Richard Ramirez – dubbed the Night Stalker – bode his time on death row over in the US after heartlessly raping and killing a string of victims in the 80s.
The investigation into the crimes of the serial killer is now part
The twisted killer attacked victims in their own homes in California, somehow managing to get away with his crimes for two years, before his disgusting teeth managed to get him caught.
Ramirez’ vile chompers were a defining feature police looked out for whilst hunting the identity of the killer, which ended up playing a huge part in his capture.
(Image: Bettmann Archive)
The Texas-born criminal even somehow managed to nab himself a new set of teeth whilst behind bars.
But how exactly was he caught? We reveal all you need to know…
How did Richard Ramirez’s teeth lead to him getting caught?
Police had focused on their biggest clues about the Night Stalker, which were his feet and his teeth.
UPI Archives show that the lead detective of the LA County Sheriff’s department stated this is where they “focused our energy”.
Detective Frank Salerno said: “Our biggest clues were his teeth and feet, and that’s where we focused our energy.”
Ray Garcia, a former schoolmate of Ramirez, also added he remember the killer eating “mostly junk food” and “never brushed his teeth.”
Ramirez’s lack of dental hygiene and his extensive drug use led to tooth decay and missing teeth.
The rank gnashers helped with his arrest after a 13-year-old boy called Joseph Romero III spotted him, with police later confirming that the man he saw was Ramirez.
The killer – who was referred to as a satanist as well as a cocaine addict by those close to him – was eventually caught in August 1985, two years after his killing spree began.
He was travelling from Arizona to California by a bus when a group of elderly women identified Ramirez as the Night Stalker.
Sicko Ramirez then carjacked a woman to try and escape, but was eventually captured by civilians who places him in a citizens arrest until the police arrived.
The sicko seemed to love the attention, flashing a “devil’s horn” sign at reporters (Image: Bettmann Archive)
What was Ramirez found guilty of?
Ramirez was was convicted on 13 counts of murder, five counts of attempted murder, 11 counts of sexual assault, and 14 counts of burglary.
He was convicted of all charges against on September 20, 1989.
The charges were in connection to his horrifying acts that took place in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Ramirez was convicted of charges in connection to his horrifying acts that took place in California
Ramirez died at the age of 53 at Marin General Hospital in Greenbrae, California, on June 7, 2013.
His death – which occurred after Ramirez was one death row for more than 23 years – was from complications secondary to B-cell lymphoma.
Who were Richard Ramirez’s victims?
Ramirez has at least 14 victims who were all completely random. There were men, women, elderly, young adults, and even children attacked by him.
The only consistency in his crimes was the methodology for hunting and killing his victims in the middle of the night as they were asleep, this earned him the nickname the Night Stalker.
His killing sprees started in 1984, but it’s thought he committed crimes prior to this too.
His first murder victim was nine-year-old Mei Leung, who he beat and raped before stabbing her to death, her body was later found hanging from a pipe in April 1984.
He smiled at the cameras whilst in court (Image: Bettmann Archive)
The killer’s attacks started happening rapidly from June 1984 and started with 79-year-old Jennie Vincow.
On June 28, 1984, Vincow stabbed repeatedly as she was sleeping in bed and she was found nearly decapitated.
Ramirez then fatally shot 34-year-old Dayle Yoshie Okazaki in the forehead on March 17, 1985.
Maria Hernandez, 22, was also shot, but recovered from her injuries.
What is the Night Stalker documentary series on Netflix?
Steaming platform Netflix are definitely bringing out the serial killer domentaries thick and fast and have recently released one about Ramirez’ crimes, only a matter of weeks after the popular The Ripper debuted in December, which detailed the Yorkshire Ripper’s crimes.
Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer debuted on January 13, 2021 and is a short documentary series.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
