Terror of the Night Stalker

Operating under the cover of darkness, Richard Ramirez unleashed a campaign of terror that spared

no age, gender, or background. His victims ranged from as young as

six to as old as eighty-four, encompassing men, women, and even entire

families. In several home invasions, he displayed a chilling pattern—killing

the male occupant first before subjecting the woman to sexual assault. The diversity of

his victims revealed no consistent profile or motive beyond opportunity and control; they varied

in ethnicity, including white, Asian, and Latino individuals, and came from a

wide spectrum of socioeconomic and educational backgrounds. Among them were factory workers,