Between June 1984 and August 1985, serial killer Richard Ramirez, better known as the Nightstalker, prayed on victims in Los Angeles, CA. He was arrested on August 31, 1985, after his identity and picture was revealed by the police and a group of citizens recognized him. They conducted a citizen’s arrest, restraining, and beating Ramirez until the police arrived.
Prior to August 1985, Ramirez had been arrested on a lesser charge and released. On December 12, 1984, at 2:00am, Sergeant Roberto Alaniz was on patrol in West L.A. He and his partner stopped and arrested Ramirez for driving a stolen vehicle. During intake, Alaniz took Ramirez’s mugshot and fingerprints. Days later, however, a judge released Ramirez from jail, citing racial profiling—even though Alaniz and his partner were of Hispanic descent like Ramirez. The judge allowed Ramirez to walk free on the promise that he would return for his preliminary trial, which he did not. This fatal decision allowed Ramirez to rape, torture, and murder for another eight months.
On August 24, 1985, Ramirez drove 76 miles in a stolen orange Toyota to Mission Viejo. In a failed attempt to attack and rob James Romero, Ramirez was exposed and forced to flee. Romero, however, was able to get the make, model, and color of the car. He also got a partial license plate. Additionally, the police were able to recover a footprint. Since his plan was thwarted, Ramirez broke into the home of Bill Carns and his fiancé, Inez Erickson. Ramirez shot Carns multiple times before turning his sights on Erickson. After brutalizing her, he left her alive, telling her to let people know the Nightstalker was here. Erickson provided a full description to the police.
On August 28, Ramirez abandoned the Toyota. Although he attempted to destroy his fingerprints, police obtained a single fingerprint from the rear-view mirror. The print was tied back to Ramirez’s initial arrest in 1984. According to some, Ramirez’s print was a “near miracle” as the system used to identify him had only been installed. The system only contained fingerprints of criminals born after January 1, 1960—one month after Ramirez was born.
To hear more about the Nightstalker from the arresting officer, listen here on Our American Stories with Lee Habeeb.
