1 00:00:01,418 --> 00:00:05,505 {\an8}♪♪ 2 00:00:05,588 --> 00:00:08,091 Milam: Me and Ricky were best friends. 3 00:00:08,216 --> 00:00:11,219 He was just a normal kid like everybody. 4 00:00:11,302 --> 00:00:13,722 We went to school together. 5 00:00:13,805 --> 00:00:14,973 He was very smart. 6 00:00:15,098 --> 00:00:17,017 God-fearing person. 7 00:00:17,100 --> 00:00:18,643 He studied the Bible. 8 00:00:18,768 --> 00:00:21,980 He was a good, good student. 9 00:00:22,105 --> 00:00:27,277 And then certain things started going wrong with Ricky, 10 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:31,197 and he started doing bad things. 11 00:00:31,281 --> 00:00:33,491 He was doing something very wrong. 12 00:00:33,616 --> 00:00:37,871 My belief -- you live by the sword, you die by the sword, 13 00:00:37,954 --> 00:00:39,914 and that's just the way it is. 14 00:00:39,998 --> 00:00:47,964 {\an8}♪♪ 15 00:00:48,089 --> 00:00:56,014 {\an8}♪♪ 16 00:00:56,139 --> 00:01:04,105 {\an8}♪♪ 17 00:01:04,189 --> 00:01:05,982 Welcome to "Very Scary People." 18 00:01:06,066 --> 00:01:07,484 I'm Donnie Wahlberg. 19 00:01:07,567 --> 00:01:09,819 The media called it a rampage. 20 00:01:09,944 --> 00:01:12,947 There was a serial killer on the loose in California, 21 00:01:13,031 --> 00:01:16,242 random attacks throughout the spring and summer of 1985. 22 00:01:16,326 --> 00:01:17,660 No one felt safe. 23 00:01:17,744 --> 00:01:20,455 Police described his actions as savage. 24 00:01:20,538 --> 00:01:23,249 He broke into people's homes, stole anything of value, 25 00:01:23,333 --> 00:01:26,753 then raped, beat, and murdered those he found inside. 26 00:01:26,836 --> 00:01:29,089 He had been linked to at least 15 murders, 27 00:01:29,172 --> 00:01:30,840 from children to the elderly, 28 00:01:30,924 --> 00:01:33,343 male and female, wealthy and poor. 29 00:01:33,426 --> 00:01:36,179 Now investigators had a promising lead, 30 00:01:36,304 --> 00:01:38,014 one that would finally end 31 00:01:38,139 --> 00:01:40,058 the Night Stalker's reign of terror. 32 00:01:40,183 --> 00:01:44,521 Here's part two of "The Night Stalker: I Will Be Avenged." 33 00:01:44,646 --> 00:01:49,818 {\an8}♪♪ 34 00:01:49,901 --> 00:01:54,864 {\an8}♪♪ 35 00:01:54,989 --> 00:01:59,327 Reporter: The victim -- her throat had been slashed. 36 00:01:59,411 --> 00:02:04,791 He found her horribly mutilated and murdered. 37 00:02:04,874 --> 00:02:09,045 Reporter: It appears the suspect got in through an open window. 38 00:02:09,129 --> 00:02:11,715 He stole a lot of jewelry 39 00:02:11,798 --> 00:02:16,594 and graduated to these horrible crimes of violence. 40 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:18,972 It was a night of sheer terror. 41 00:02:19,055 --> 00:02:21,224 She begged him not to shoot her. 42 00:02:23,059 --> 00:02:26,438 It was an isolated murder here and an isolated one there, 43 00:02:26,563 --> 00:02:30,358 but then, that summer, it was just constant. 44 00:02:30,442 --> 00:02:32,235 Reporter: Five murders and three sexual attacks 45 00:02:32,318 --> 00:02:33,695 in the past eight weeks. 46 00:02:33,778 --> 00:02:36,906 This man may be linked to at least six homicides. 47 00:02:36,990 --> 00:02:40,535 Reporter beaten, stabbed, or shot. 48 00:02:40,618 --> 00:02:43,455 Reporter 33 cases, including 14 murders, 49 00:02:43,580 --> 00:02:48,001 have definitely been linked to the Walk-In Killer. 50 00:02:48,084 --> 00:02:51,880 The killer leaves the pentagram, the mark of the devil. 51 00:02:51,963 --> 00:02:57,218 He was openly bringing a Satanic aspect to the attacks. 52 00:02:57,302 --> 00:02:58,595 I'm nervous. 53 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:00,096 You know, I'm nervous for my family, 54 00:03:00,180 --> 00:03:02,766 nervous for my friends and neighbors. 55 00:03:02,891 --> 00:03:05,977 Reporter: 29-year-old Bill Carns was shot in the head. 56 00:03:06,102 --> 00:03:07,937 Yochelson: But what was different about this incident -- 57 00:03:08,021 --> 00:03:11,649 there was a young man who lived a couple blocks away. 58 00:03:11,775 --> 00:03:13,777 Jenkins: He spotted a suspicious man, 59 00:03:13,902 --> 00:03:18,156 and he is able to get a partial license plate number. 60 00:03:18,281 --> 00:03:19,574 Jordan: The license plate matched 61 00:03:19,657 --> 00:03:22,744 with a 1976 orange Toyota station wagon. 62 00:03:22,827 --> 00:03:25,330 And so it was one of the best leads that they got 63 00:03:25,455 --> 00:03:27,457 through the whole investigation. 64 00:03:27,540 --> 00:03:30,418 Martin: It affords law enforcement the ability to issue 65 00:03:30,502 --> 00:03:34,089 an all-points bulletin for the orange station wagon. 66 00:03:34,172 --> 00:03:43,848 {\an8}♪♪ 67 00:03:43,973 --> 00:03:46,893 {\an8}And, ultimately, that station wagon turns up 68 00:03:46,976 --> 00:03:50,063 {\an8}abandoned in a parking lot. 69 00:03:50,146 --> 00:03:53,400 {\an8}So the police -- they watch the car for 24 hours, 70 00:03:53,483 --> 00:03:55,735 {\an8}and the driver never showed up. 71 00:03:55,819 --> 00:04:00,156 {\an8}Eventually, they brought it in to be processed for evidence. 72 00:04:00,281 --> 00:04:02,534 Martin: The forensic examination of the car 73 00:04:02,659 --> 00:04:05,662 helped reveal the presence of a latent fingerprint 74 00:04:05,745 --> 00:04:07,789 off the rearview mirror of the car. 75 00:04:10,542 --> 00:04:12,585 Yochelson: There was a brand-new technology 76 00:04:12,669 --> 00:04:14,462 that was just coming online. 77 00:04:14,546 --> 00:04:16,172 It was called the Automated Fingerprint 78 00:04:16,256 --> 00:04:18,675 {\an8}Identification System, or AFIS, 79 00:04:18,758 --> 00:04:23,388 {\an8}and it's computerized technology where a fingerprint is scanned. 80 00:04:23,513 --> 00:04:27,225 It goes through a database. and compared. 81 00:04:27,350 --> 00:04:30,562 The computer spits out possible matches, 82 00:04:30,687 --> 00:04:34,107 and then there's a physical match. 83 00:04:34,190 --> 00:04:37,569 Martin: He'd been arrested in December of '83 for auto theft, 84 00:04:37,694 --> 00:04:39,112 and that was on file. 85 00:04:39,195 --> 00:04:42,240 That's where the make occurred. 86 00:04:42,365 --> 00:04:43,742 And it came in just in time 87 00:04:43,867 --> 00:04:47,537 to help them identify the Night Stalker. 88 00:04:47,620 --> 00:04:51,791 Block: The individual who we believe is responsible 89 00:04:51,875 --> 00:04:54,461 {\an8}for these crimes -- 90 00:04:54,544 --> 00:04:58,590 {\an8}a man by the name of Richard Ramirez. 91 00:04:58,715 --> 00:05:02,886 Richard Ramirez was a tall, thin, dark-haired, dark-eyed, 92 00:05:02,969 --> 00:05:05,472 Hispanic male with rotting teeth, 93 00:05:05,555 --> 00:05:10,894 a 25-year-old described drifter from El Paso, Texas. 94 00:05:10,977 --> 00:05:12,312 Martin: There was a booking photo, 95 00:05:12,395 --> 00:05:14,356 and his photograph was published. 96 00:05:16,816 --> 00:05:18,568 Block: At this very moment, 97 00:05:18,651 --> 00:05:22,614 an alert is going out to all law enforcement agencies 98 00:05:22,739 --> 00:05:25,533 to be on the lookout for this individual, 99 00:05:25,617 --> 00:05:29,954 who is to be considered armed and extremely dangerous. 100 00:05:32,499 --> 00:05:34,751 Jordan: And now police all over California 101 00:05:34,876 --> 00:05:37,629 are on the hunt for Richard Ramirez. 102 00:05:40,590 --> 00:05:44,636 {\an8}The police were also staking out the Greyhound bus station 103 00:05:44,761 --> 00:05:46,513 {\an8}where he was known to frequent. 104 00:05:46,596 --> 00:05:49,391 {\an8}So he gets off the bus, and the first thing that he sees 105 00:05:49,474 --> 00:05:52,519 {\an8}is a newspaper stand with his picture 106 00:05:52,602 --> 00:05:55,271 on the front of "L.A. Times." 107 00:05:55,355 --> 00:05:56,606 Big picture. 108 00:05:56,731 --> 00:05:58,274 Vidal: And believe me, exactly what 109 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:00,610 that booking photo looked like 110 00:06:00,735 --> 00:06:03,988 {\an8}was exactly the way he looked. 111 00:06:04,114 --> 00:06:07,117 {\an8}He's surprised when the crowd recognizes him. 112 00:06:07,242 --> 00:06:08,702 {\an8}The jig is up. 113 00:06:08,785 --> 00:06:10,537 Reporter suspect Richard Ramirez 114 00:06:10,620 --> 00:06:12,706 had just discovered he was a wanted man 115 00:06:12,789 --> 00:06:15,667 and desperately tried to make a run for it. 116 00:06:17,377 --> 00:06:20,088 Hernandez: He starts running. He gets into a bus. 117 00:06:20,171 --> 00:06:23,466 People recognize him in the bus. He jumps out the bus. 118 00:06:23,591 --> 00:06:27,053 He fled on foot and tried to steal a car. 119 00:06:29,055 --> 00:06:32,934 I was assigned to my car, 4A57, with my partner. 120 00:06:33,018 --> 00:06:35,729 We handle a radio call. 121 00:06:35,812 --> 00:06:38,565 We receive a broadcast over the air 122 00:06:38,648 --> 00:06:41,151 of a possible Night Stalker sighting. 123 00:06:43,987 --> 00:06:48,283 Hernandez: He tries to hijack this old classic Mustang. 124 00:06:48,366 --> 00:06:51,161 You don't do that in East L.A. 125 00:06:54,831 --> 00:06:57,375 Reporter the suspect after he claims 126 00:06:57,500 --> 00:07:00,420 Ramirez was trying to steal his red Mustang. 127 00:07:00,503 --> 00:07:03,006 And even though he says he was being threatened with a gun, 128 00:07:03,089 --> 00:07:05,467 Pinon fought that suspect anyway. 129 00:07:05,550 --> 00:07:06,801 Then I got him by the neck. 130 00:07:06,885 --> 00:07:08,178 Reporter the neck, and then what? 131 00:07:08,261 --> 00:07:12,098 Then we struggled back and forth over the car. 132 00:07:12,182 --> 00:07:15,685 During this time, we're hearing broadcasts of requests 133 00:07:15,769 --> 00:07:18,396 for additional units to respond. 134 00:07:18,521 --> 00:07:20,523 The air unit, police helicopter, 135 00:07:20,648 --> 00:07:24,611 was requested to follow any possible suspect. 136 00:07:24,694 --> 00:07:29,699 He was last seen traveling Eastbound on 8th Street. 137 00:07:29,783 --> 00:07:31,868 Yochelson: They chased him physically. 138 00:07:31,993 --> 00:07:34,204 A number of the other neighbors got involved. 139 00:07:39,751 --> 00:07:43,004 Hernandez: And people were just yelling, "The bully," 140 00:07:43,088 --> 00:07:47,050 "The killer," and "The Night Stalker." 141 00:07:49,135 --> 00:07:52,889 And I remember going up on Indiana to Percy Street, 142 00:07:53,014 --> 00:07:56,393 and we see people pointing down the direction 143 00:07:56,518 --> 00:07:58,103 where this person was going. 144 00:07:58,228 --> 00:08:00,772 So then it was a mob. It was a mob scene. 145 00:08:00,897 --> 00:08:04,067 Then Ramirez attempted to carjack another vehicle. 146 00:08:04,192 --> 00:08:07,028 Big mistake. 147 00:08:07,112 --> 00:08:09,114 Reporter Saw another man hitting his wife 148 00:08:09,239 --> 00:08:11,950 while pulling her out of her gold Granada. 149 00:08:12,075 --> 00:08:13,576 He hit her? Yes, he tried to -- 150 00:08:13,702 --> 00:08:17,247 Where'd he hit her? 151 00:08:17,372 --> 00:08:19,207 Oh, he hit her right here, all over right here. 152 00:08:19,290 --> 00:08:21,668 What was she thinking? Was she scared? Yes. 153 00:08:21,751 --> 00:08:23,336 Reporter grabbed the pipe 154 00:08:23,420 --> 00:08:25,588 and began hitting that man. 155 00:08:29,009 --> 00:08:30,760 Vidal: When I exited my police car, 156 00:08:30,844 --> 00:08:32,303 he was bleeding from the back of his head. 157 00:08:32,429 --> 00:08:34,681 I remember that. 158 00:08:34,764 --> 00:08:37,851 Ultimately, a group of folks realize who it Is 159 00:08:37,934 --> 00:08:41,438 and wind up grabbing onto Ramirez. 160 00:08:41,521 --> 00:08:43,606 At that point, he was dead meat. 161 00:08:45,900 --> 00:08:48,236 My concern was I wanted to remove him 162 00:08:48,319 --> 00:08:52,073 from that hostile situation that he was in at the time. 163 00:08:53,992 --> 00:08:57,662 He was hit over the head with, like, a copper rod 164 00:08:57,787 --> 00:09:01,624 they used to ground these telephone poles. 165 00:09:01,708 --> 00:09:05,628 I'm sure he was happy to see the cops show up. 166 00:09:05,754 --> 00:09:08,840 Vidal: He was on the grass parkway of the street, 167 00:09:08,965 --> 00:09:11,968 south side of Hubbard, and he was laying there, 168 00:09:12,093 --> 00:09:14,971 and the deputy had just rolled him over. 169 00:09:15,055 --> 00:09:18,850 We requested a rescue ambulance to come. 170 00:09:18,975 --> 00:09:20,643 You look at the media coverage of the time, 171 00:09:20,727 --> 00:09:22,187 you'll that he's bandaged 172 00:09:22,312 --> 00:09:24,856 because he was struck on the head during the arrest. 173 00:09:24,981 --> 00:09:27,317 And these citizens were heroes. 174 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:29,319 They caught the Night Stalker. 175 00:09:29,444 --> 00:09:39,162 {\an8}♪♪ 176 00:09:43,041 --> 00:09:45,669 {\an8}Walls: We're happy to report that the suspect 177 00:09:45,794 --> 00:09:49,047 {\an8}that we have in custody is Richard Ramirez, 178 00:09:49,172 --> 00:09:52,008 {\an8}otherwise known as the Night Stalker. 179 00:09:52,133 --> 00:09:54,427 {\an8}Vidal: He's handcuffed, hands behind his back. 180 00:09:54,511 --> 00:09:59,015 {\an8}When I was talking to him, I felt just different. 181 00:09:59,140 --> 00:10:00,684 {\an8}You might call it Satanic. 182 00:10:00,809 --> 00:10:06,064 {\an8}I mean, he just looked the presence of evil before you. 183 00:10:06,189 --> 00:10:10,527 {\an8}He was a drifter. He was in Arizona for a while. 184 00:10:10,652 --> 00:10:15,115 Came to California for unknown reasons. 185 00:10:15,198 --> 00:10:17,117 Started out as a burglar 186 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:20,995 and graduated to these horrible crimes of violence 187 00:10:21,079 --> 00:10:26,001 and the Satanism, which my personal view, 188 00:10:26,084 --> 00:10:31,089 was an affect on his part to stir up notoriety. 189 00:10:31,214 --> 00:10:33,008 {\an8}The Night Stalker was now in custody, 190 00:10:33,091 --> 00:10:34,718 {\an8}but the big question was, 191 00:10:34,843 --> 00:10:39,222 what happened to this person that created this monster? 192 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:46,730 Ricardo Leyva Ramirez was born February 29, 1960, 193 00:10:46,813 --> 00:10:49,774 in El Paso, Texas. 194 00:10:49,899 --> 00:10:52,193 Hancock: Richard's mother worked in a boot factory, 195 00:10:52,277 --> 00:10:54,904 and his father worked for the Santa Fe railroad. 196 00:10:55,030 --> 00:10:59,117 {\an8}Richard was the youngest of five kids. 197 00:10:59,242 --> 00:11:01,494 Milam: We went to school together. 198 00:11:01,578 --> 00:11:02,996 He was very smart. 199 00:11:03,079 --> 00:11:04,998 God-fearing person. 200 00:11:05,081 --> 00:11:10,670 {\an8}And then he started doing bad things. 201 00:11:10,754 --> 00:11:12,589 Hernandez: When we interviewed some people, 202 00:11:12,672 --> 00:11:16,259 people were saying that he was, like, a little petty thief. 203 00:11:16,384 --> 00:11:20,472 {\an8}And he didn't have a very good reputation. 204 00:11:20,597 --> 00:11:22,599 Hernandez: We found out through medical records 205 00:11:22,724 --> 00:11:27,604 {\an8}that he had had many seizures in the sixth, seventh grade, 206 00:11:27,729 --> 00:11:29,981 and we had a doctor examine him. 207 00:11:30,106 --> 00:11:33,443 And they did some scans on his brain, 208 00:11:33,568 --> 00:11:35,820 and they found some abnormalities. 209 00:11:35,945 --> 00:11:38,948 There was something wrong with him. 210 00:11:39,032 --> 00:11:44,245 Maybe he was epileptic, but he never got an official diagnosis. 211 00:11:45,955 --> 00:11:53,421 {\an8}Richard Ramirez also had a very disturbed childhood. 212 00:11:53,505 --> 00:11:58,176 He had what can be considered now a very abusive father. 213 00:12:00,261 --> 00:12:03,598 The father was very authoritarian. 214 00:12:03,682 --> 00:12:07,143 He would not hesitate to use the whip 215 00:12:07,227 --> 00:12:10,146 and, you know, belt him. 216 00:12:10,271 --> 00:12:11,815 He would go and steal things. 217 00:12:11,898 --> 00:12:14,984 He would get, you know, caught by his dad, 218 00:12:15,110 --> 00:12:19,989 and part of that corrective measure that he would use, 219 00:12:20,073 --> 00:12:21,950 he would tie him up at a cemetery 220 00:12:22,033 --> 00:12:27,747 that was right next door to where they used to live. 221 00:12:27,831 --> 00:12:31,167 Put him on crosses, tied up, overnight. 222 00:12:31,292 --> 00:12:34,504 So he had to endure those things very early age. 223 00:12:34,629 --> 00:12:38,133 We're talking about when he was 12, 14 years old. 224 00:12:39,843 --> 00:12:42,387 Jordan: Richard's father was clearly an influence, 225 00:12:42,512 --> 00:12:45,306 but many believe that it was another family member 226 00:12:45,390 --> 00:12:47,684 that may have done the most damage. 227 00:12:47,767 --> 00:12:50,812 Martin: Part of Ramirez's childhood specific to his teen years 228 00:12:50,895 --> 00:12:52,689 had to deal with a cousin, 229 00:12:52,772 --> 00:12:55,525 {\an8}a Vietnam veteran who had shared with him 230 00:12:55,650 --> 00:12:58,653 {\an8}some of the details of war, of combat, 231 00:12:58,737 --> 00:13:01,531 of some of the killings that he had witnessed. 232 00:13:03,992 --> 00:13:06,036 He taught him how to use the knife 233 00:13:06,119 --> 00:13:07,787 and how to cut throats. 234 00:13:07,871 --> 00:13:11,875 Milam: Ricky was very, very scared of Mike, 235 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:16,046 and he had panic attacks. 236 00:13:16,129 --> 00:13:18,631 He told me how much he despised Mike. 237 00:13:20,383 --> 00:13:22,218 Schecter: Mike, who had all these tales 238 00:13:22,344 --> 00:13:25,889 about Vietnamese women he had raped and killed 239 00:13:26,014 --> 00:13:27,474 and Polaroid photographs 240 00:13:27,557 --> 00:13:31,227 which he would show young Ramirez 241 00:13:31,353 --> 00:13:36,566 of decapitated heads of women he had raped and then beheaded, 242 00:13:36,691 --> 00:13:42,530 and who really schooled him in how to kill stealthily. 243 00:13:42,614 --> 00:13:47,535 Sometimes gruesome pictures put images in your mind. 244 00:13:47,619 --> 00:13:50,580 And they did have a great impact on Ricky. 245 00:13:50,705 --> 00:13:55,001 {\an8}♪♪ 246 00:13:55,085 --> 00:13:59,881 {\an8}There's no question that his criminal behavior later in life 247 00:13:59,964 --> 00:14:04,469 reflects lots of sex offenses that are violent, 248 00:14:04,594 --> 00:14:05,804 that involve torture, 249 00:14:05,929 --> 00:14:09,099 that involve horrific, brutal acts. 250 00:14:09,182 --> 00:14:13,395 So for him, there was a clear fusion 251 00:14:13,478 --> 00:14:18,233 between lust and cruelty. 252 00:14:18,316 --> 00:14:20,026 Hancock: When Richard was 13, 253 00:14:20,110 --> 00:14:24,447 he was present when Mike got into an argument with his wife 254 00:14:24,531 --> 00:14:27,784 and shot her in the face and killed her. 255 00:14:27,909 --> 00:14:31,621 Dietz: Ramirez shot many of his victims in the face. 256 00:14:31,746 --> 00:14:34,916 That is not a common place to shoot people. 257 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:38,128 And yet he is shooting victims in the face 258 00:14:38,211 --> 00:14:40,088 disproportionately often, 259 00:14:40,171 --> 00:14:45,635 just like his cousin Mike shot the first homicide victim 260 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:49,806 Ramirez ever witnessed in the face. 261 00:14:49,931 --> 00:14:52,517 Hancock: After he shot his wife, he went to trial, 262 00:14:52,642 --> 00:14:56,980 and he was found not guilty by reason of insanity. 263 00:14:57,063 --> 00:14:59,315 He was given a lighter sentence, 264 00:14:59,399 --> 00:15:01,609 and he actually, after he finished his sentence, 265 00:15:01,693 --> 00:15:03,403 came back into Richard's life. 266 00:15:03,486 --> 00:15:06,614 It seems like a pivotal, harrowing moment 267 00:15:06,698 --> 00:15:10,493 in this young kid's development. 268 00:15:10,577 --> 00:15:12,495 Jordan: Hardened by his early experiences, 269 00:15:12,620 --> 00:15:17,375 Richard became increasingly drawn to macabre things. 270 00:15:17,500 --> 00:15:20,295 Richard took to sleeping in cemeteries. 271 00:15:22,255 --> 00:15:24,507 He would wear a lot of black clothes 272 00:15:24,632 --> 00:15:29,471 and go into what you can perceive as a persona 273 00:15:29,554 --> 00:15:33,850 of a gothic, evil night marauder. 274 00:15:36,644 --> 00:15:39,481 He started with marijuana and then later on 275 00:15:39,564 --> 00:15:43,568 went into heavy drugs like acid. 276 00:15:43,693 --> 00:15:45,695 He was having epileptic seizures. 277 00:15:45,820 --> 00:15:47,364 Coupled with the drugs and, you know, 278 00:15:47,489 --> 00:15:50,867 all that stuff, it's a combination. 279 00:15:50,950 --> 00:15:54,662 He explained it to me that, "You don't care about nobody, 280 00:15:54,746 --> 00:15:58,375 not even yourself," and when you come to that stage, 281 00:15:58,458 --> 00:16:02,045 it's a very, very dangerous stage. 282 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:05,632 Hancock: He didn't go to school much. 283 00:16:05,715 --> 00:16:08,218 He started hanging out with a rough gang. 284 00:16:08,301 --> 00:16:12,389 Richard dropped out of high school when he was 14. 285 00:16:12,472 --> 00:16:14,933 He got in trouble with the law. 286 00:16:15,058 --> 00:16:17,727 And once that happened, 287 00:16:17,811 --> 00:16:21,856 I guess he decided not to go back to school. 288 00:16:21,940 --> 00:16:27,821 And then certain things started going wrong with Ricky there. 289 00:16:27,904 --> 00:16:34,411 {\an8}♪♪ 290 00:16:34,536 --> 00:16:36,413 Jordan: After Ramirez was finally captured, 291 00:16:36,538 --> 00:16:39,416 the arresting officers said that he was very polite, 292 00:16:39,541 --> 00:16:42,502 but he refused to cooperate. 293 00:16:42,585 --> 00:16:45,505 Yochelson: The sheriffs came and transported him later 294 00:16:45,588 --> 00:16:48,591 to the county jail, where he was booked. 295 00:16:48,717 --> 00:16:52,262 When he was arrested, his arrest had led to a locker 296 00:16:52,345 --> 00:16:53,930 at the Greyhound bus station. 297 00:16:54,055 --> 00:16:57,934 There was a trove of evidence recovered in that bus locker -- 298 00:16:58,059 --> 00:17:00,520 stolen property that was linked to the victims. 299 00:17:00,603 --> 00:17:02,105 The guns weren't recovered, 300 00:17:02,230 --> 00:17:05,066 but ammunition that had been in those guns were recovered 301 00:17:05,150 --> 00:17:06,735 and linked to Ramirez. 302 00:17:06,818 --> 00:17:10,864 The charges were filed within 48 hours, as required by law. 303 00:17:10,947 --> 00:17:13,992 Jordan: Richard Ramirez was charged with 14 murders, 304 00:17:14,117 --> 00:17:19,622 19 burglaries, 7 rapes, and a slew of other charges. 305 00:17:21,458 --> 00:17:24,544 Richard was arrested in '85, 306 00:17:24,627 --> 00:17:28,131 and it was three years before he went on trial. 307 00:17:30,342 --> 00:17:33,136 He came to court wearing sunglasses. 308 00:17:33,219 --> 00:17:39,142 He changed from a really ugly, evil-looking guy to a rock star. 309 00:17:39,267 --> 00:17:45,982 {\an8}♪♪ 310 00:17:51,821 --> 00:17:53,823 Aw, you ain't no reporter. 311 00:17:53,948 --> 00:17:56,159 Jenkins: Richard Ramirez was finally behind bars, 312 00:17:56,284 --> 00:17:58,787 and Californians could finally sleep at night 313 00:17:58,870 --> 00:18:01,831 {\an8}after a year of being on edge. 314 00:18:01,956 --> 00:18:03,833 Now came the monumental task 315 00:18:03,958 --> 00:18:07,170 of bringing the Night Stalker to justice. 316 00:18:09,130 --> 00:18:12,300 Judge: All right, this again is case number A771272, 317 00:18:12,384 --> 00:18:14,552 the People of the State of California vs. 318 00:18:14,678 --> 00:18:16,805 Richard Ramirez, the defendant. 319 00:18:16,888 --> 00:18:20,475 {\an8}There were tremendous challenges just putting the case together. 320 00:18:20,558 --> 00:18:23,353 {\an8}Martin: You've got all these agencies that you've got to coordinate. 321 00:18:23,436 --> 00:18:27,148 {\an8}You've got all these victims that you've got to care for. 322 00:18:27,232 --> 00:18:29,526 {\an8}This was a monumental effort, 323 00:18:29,609 --> 00:18:32,821 and then you add to it that this is a capital murder case. 324 00:18:32,904 --> 00:18:37,325 The preparations are absolutely incredible. 325 00:18:37,409 --> 00:18:40,787 Yochelson: He was initially represented by two appointed members 326 00:18:40,870 --> 00:18:43,581 of the L.A. County Public Defender's office. 327 00:18:43,707 --> 00:18:44,958 Great attorneys. 328 00:18:45,041 --> 00:18:47,085 He had excellent representation. 329 00:18:47,210 --> 00:18:49,963 But for whatever reason, Ramirez's family 330 00:18:50,046 --> 00:18:53,466 chose to fire the Public Defender's office 331 00:18:53,550 --> 00:18:57,804 and bring in a series of private counsel. 332 00:18:57,887 --> 00:19:01,516 First issue that came up was who was paying for this defense, 333 00:19:01,599 --> 00:19:04,769 because mounting a capital defense under any circumstances 334 00:19:04,894 --> 00:19:06,771 is tremendously expensive. 335 00:19:06,896 --> 00:19:09,065 Hernandez: And then he got Mr. Gallegos 336 00:19:09,190 --> 00:19:10,734 for a couple of weeks. 337 00:19:10,817 --> 00:19:12,027 Woman: My understanding, Mr. Ramirez -- 338 00:19:12,110 --> 00:19:14,487 that you would like to have Mr. Gallegos 339 00:19:14,571 --> 00:19:17,073 as your attorney. Is that correct? Yes. 340 00:19:17,198 --> 00:19:20,410 {\an8}Mr. Gallegos apparently had offered him 341 00:19:20,535 --> 00:19:22,245 {\an8}some deals with movies. 342 00:19:22,328 --> 00:19:24,164 Jordan: In the '80s, some serial killers 343 00:19:24,247 --> 00:19:26,041 were treated like celebrities, 344 00:19:26,124 --> 00:19:28,084 and the media outlets would actually compete 345 00:19:28,168 --> 00:19:30,086 {\an8}to get the rights to their stories. 346 00:19:30,170 --> 00:19:32,505 {\an8}Ramirez was in that group. 347 00:19:32,589 --> 00:19:36,509 {\an8}Linedecker: He did what a lot of people like him do. 348 00:19:36,593 --> 00:19:39,220 {\an8}He suddenly decided that, "Gee, I'm a celebrity, 349 00:19:39,304 --> 00:19:44,100 {\an8}and I'm going to milk this for everything I can milk it for." 350 00:19:44,184 --> 00:19:45,477 Yochelson: There was some indication 351 00:19:45,602 --> 00:19:47,896 that there was a book deal in the works, 352 00:19:47,979 --> 00:19:50,440 which poses all kinds of ethical issues, 353 00:19:50,565 --> 00:19:54,027 so the judge actually appointed another lawyer 354 00:19:54,110 --> 00:19:57,822 just to advise Ramirez as to the possible issues 355 00:19:57,947 --> 00:20:00,367 of financing his defense through a book deal, 356 00:20:00,450 --> 00:20:03,453 and Ramirez refused to talk to that lawyer. 357 00:20:03,536 --> 00:20:06,915 Ultimately, Daniel and Arturo Hernandez came on the case. 358 00:20:06,998 --> 00:20:09,459 They're not related, even though they have the same last name. 359 00:20:09,542 --> 00:20:11,211 The family has retained us officially, 360 00:20:11,294 --> 00:20:13,380 and as far as we're concerned, 361 00:20:13,463 --> 00:20:15,924 we are the attorneys for Mr. Ramirez. 362 00:20:16,007 --> 00:20:17,342 Hernandez: We ended up with the case, 363 00:20:17,467 --> 00:20:20,345 and it made a big difference, absolutely, 364 00:20:20,470 --> 00:20:24,224 knowing the culture, bilingualism, 365 00:20:24,307 --> 00:20:26,935 because, you know, in El Paso, we speak both languages. 366 00:20:27,018 --> 00:20:28,603 We seem to get along very well. 367 00:20:28,687 --> 00:20:31,981 Hernandez: He was very impressed that I unshackled him and not -- 368 00:20:32,065 --> 00:20:34,859 you know, we broke the ice, so he hired us. 369 00:20:34,984 --> 00:20:38,405 He signed the substitution of attorneys that need to be filed. 370 00:20:38,488 --> 00:20:42,033 But we were not welcome in L.A. 371 00:20:42,158 --> 00:20:45,453 We were really in danger. 372 00:20:45,537 --> 00:20:48,915 {\an8}I was working as a paralegal with Arturo Hernandez, 373 00:20:48,998 --> 00:20:50,500 {\an8}who is now my husband. 374 00:20:50,583 --> 00:20:53,336 The day that Judge Soper let them into the case, 375 00:20:53,420 --> 00:20:56,840 I received a phone call late in the evening, 376 00:20:56,923 --> 00:21:00,343 and they said, "We know who you are. 377 00:21:00,468 --> 00:21:04,264 We are the family of one of the victims in the Ramirez case, 378 00:21:04,347 --> 00:21:06,516 and we're going to kill you." 379 00:21:06,599 --> 00:21:09,144 So I immediately hung up on the person 380 00:21:09,227 --> 00:21:13,189 and hightailed it out of the office. 381 00:21:13,273 --> 00:21:16,526 Yochelson: And there was an issue that was brought up 382 00:21:16,609 --> 00:21:18,153 as to whether or not they were qualified 383 00:21:18,236 --> 00:21:19,654 to handle a case like this. 384 00:21:19,738 --> 00:21:22,115 Both had only been attorneys for about five years 385 00:21:22,198 --> 00:21:25,702 and apparently had never handled a capital case. 386 00:21:25,827 --> 00:21:28,371 Jordan: At preliminary hearings, defense and prosecution 387 00:21:28,496 --> 00:21:30,540 would get into shouting matches with each other. 388 00:21:30,623 --> 00:21:33,251 Woman: They're matters of public record, sir. 389 00:21:33,376 --> 00:21:35,879 There's presently pending in that court -- 390 00:21:35,962 --> 00:21:37,380 These liars. 391 00:21:37,464 --> 00:21:40,717 Judge Tynan and I did not get along, to say the least. 392 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:42,552 He was always mocking us. 393 00:21:42,677 --> 00:21:47,057 He, to me, did not have what they call judicial temperament. 394 00:21:47,182 --> 00:21:48,767 He would get pissed off. 395 00:21:48,892 --> 00:21:51,895 Yochelson: Daniel and Arturo Hernandez made statements 396 00:21:52,020 --> 00:21:54,105 that the prosecution considered 397 00:21:54,230 --> 00:21:56,066 were unsupported by the evidence -- 398 00:21:56,149 --> 00:21:58,902 flat out lying or going for publicity. 399 00:21:58,985 --> 00:22:01,154 Phil Halpin, who was lead counsel, 400 00:22:01,237 --> 00:22:03,573 lead prosecutor -- very knowledgeable, 401 00:22:03,656 --> 00:22:07,911 knows how to handle a case, but there was really contention 402 00:22:07,994 --> 00:22:11,915 between the Hernandezes and Phil. 403 00:22:11,998 --> 00:22:14,042 And I think a lot of that was just natural, 404 00:22:14,125 --> 00:22:18,546 given the nature of the case and the stakes that were involved. 405 00:22:18,630 --> 00:22:21,883 And in the middle of all of this chaos was Richard Ramirez. 406 00:22:21,966 --> 00:22:24,552 Reporter: Richard Ramirez came into court for the final day 407 00:22:24,636 --> 00:22:27,263 of his pre-trial hearing flashing the same grin 408 00:22:27,389 --> 00:22:28,765 he displayed during testimony 409 00:22:28,890 --> 00:22:32,185 about the grisly details of the Night Stalker killings. 410 00:22:32,268 --> 00:22:34,354 He kept smiling as Judge James Nelson 411 00:22:34,437 --> 00:22:36,231 ruled there is sufficient evidence 412 00:22:36,314 --> 00:22:39,317 to bind the 26-year-old drifter over for trial 413 00:22:39,442 --> 00:22:40,735 on 14 counts of murder 414 00:22:40,819 --> 00:22:43,863 plus 36 other counts of attempted murder, 415 00:22:43,947 --> 00:22:46,741 rape, robbery, and burglary. 416 00:22:46,825 --> 00:22:49,327 Yochelson: He was arraigned and immediately 417 00:22:49,452 --> 00:22:51,121 took on the persona of the Night Stalker 418 00:22:51,204 --> 00:22:55,542 as he left court, and the circus began. 419 00:22:55,625 --> 00:22:57,502 Reporter: Ramirez revealed a pentagram, 420 00:22:57,627 --> 00:23:00,296 a symbol of devil worship, on his left palm 421 00:23:00,380 --> 00:23:01,631 and later shouted out 422 00:23:01,715 --> 00:23:04,426 what most observers agreed was "Hail Satan." 423 00:23:04,509 --> 00:23:06,761 Hail Satan. 424 00:23:06,845 --> 00:23:09,055 Aguilar-Hernandez: The first time that I spoke to 425 00:23:09,139 --> 00:23:12,142 Richard Ramirez on the phone, 426 00:23:12,267 --> 00:23:16,771 it was -- it was very scary, very scary, 427 00:23:16,855 --> 00:23:20,984 because I knew what he had represented on his hand 428 00:23:21,067 --> 00:23:24,237 and all the Satan hype that had happened 429 00:23:24,320 --> 00:23:27,615 after he had done that in open court. 430 00:23:27,699 --> 00:23:29,617 Yochelson: I truly believe that 431 00:23:29,701 --> 00:23:32,162 all of this was simply him acting out 432 00:23:32,287 --> 00:23:36,374 and wanting to play the role of the celebrity serial killer -- 433 00:23:36,499 --> 00:23:39,377 that he's the Night Stalker, he should be feared. 434 00:23:39,502 --> 00:23:47,677 {\an8}♪♪ 435 00:23:49,554 --> 00:23:55,560 {\an8}♪♪ 436 00:23:55,685 --> 00:23:58,021 Welcome back to "Very Scary People." 437 00:23:58,104 --> 00:24:02,609 On August 30, 1988, almost three years after his arrest, 438 00:24:02,692 --> 00:24:06,279 the Night Stalker finally stands trial in Los Angeles. 439 00:24:06,363 --> 00:24:09,491 But the man who terrified the nation for more than a year 440 00:24:09,574 --> 00:24:10,909 isn't finished yet. 441 00:24:11,034 --> 00:24:13,536 Instead, he begins a bizarre new chapter 442 00:24:13,620 --> 00:24:15,038 that has some wondering 443 00:24:15,163 --> 00:24:18,708 if the Night Stalker could escape justice after all. 444 00:24:20,293 --> 00:24:22,087 Linedecker: It was one of the biggest trials 445 00:24:22,212 --> 00:24:24,214 in the history of L.A. 446 00:24:24,339 --> 00:24:25,632 {\an8}The courtroom was packed, 447 00:24:25,715 --> 00:24:28,009 {\an8}and you had to get there hours ahead of time 448 00:24:28,093 --> 00:24:32,055 {\an8}to even have a chance to get inside the courtroom. 449 00:24:32,180 --> 00:24:36,351 Richard really loved the attention. 450 00:24:36,434 --> 00:24:39,646 Jordan: Ramirez, who had spent months in the shadows, 451 00:24:39,729 --> 00:24:44,067 {\an8}now seemed to relish his time in the spotlight. 452 00:24:44,150 --> 00:24:46,236 Hernandez: We got him some Armani suits 453 00:24:46,361 --> 00:24:49,239 donated from Goodwill. 454 00:24:49,322 --> 00:24:57,539 {\an8}He changed from a really ugly, evil-looking guy to a rock star. 455 00:24:57,622 --> 00:25:00,917 And shades, the teeth -- 456 00:25:01,001 --> 00:25:03,461 you know, yeah, we got his teeth fixed, 457 00:25:03,586 --> 00:25:06,923 so he became a very well-looking guy. 458 00:25:07,007 --> 00:25:09,884 {\an8}His transition was just another part 459 00:25:09,968 --> 00:25:14,264 {\an8}of the kind of circus atmosphere that the case was taking on. 460 00:25:14,389 --> 00:25:16,683 It's almost what you expected 461 00:25:16,766 --> 00:25:20,979 because he just seemed to be enjoying his role 462 00:25:21,104 --> 00:25:25,233 as the defendant, the star of this case. 463 00:25:25,316 --> 00:25:28,445 {\an8}The gratification he was getting, he was being fed, 464 00:25:28,570 --> 00:25:31,948 {\an8}so he said, "Wow," you know, "I'm getting all this fame now." 465 00:25:32,073 --> 00:25:35,410 And, unfortunately, he got all his glory. 466 00:25:35,493 --> 00:25:38,830 Aguilar-Hernandez: He had a very powerful energy, 467 00:25:38,955 --> 00:25:41,374 but it wasn't a good energy. 468 00:25:41,458 --> 00:25:42,959 {\an8}It was something other than good. 469 00:25:43,084 --> 00:25:48,965 {\an8}It was just difficult to explain what you felt. 470 00:25:51,259 --> 00:25:55,930 {\an8}Man: Case number A771272, Richard Ramirez. 471 00:25:56,014 --> 00:25:58,767 {\an8}Ramirez's father took the stand and tried to alibi him. 472 00:25:58,850 --> 00:26:00,935 {\an8}Hancock: Julian Ramirez had testified 473 00:26:01,019 --> 00:26:04,147 {\an8}that Richard was at a family gathering in El Paso 474 00:26:04,230 --> 00:26:07,650 at the same time that were several attacks in Los Angeles. 475 00:26:07,734 --> 00:26:10,111 Which would eliminate him as a suspect 476 00:26:10,195 --> 00:26:12,614 because if Ramirez didn't commit these, 477 00:26:12,697 --> 00:26:14,407 he didn't commit the others either. 478 00:26:14,491 --> 00:26:17,452 The prosecution brought me in as a rebuttal witness 479 00:26:17,535 --> 00:26:19,120 to the father's testimony. 480 00:26:19,204 --> 00:26:22,374 I interviewed Julian Ramirez in 1985. 481 00:26:22,499 --> 00:26:23,708 He said to me, 482 00:26:23,833 --> 00:26:27,295 "I have not seen him for two or three years." 483 00:26:27,379 --> 00:26:29,714 Yochelson: Ramirez periodically acted up between trial -- 484 00:26:29,839 --> 00:26:31,257 or acted out. 485 00:26:33,468 --> 00:26:34,844 Parasites. 486 00:26:34,969 --> 00:26:37,847 Yochelson: He came to court wearing sunglasses. 487 00:26:37,931 --> 00:26:40,934 Judge Tynan ordered him to take off the sunglasses, 488 00:26:41,017 --> 00:26:45,021 and he said, "No," in a very loud voice. 489 00:26:45,146 --> 00:26:47,107 Security in the courtroom was increased 490 00:26:47,190 --> 00:26:48,525 after Ramirez threatened 491 00:26:48,608 --> 00:26:50,902 to have an unidentified friend smuggle a gun in to him 492 00:26:51,027 --> 00:26:53,863 so that he could kill the prosecution team. 493 00:26:53,947 --> 00:26:55,532 They had to erect metal detectors, 494 00:26:55,615 --> 00:26:57,534 blocking the entrance to the courtroom, 495 00:26:57,659 --> 00:27:01,705 and then Ramirez was brought in heavily guarded and shackled. 496 00:27:01,830 --> 00:27:03,665 There were rumors about everything -- 497 00:27:03,748 --> 00:27:08,670 he was gonna bring in a gun -- so we were frisked all the time. 498 00:27:08,753 --> 00:27:11,047 Came with the territory, I guess. 499 00:27:11,131 --> 00:27:13,383 There was something that happened in the lock-up 500 00:27:13,508 --> 00:27:16,219 where the bailiffs took him to the ground. 501 00:27:16,344 --> 00:27:18,888 Two officers that were martial arts, 502 00:27:19,014 --> 00:27:22,225 ex-Navy SEALs -- they were watching him. 503 00:27:22,308 --> 00:27:23,935 They said that he went like this, 504 00:27:24,060 --> 00:27:27,105 "I'm gonna cut your head off," threatening the witness. 505 00:27:27,230 --> 00:27:32,193 That causes a whole, you know, bar-fight-like scenario. 506 00:27:32,277 --> 00:27:36,197 They grabbed him, they drag him, and beat the crap out of him. 507 00:27:36,281 --> 00:27:39,034 Jordan: With so much drama happening in the courtroom, 508 00:27:39,117 --> 00:27:44,205 the judge decided that the two Hernandez attorneys needed help. 509 00:27:44,289 --> 00:27:46,583 Yochelson: Judge Tynan appointed a third lawyer. 510 00:27:46,666 --> 00:27:48,752 He made a great selection in Ray Clark, 511 00:27:48,877 --> 00:27:51,338 who came on and took over a lot of the case. 512 00:27:51,421 --> 00:27:53,757 Hernandez: A wonderful, wonderful guy. 513 00:27:53,840 --> 00:27:55,383 He helped out a lot. 514 00:27:55,467 --> 00:27:58,845 But Ray Clark also had a controversial strategy. 515 00:27:58,928 --> 00:28:01,765 Reporter: Any speculation on how Mr. Ramirez 516 00:28:01,890 --> 00:28:03,600 might stand right now at this point? 517 00:28:03,725 --> 00:28:05,393 Hopefully not guilty. 518 00:28:05,477 --> 00:28:06,603 I think somebody else did it. 519 00:28:06,728 --> 00:28:07,979 He is innocent in your mind? 520 00:28:08,104 --> 00:28:09,522 He is not guilty in my mind, 521 00:28:09,606 --> 00:28:12,400 and I would like for the press to make the distinction. 522 00:28:12,484 --> 00:28:15,737 The argument at trial was that somebody else 523 00:28:15,820 --> 00:28:17,906 did all these crimes. 524 00:28:17,989 --> 00:28:20,075 Linedecker: Some other dude did it. 525 00:28:20,158 --> 00:28:23,495 I don't think there was another dude like Richard Ramirez. 526 00:28:23,620 --> 00:28:26,956 Jordan: And that wasn't even the oddest thing about the trial. 527 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:33,213 The entire back row was filled with goth girls. 528 00:28:33,296 --> 00:28:39,969 {\an8}♪♪ 529 00:28:43,431 --> 00:28:45,141 Reporter: Why were you in the courtroom today? 530 00:28:45,266 --> 00:28:46,518 I just wanted to see what he looked like. 531 00:28:46,643 --> 00:28:48,103 I think he's cute. 532 00:28:48,186 --> 00:28:49,646 Yochelson: He loved the attention. 533 00:28:49,729 --> 00:28:52,273 At this point, the women started showing up, 534 00:28:52,357 --> 00:28:54,859 {\an8}the so-called groupies, who would come to court 535 00:28:54,984 --> 00:29:00,490 {\an8}and want to see Ramirez and who were rooting for him. 536 00:29:00,573 --> 00:29:01,991 Hancock: The first thing I remember 537 00:29:02,075 --> 00:29:03,743 is that I walked into the courtroom, 538 00:29:03,827 --> 00:29:08,039 {\an8}the entire back row was filled with goth girls 539 00:29:08,164 --> 00:29:10,166 {\an8}in black leather dresses 540 00:29:10,291 --> 00:29:14,170 {\an8}and dark black hair and silver and chains. 541 00:29:14,295 --> 00:29:16,881 {\an8}All kinds of people -- really crazy, you know, 542 00:29:17,007 --> 00:29:20,885 {\an8}street folks and some other professional ones. 543 00:29:21,011 --> 00:29:22,512 {\an8}There was a lot of weird stuff -- 544 00:29:22,637 --> 00:29:24,806 {\an8}you know, "Send me your semen. I want to have your baby." 545 00:29:24,889 --> 00:29:28,226 {\an8}You know, I mean, people -- people are really crazy. 546 00:29:28,351 --> 00:29:30,103 {\an8}The thing that really astonished me in this 547 00:29:30,186 --> 00:29:33,356 {\an8}was the attraction of what you'd describe 548 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:37,861 as otherwise intelligent and capable women 549 00:29:37,944 --> 00:29:43,283 attracted to somebody who is accused of crimes 550 00:29:43,366 --> 00:29:46,369 of this horrific magnitude. 551 00:29:46,453 --> 00:29:48,163 Woman: Everyone makes him look so bad, you know, 552 00:29:48,246 --> 00:29:50,373 but I know that he's -- 553 00:29:50,498 --> 00:29:53,543 he's a nice person 'cause I've met him and I know. 554 00:29:53,626 --> 00:29:58,131 {\an8}It's an extreme, exaggerated form 555 00:29:58,214 --> 00:30:04,304 {\an8}of the tendency of many women to be attracted to bad boys, 556 00:30:04,387 --> 00:30:08,058 and there's some kind of "Beauty and the Beast" fantasy 557 00:30:08,183 --> 00:30:09,559 going on. 558 00:30:09,684 --> 00:30:15,023 You know, "My love will transform this creature 559 00:30:15,106 --> 00:30:17,650 into a warm, loving being." 560 00:30:19,527 --> 00:30:22,280 Hernandez: Doreen Lioy was one of Richard's 561 00:30:22,405 --> 00:30:26,451 very persistent followers -- groupies. 562 00:30:26,576 --> 00:30:31,664 She was a, you know, very eloquent, very sharp lady. 563 00:30:31,748 --> 00:30:34,876 One of the things that she did was claiming 564 00:30:34,959 --> 00:30:36,586 that she wanted to die with him 565 00:30:36,711 --> 00:30:39,214 and she would go and kill herself, 566 00:30:39,297 --> 00:30:42,717 you know, if he was ever put to death. 567 00:30:42,801 --> 00:30:45,303 But she really liked to, you know, write to Richard, 568 00:30:45,428 --> 00:30:48,598 and she apparently wrote very good letters. 569 00:30:48,682 --> 00:30:51,851 You know, this is Los Angeles, and even then, 570 00:30:51,935 --> 00:30:54,229 even as a young attorney, 571 00:30:54,312 --> 00:30:56,648 it just seemed to be par for the course. 572 00:30:56,773 --> 00:31:00,026 It's show biz, and it was a distraction 573 00:31:00,110 --> 00:31:01,820 because it was annoying. 574 00:31:03,697 --> 00:31:08,410 At that time, it was like the -- the case of the century. 575 00:31:08,493 --> 00:31:10,120 Yochelson: There was a lot of press coverage. 576 00:31:10,245 --> 00:31:12,997 Mostly print reporters were there. 577 00:31:13,123 --> 00:31:15,667 There were still photographers in the courtroom. 578 00:31:15,792 --> 00:31:17,961 Television filmed the closing argument. 579 00:31:34,644 --> 00:31:36,646 {\an8}Many of the jurors had tears in their eyes 580 00:31:36,771 --> 00:31:39,441 {\an8}as they listened to the horror. 581 00:31:46,531 --> 00:31:47,949 {\an8}Yochelson: There was direct evidence. 582 00:31:48,033 --> 00:31:51,327 Surviving victims were able to identify Ramirez 583 00:31:51,453 --> 00:31:52,954 and describe what he did. 584 00:31:53,038 --> 00:31:56,041 You connect his fingerprints to a couple of the scenes. 585 00:31:56,166 --> 00:31:57,917 It's either Ramirez doing this 586 00:31:58,001 --> 00:32:01,171 or that somebody else was wearing his fingerprints. 587 00:32:01,254 --> 00:32:02,839 The guns were linked to Ramirez 588 00:32:02,964 --> 00:32:04,674 that were used at the crime scenes, 589 00:32:04,799 --> 00:32:07,927 so that's another piece of the circumstantial evidence. 590 00:32:08,011 --> 00:32:11,514 {\an8}And all the stolen property traced back to him, as well. 591 00:32:11,639 --> 00:32:13,892 Yochelson: Richard Ramirez stole a lot of jewelry, 592 00:32:14,017 --> 00:32:16,895 and a lot of this jewelry was recovered 593 00:32:17,020 --> 00:32:18,355 that was in turn identified 594 00:32:18,480 --> 00:32:22,108 by either the victims or the victims' survivors. 595 00:32:22,192 --> 00:32:23,360 Jordan: Despite all the evidence, 596 00:32:23,443 --> 00:32:25,570 the defense team continued to argue 597 00:32:25,695 --> 00:32:28,531 that Richard Ramirez was just the wrong guy, 598 00:32:28,656 --> 00:32:31,076 and in one case, they actually tried to implicate 599 00:32:31,201 --> 00:32:32,660 the victim's family. 600 00:32:32,744 --> 00:32:34,579 Reporter: Jack Vincow discovered the body 601 00:32:34,704 --> 00:32:37,082 of his 79-year-old mother stabbed to death 602 00:32:37,207 --> 00:32:38,750 in her Los Angeles apartment, 603 00:32:38,875 --> 00:32:42,003 but Vincow later admitted under defense cross-examination 604 00:32:42,087 --> 00:32:44,506 that his mother had often engaged in loud disputes 605 00:32:44,589 --> 00:32:47,175 with Vincow's mentally disturbed brother Manny. 606 00:32:47,258 --> 00:32:49,344 Jenkins: So the defense was shooting from the hip 607 00:32:49,427 --> 00:32:53,973 trying to create any kind of diversion from Ramirez's guilt. 608 00:32:54,057 --> 00:32:57,560 We were not here to provide total exoneration. 609 00:32:57,686 --> 00:33:01,398 We're trying to throw in some kind of a reasonable doubt, 610 00:33:01,481 --> 00:33:04,693 you know, and that was our duty. 611 00:33:04,776 --> 00:33:06,194 Reporter: But as Vincow described 612 00:33:06,277 --> 00:33:07,696 how he found his mother's body, 613 00:33:07,779 --> 00:33:12,033 Ramirez leaned forward and smiled. 614 00:33:12,117 --> 00:33:15,078 Hancock: He had a little smirk on his face. 615 00:33:15,203 --> 00:33:18,373 He was just radiating evil. 616 00:33:18,456 --> 00:33:21,960 Just -- just pure malevolence. 617 00:33:22,085 --> 00:33:25,505 I could feel waves of hatred coming out of him 618 00:33:25,588 --> 00:33:28,258 and just pure malice. 619 00:33:28,341 --> 00:33:29,718 And I looked at him, and I thought, 620 00:33:29,801 --> 00:33:32,595 "I better not look at him anymore." 621 00:33:32,721 --> 00:33:34,931 Dietz: When he got the nickname "Night Stalker," 622 00:33:35,056 --> 00:33:37,392 {\an8}why not play it out a little more 623 00:33:37,475 --> 00:33:38,601 {\an8}and get some more power 624 00:33:38,685 --> 00:33:40,895 {\an8}by scaring people in the courtroom, 625 00:33:40,979 --> 00:33:45,025 creating images that would be remembered 626 00:33:45,108 --> 00:33:49,112 decades later of his antics in the courtroom? 627 00:33:49,195 --> 00:33:50,947 So he succeeded. 628 00:33:51,031 --> 00:33:52,699 Yochelson: This was a long trial. 629 00:33:52,782 --> 00:33:55,493 We had approximately 165 witnesses, 630 00:33:55,618 --> 00:33:59,080 some 8,000 pages of transcript or testimony 631 00:33:59,164 --> 00:34:02,959 that the jurors had to go through to reach their verdict. 632 00:34:03,043 --> 00:34:06,004 And then a bizarre twist made the public wonder 633 00:34:06,129 --> 00:34:09,758 if Richard Ramirez was still killing from behind bars. 634 00:34:12,969 --> 00:34:15,138 One day, one of the jurors didn't show up. 635 00:34:15,263 --> 00:34:19,017 But big deal. Death always went with the territory. 636 00:34:19,142 --> 00:34:20,727 I'll see you in Disneyland. 637 00:34:20,810 --> 00:34:26,816 {\an8}♪♪ 638 00:34:31,279 --> 00:34:33,782 Reporter: Dark sunglasses and shackles -- 639 00:34:33,865 --> 00:34:35,909 that was Richard Ramirez's daily attire 640 00:34:35,992 --> 00:34:38,453 throughout the almost year-long Night Stalker trial. 641 00:34:38,536 --> 00:34:41,164 And from the very beginning, prosecutor Philip Halpin 642 00:34:41,247 --> 00:34:44,167 left no doubt about his intentions for Ramirez. 643 00:34:47,212 --> 00:34:51,174 {\an8}Ray Clark's argument was, we got to have sympathy 644 00:34:51,299 --> 00:34:53,843 {\an8}even for the worst of all people. 645 00:34:53,927 --> 00:34:56,179 {\an8}But you're not gonna get sympathy for a guy 646 00:34:56,304 --> 00:34:59,474 {\an8}that had done all these horrible things. 647 00:34:59,557 --> 00:35:02,352 {\an8}Some people would hang you for spitting on a sidewalk. 648 00:35:02,435 --> 00:35:06,398 {\an8}I wouldn't hang you for atrocities such as Hitler did. 649 00:35:06,523 --> 00:35:08,024 Hernandez: I would've argued differently. 650 00:35:08,108 --> 00:35:09,526 We're talking about a death penalty. 651 00:35:09,651 --> 00:35:11,069 We're gonna take somebody's life. 652 00:35:11,194 --> 00:35:13,571 The state is gonna execute somebody. 653 00:35:13,697 --> 00:35:18,159 {\an8}The prosecution's argument was a very methodical argument. 654 00:35:18,243 --> 00:35:21,329 It was simply going through all the crimes, 655 00:35:21,413 --> 00:35:24,582 listing all of this evidence that linked Ramirez. 656 00:35:24,708 --> 00:35:27,127 Jordan: It was a long and tumultuous trial. 657 00:35:27,210 --> 00:35:30,630 {\an8}In the end, there were 165 witnesses 658 00:35:30,714 --> 00:35:33,883 {\an8}and 658 pieces of evidence presented 659 00:35:34,009 --> 00:35:35,927 before the defense and the prosecution 660 00:35:36,052 --> 00:35:38,304 gave their final closing arguments. 661 00:35:41,599 --> 00:35:44,728 As the jury was deliberating this mountain of evidence 662 00:35:44,811 --> 00:35:46,396 that they had to consider, 663 00:35:46,521 --> 00:35:50,608 one day, one of the jurors didn't show up. 664 00:35:50,734 --> 00:35:53,111 Then she was found dead. 665 00:35:53,236 --> 00:35:55,572 There was a lot of speculation in the media that -- 666 00:35:55,697 --> 00:35:57,991 that the murder of this juror 667 00:35:58,074 --> 00:36:00,160 was really somehow related to the case, 668 00:36:00,243 --> 00:36:01,661 that it was a conspiracy -- 669 00:36:01,745 --> 00:36:05,165 maybe, perhaps Ramirez had followers who had done this, 670 00:36:05,248 --> 00:36:08,460 that Ramirez had somehow orchestrated this. 671 00:36:08,585 --> 00:36:11,880 Well, the rumors included me as a co-conspirator. 672 00:36:11,963 --> 00:36:15,925 I was the prime suspect. 673 00:36:16,051 --> 00:36:17,260 Yochelson: None of this was true. 674 00:36:17,385 --> 00:36:19,763 It was an act of domestic violence 675 00:36:19,846 --> 00:36:21,765 on the part of the juror's husband. 676 00:36:21,890 --> 00:36:23,350 But this was all out there, 677 00:36:23,433 --> 00:36:25,769 and the defense argued that there should be a mistrial 678 00:36:25,894 --> 00:36:28,938 because they were afraid that the jurors would speculate 679 00:36:29,022 --> 00:36:32,192 that it was somehow connected to the case. 680 00:36:32,275 --> 00:36:34,027 {\an8}You know, I thought, "Oh, boy. 681 00:36:34,110 --> 00:36:35,487 {\an8}If they're gonna need to declare a mistrial, 682 00:36:35,612 --> 00:36:37,447 {\an8}that's gonna be God awful." 683 00:36:37,572 --> 00:36:40,450 An alternate juror was substituted in, 684 00:36:40,575 --> 00:36:41,910 and under California law, 685 00:36:41,993 --> 00:36:46,414 the jury had to begin their deliberations all over again. 686 00:36:46,498 --> 00:36:48,041 Jordan: After such a chaotic trial, 687 00:36:48,124 --> 00:36:51,044 the jury had to deal with this awful distraction 688 00:36:51,127 --> 00:36:53,296 and the murder of one of their own. 689 00:36:53,380 --> 00:36:55,757 But in the end, they did their job. 690 00:36:55,840 --> 00:37:02,639 {\an8}♪♪ 691 00:37:02,722 --> 00:37:04,599 Reporter: Richard Ramirez wasn't in the courtroom 692 00:37:04,683 --> 00:37:06,059 to hear the verdict against him. 693 00:37:06,142 --> 00:37:07,977 He opted to stay in his cell 694 00:37:08,103 --> 00:37:10,855 for what was a loud and clear decision. 695 00:37:10,980 --> 00:37:12,315 "We, the jury in the above entitled action, 696 00:37:12,399 --> 00:37:13,983 find the defendant, Richard Ramirez, 697 00:37:14,109 --> 00:37:16,236 guilty of murder." 698 00:37:16,319 --> 00:37:17,654 Yochelson: They came back with verdicts 699 00:37:17,737 --> 00:37:21,157 convicting Ramirez of 13 counts of murder, 700 00:37:21,282 --> 00:37:23,201 murder in the first degree, 701 00:37:23,326 --> 00:37:25,370 with various what are called special circumstances 702 00:37:25,495 --> 00:37:27,205 making him eligible for the death penalty, 703 00:37:27,330 --> 00:37:29,374 and then 30 other felonies. 704 00:37:29,499 --> 00:37:32,627 He was yelling from the holding cell, "I'm guilty. 705 00:37:32,711 --> 00:37:36,047 I want the death penalty. I want to die now." 706 00:37:36,172 --> 00:37:38,091 Reporter: When Richard Ramirez was found guilty, 707 00:37:38,174 --> 00:37:41,219 he left the courthouse flashing the sign of Satan. 708 00:37:41,344 --> 00:37:42,762 Evil. 709 00:37:42,846 --> 00:37:45,974 Reporter: When he returned to find out if he would live or die, 710 00:37:46,057 --> 00:37:47,684 he flashed an obscenity. 711 00:37:47,809 --> 00:37:53,523 {\an8}♪♪ 712 00:37:53,606 --> 00:37:56,151 The final courtroom chapter of a serial killer 713 00:37:56,234 --> 00:37:58,528 was played out for Richard Ramirez. 714 00:37:58,611 --> 00:38:00,530 The 29-year-old devil-worshipping 715 00:38:00,655 --> 00:38:01,740 drifter from Texas 716 00:38:01,865 --> 00:38:04,325 had been found guilty of the heinous crimes. 717 00:38:04,409 --> 00:38:07,537 This courtroom date was to pronounce final sentencing. 718 00:38:07,620 --> 00:38:09,122 I don't think anyone was surprised 719 00:38:09,205 --> 00:38:11,124 when the sentence was read. 720 00:38:11,207 --> 00:38:12,584 "We, the jury in the above entitled action, 721 00:38:12,709 --> 00:38:14,294 found it to be an intentional murder, 722 00:38:14,377 --> 00:38:17,547 fix the penalty therefore at death." 723 00:38:17,630 --> 00:38:19,466 Reporter: And Ramirez finally spoke, 724 00:38:19,549 --> 00:38:22,969 evoking the spirit of Satan after a year-long trial. 725 00:38:38,485 --> 00:38:41,738 When he was leaving the courtroom for the last time, 726 00:38:41,863 --> 00:38:43,323 he made some statements. 727 00:38:43,406 --> 00:38:45,909 Reporter: He made it very clear he is not afraid to die. 728 00:38:46,034 --> 00:38:49,788 But big deal. Death always went with the territory. 729 00:38:49,913 --> 00:38:52,082 I'll see you in Disneyland. 730 00:38:52,207 --> 00:38:53,541 Jordan: As the trial ended, 731 00:38:53,625 --> 00:38:55,710 his time in the spotlight was over, 732 00:38:55,794 --> 00:38:59,381 but still there was one person who would stick by his side. 733 00:39:02,300 --> 00:39:03,551 Man: Here she comes. 734 00:39:03,635 --> 00:39:06,429 Man and walking in the door. 735 00:39:06,513 --> 00:39:08,723 Martin: Doreen Lioy was the winner 736 00:39:08,807 --> 00:39:11,267 {\an8}in the serious suitors that he had attracted 737 00:39:11,393 --> 00:39:14,646 {\an8}during the course of the trial. 738 00:39:14,771 --> 00:39:17,649 I just wanted to say I'm ecstatically happy today 739 00:39:17,774 --> 00:39:20,860 and very, very proud to have married Richard 740 00:39:20,944 --> 00:39:22,696 and to be his wife. 741 00:39:22,779 --> 00:39:26,741 And I hope that you will be very respectful of the day 742 00:39:26,825 --> 00:39:30,578 and let me go and enjoy my day in peace, 743 00:39:30,662 --> 00:39:32,622 and I appreciate your patience. Thank you. 744 00:39:32,706 --> 00:39:34,499 Reporter: Couldn't you respond to some of the allegations 745 00:39:34,624 --> 00:39:35,709 that you're a recluse, 746 00:39:35,792 --> 00:39:37,460 that you live in a fantasy world, things like that? 747 00:39:37,544 --> 00:39:40,839 - No. - Don't you want to speak to us? 748 00:39:40,964 --> 00:39:43,425 Can you just say why, Doreen? 749 00:39:45,593 --> 00:39:48,972 In 2009, the San Francisco police department 750 00:39:49,097 --> 00:39:54,644 was able to link an unsolved homicide of a small child. 751 00:39:54,728 --> 00:39:57,939 Once he had his DNA in the system, 752 00:39:58,023 --> 00:40:00,567 they started finding out, for example, the little girl, 753 00:40:00,650 --> 00:40:03,778 9-year-old that was killed in San Francisco. 754 00:40:03,862 --> 00:40:07,699 {\an8}She was killed and sexually assaulted, 755 00:40:07,824 --> 00:40:09,659 which was a terrible case. 756 00:40:12,162 --> 00:40:14,330 Jordan: Doreen Lioy divorced Ramirez, 757 00:40:14,456 --> 00:40:16,624 citing this information as the reason 758 00:40:16,708 --> 00:40:20,420 she wanted to distance herself from the Night Stalker. 759 00:40:23,923 --> 00:40:26,384 Kristof: He never showed any sign of remorse 760 00:40:26,509 --> 00:40:28,553 all through the trials. 761 00:40:28,678 --> 00:40:31,723 {\an8}He never showed any sign of remorse whatsoever. 762 00:40:31,848 --> 00:40:33,808 {\an8}He was just a monster. 763 00:40:33,892 --> 00:40:38,021 I don't think we've seen the likes of him before or since, 764 00:40:38,146 --> 00:40:40,106 and thank God for that. 765 00:40:41,775 --> 00:40:48,406 {\an8}Since the mid-1980s, I've asked the correctional officers 766 00:40:48,531 --> 00:40:52,369 to unchain the inmate that I was going to interview 767 00:40:52,494 --> 00:40:54,829 so that he'd be comfortable. 768 00:40:54,913 --> 00:40:59,959 Richard Ramirez is the only inmate I've interviewed 769 00:41:00,043 --> 00:41:05,298 for whom I did not request he be freed and unchained. 770 00:41:08,051 --> 00:41:10,970 Carns: It has put a huge detour into my life. 771 00:41:11,054 --> 00:41:14,557 I wasn't the same person I was prior to the injury. 772 00:41:14,683 --> 00:41:20,897 Now it's time to pick up the pieces and keep going on. 773 00:41:21,022 --> 00:41:23,733 {\an8}He would've never stopped. 774 00:41:23,817 --> 00:41:25,527 {\an8}He would've never stopped. 775 00:41:31,449 --> 00:41:34,369 {\an8}Richard Ramirez continued to attract female admirers 776 00:41:34,452 --> 00:41:37,706 {\an8}from behind the walls of San Quentin up until his end. 777 00:41:37,789 --> 00:41:40,291 {\an8}After almost 24 years on death row, 778 00:41:40,417 --> 00:41:45,672 {\an8}Ramirez died on June 7, 2013, at the age of 53 -- 779 00:41:45,755 --> 00:41:47,007 {\an8}not by execution 780 00:41:47,090 --> 00:41:50,343 {\an8}but from complications related to B-cell lymphoma. 781 00:41:50,427 --> 00:41:53,221 {\an8}Meanwhile, victims' families and survivors 782 00:41:53,304 --> 00:41:55,015 {\an8}of the Night Stalker's vicious attacks 783 00:41:55,098 --> 00:41:58,935 {\an8}did what they could to move forward with their lives. 784 00:41:59,019 --> 00:42:00,228 {\an8}I'm Donnie Wahlberg. 785 00:42:00,311 --> 00:42:01,688 {\an8}Thanks for watching. 786 00:42:01,771 --> 00:42:03,273 {\an8}Good night.