirez: The story, the evidence, the Night Stalker; Radford University serial killer biography: Ramirez, Richard; People v. Ramirez
Offense date Jul 20, 1985, Glendale, California
Murder (Lela Kneiding)
Los Angeles County Police · Los Angeles County Superior Court · Docket A771272 · Penal Code § 187, subd. (a) · Arrested Aug 31, 1985 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death (among 19 death sentences)
On July 20, 1985, Ramirez shot and killed a 66-year-old woman in her Glendale home. Victim's body was mutilated. Corpus remained at crime scene.
SourcesRichard Ramirez: The story, the evidence, the Night Stalker; Radford University serial killer biography: Ramirez, Richard; People v. Ramirez
Offense date Aug 08, 1985, Diamond Bar, California
Murder (Ahmed Zia)
Los Angeles County Police · Los Angeles County Superior Court · Docket A771272 · Penal Code § 187, subd. (a) · Arrested Aug 31, 1985 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death (among 19 death sentences)
On August 8, 1985, Ramirez shot and killed a 35-year-old man in his Diamond Bar home. His wife Suu Kyi (age 28) was raped, sodomized and forced to perform oral sex.
SourcesRichard Ramirez: The story, the evidence, the Night Stalker; Radford University serial killer biography: Ramirez, Richard; People v. Ramirez
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
13
Victims convicted
0
Victims confessed
2
Victims suspected
Active years
1984–1985
Victim profile
Young women, Children, Elderly, Men, Couples, Strangers
Stated motive
Sexual, Thrill
Range from home
regional
Education
some high school
Marital history
Married
Children
0
Died
2013-06-07 · natural
Agencies
Law enforcement, prosecutors and corrections agencies the records show dealing with this person. An investigator working a case with a possible connection can start here.
Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office · CA
Agency case A771272
Prosecuted; Deputy District Attorney Phil Halpin (lead) and Alan Yochelson handled trial 1988-1989
Source: Supreme Court of California
San Francisco County District Attorney's Office · CA
Agency case Mei Leung homicide 1984
Cold case unit reviewed evidence; no charges filed as of sources reviewed
Orange County Sheriff's Department · CA
Agency case Multiple murders 1985
Participated in investigation; Ramirez received from Orange County 08/15/1985
San Francisco Police Department · CA
Agency case Mei Leung homicide 1984
Cold case unit linked Ramirez via DNA to 04/10/1984 murder of Mei Leung; Inspector Holly Pera led reinvestigation
San Quentin State Prison · CA
Agency case Death row inmate
Held on death row from conviction (1989) until death on 06/07/2013
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation · CA
Agency case Death row inmate
Managed custody from sentencing 1989 through death 2013
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department · CA
Agency case Multiple homicides 1984-1985
Led investigation; Gil Carrillo and Frank Salerno identified serial pattern; made fingerprint identification leading to arrest on 08/31/1985
Source: Wikipedia
Los Angeles Police Department · CA
Agency case Multiple homicides 1984-1985
Formed task force; assisted with arrest and custody
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
CA
Los Angeles, California
approx. 1978 – 1985 · Car mechanic and odd jobs; never held stable employment; primarily obtained income through burglary
Los Angeles, California
Feb 1978 – Aug 1985 · Moved to Los Angeles in February 1978; lived in various locations including West L.A. and East L.A. neighborhoods
Pasadena, California
1981 – 1981 · Arrested for auto theft
Los Angeles, California
Dec 12, 1984 – Dec 12, 1984 · Arrested at 2:00am for driving stolen vehicle (orange Toyota); fingerprints and mugshot taken
San Francisco, California
approx. Aug 1985 – Aug 1985 · Traveled to San Francisco Bay Area in August 1985; committed murders in Cow Hollow and Diamond Bar areas
Los Angeles, California
Aug 31, 1985 – Nov 07, 1989 · Los Angeles County detention pending trial; trial lasted over one year (July 1988 to September 1989)
Los Angeles, California
Aug 31, 1985 – Aug 31, 1985 · Arrested by residents of East L.A. after mugshot released to media; beaten until police arrived; arrested in East Los Angeles neighborhood while attempting carjacking
Marin, California
Nov 07, 1989 – Jun 07, 2013 · San Quentin State Prison, Death Row; housed in Adjustment Center on third floor due to being a threat to staff safety; transferred to Marin General Hospital shortly before death
TX
El Paso, Texas
approx. 1960 – 1978 · Family home; born February 29, 1960
El Paso, Texas
approx. 1973 – 1977 · Texas Youth Camp for Juvenile Delinquents
Known Vehicles
Vehicles and approximate dates of ownership or use, as reported in the cited records. A photo next to a vehicle is the vehicle itself as published.
1984 orange Toyota – Orange-colored Toyota station wagon; stolen vehicle used during Mission Viejo attack August 24, 1985
approx. 1984 – Aug 1985
Fingerprint recovered from rear-view mirror; witness noted license plate; vehicle abandoned in Rampart section of Los Angeles
1984 Toyota – Stolen Datsun or Toyota; had master key for accessing these vehicle models
approx. 1978 – 1985
Ramirez specialized in stealing Datsuns and Toyotas because he had master keys for these models; arrested multiple times for auto theft
Timeline
Feb 29, 1960
Richard Ramirez born in El Paso, Texas as Ricardo Leyva Muñoz Ramirez, youngest of five children of Mexican immigrants.
1962
Age 2: Dresser fell on his head, causing unconsciousness for 15 minutes and requiring 30 stitches.
1965
Age 5: Hit in the head with a swing and knocked unconscious.
1966
Age 6: Witnessed father beating oldest brother Ruben; developed temporal lobe epilepsy with seizures beginning this year.
1973
Age 13: Witnessed cousin Mike murder his own wife; moved in with sister Ruth and her husband Roberto Avala on July 13.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
News report · IMDb ·
Richard Ramirez - Biography“On September 20, 1989, he was found guilty of 13 murders and 30 felonies. He was sentenced to death. On November 7, 1989 he was formally sentenced to death.”
Other government record · Britannica ·
Richard Ramirez“Richard Ramirez, also known as the 'Night Stalker,' was an American serial killer, rapist, and burglar who murdered at least 13 people in California in 1984–85. He was convicted and sentenced to death but died in 2013 while in prison.”
News report · The Murder Archives ·
Richard Ramirez“A jury convicted Ramirez on 43 felony counts, including 13 murders; the court sentenced him to death. In 2006, the California Supreme Court unanimously affirmed the judgment.”
Other government record · Wikipedia ·
Richard Ramirez“From April 1984 to August 1985, Ramirez murdered at least fifteen people during various break-ins. He was convicted and sentenced to death in 1989 and died while awaiting execution in 2013.”
News report · CBS News ·
Richard Ramirez: The story, the evidence, the Night Stalker“In September 1989, Richard Ramirez was found guilty on all charges — convicted of 13 counts of murder, five attempted murders, 11 sexual assaults and 14 burglaries. He died in prison on June 7, 2013, while awaiting execution.”
News report · Fox News ·
apnewsbreak californias night stalker serial killer richard ramirez dies in prison“San Quentin State Prison spokesman Lt. Sam Robinson says Ramirez died Friday morning. Ramirez was convicted of 13 murders that terrorized Southern California in 1984 and '85, and sentenced to death.”
News report · LAist ·
What it was like to cover the trial of 'Night Stalker' Richard Ramirez“Serial killer Richard Ramirez died this morning of natural causes at Marin General Hospital while awaiting execution on death row at San Quentin State Prison.”
Other · Radford University, Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Ramirez, Richard“Convicted on September 20, 1989 and Sentenced on November 7, 1989 to Death in gas chamber; San Quentin State Prison, California”
Court record · Supreme Court of California ·
People v. Ramirez“On November 7, 1989, defendant Richard Ramirez was sentenced to death for the so-called Night Stalker murders following his convictions of 12 counts of first degree murder, one count of second degree murder, five counts of attempted murder, four counts of rape, three counts of forcible oral copulation, four counts of forcible sodomy, and 14 counts of first degree burglary.”
News report · United Press International ·
List of victims of Night Stalker Richard Ramirez“Night Stalker Richard Ramirez, sentenced to death Tuesday, was convicted in September of murdering 13 people in 1984 and 1985.”
News report · United Press International ·
Personality Spotlight: Richard Ramirez: Convicted 'Night Stalker' killer“In 1977, at age 17, he was arrested in his native El Paso, Texas, for possessing less than two ounces of marijuana and for a misdemeanor theft charge. He was arrested again in 1978 and 1982, also for possessing small amounts of marijuana.”
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