Was Richard Ramirez executed? The Night Stalker was on death row for 23 years

Netflix documentary Night Stalker explores the disturbing crimes of Richard Ramirez before he was sentenced to be executed.

The serial killer was found guilty of 13 murders, five attempted murders, 11 sexual assaults and 14 burglaries. But was Richard Ramirez actually executed? What happened after he was convicted?

Here, we delve into Ramirez's life behind bars...

was Richard Ramirez executed Richard Ramirez is one of California's most prolific serial killers (Credit: Netflix / Screenshot)

Was Richard Ramirez executed?

Ramirez was not executed despite being given the death penalty. He died from complications of B-Cell lymphoma in 2013 after spending 23 years on death row. The killer was 53-years-old.

He had also been affected by chronic Hepatitis C viral infections, and substance abuse.

Ramirez had been sentenced to die in California's gas chamber on November 7th, 1989, after being convicted of all charges against him. However, he never made it to the chamber, and went onto live out the rest of his 23 years on death row at San Quentin State Prison.

was richard ramirez executed Richard Ramirez died aged 53 on death row (Credit: Netflix / Screenshot)

How many people did Richard Ramirez kill?

Richard Ramirez murdered at least 13 people, who were killed between June 1984 and August 1985.

He was also convicted of the attempted murders of five more people. As well as several counts of sexual assault, and burgalaries. He attacked people of all ages, including men, women and children.

Ramirez' victims include

Jennie Vincow

The 79-year-old was murderd by Ramirez on June 27th 1984. He also burgled her home in Glassell Park, Los Angeles.

Dale Okazasi

Ramirez shot and killed 34-year-old Okazasi on March 17th, 1985. He also attacked her 20-year-0ld housemate, Maria Hernandez. She survived.

Tsai-Lian "Veronica" Yu

On the same day as Okazasi's murder, 30-year-old Yu was dragged from her car and murdered.

Vincent Zazzara and Mazine Zazzara

On March 27th, 1985, Ramirez broke into the home of 64-year-0ld Vincent Zazzara and his 44-year-old wife, Maxine. They were both killed.

William Doi

65-year-old Doi was fatally shot by Ramirez in his Monterey Park home on May 14th, 1985.

Mable "Ma" Bell

Ramirez attacked and killed the 84-year-old at her home in Monrovia, California, on June 29th, 1985.

Mary Louise Cannon

The 77-year-old was murdered at her home on July 2nd 1985.

Joyce Lucille Nelson

Ramirez beat the 61-year-old to death on July 7th, 1985. He also burgled her Monterey Park home.

Max Kneiding and Lela Kneiding

On July 20th, 1985, Ramirez killed 68-year-old Max Kneiding and his 66-year-old wife at their California home. He also burgled the house.

Chainarong Khovananth

Ramirez shot and killed 32-year-old Khovananth in his sleep on July 20th, 1985.

Elyas Abowath

Ramirez shot and murdered the 31-year-old on August 8th, 1985. The murder took place in Diamond Bar, California, during a burglary.

was richard ramirez executed? Richard Ramirez murdered at least 13 people (Credit: Netflix / Screenshot)

How was Richard Ramirez caught?

Ramirez was caught in August of 1985, following an extensive police investigation, led by Frank Salerno and Gil Carrillo.

For over a year, investigators had been gathering evidence against the Night Stalker. But eyewitness sketches and prints found from a pair of trainers were not enough to track him down.

Then, in the summer of 1985, Inez Erickson, who survived an attack by Ramirez gave a detailed description of him to the police. Following this, in late August, they were able to identify the then 25-year-old from a single fingerprint found on the rearview mirror of a car Ramirez had stolen.

This allowed police to release a mugshot of Ramirez - who was already in the system for several drug and traffic violations. This allowed the public to help with the search, and indeed, on August 31st, he was recognised in a liquor store in Los Angeles.

While fleeing the store, he was chased by a group of civilians, After a pursuit that lasted an hour, they caught and remanded him until police arrived.

Richard Ramirez was finally caught on August 31st 1985 (Credit: Netflix / Screenshot)

Was Richard Ramirez married?

The serial murderer married Doreen Lioy in 1996, while he was living on death row in California's San Quentin State Prison.

When she began her relationship with Ramirez, Lioy was a freelance teenange magazine editor. She hails from Burbank, California.

Per the San Francisco Chronicle, she sent the convicted murderer dozens of letters starting in 1985, after he was arrested and awaiting trial. As their relationship developed, she reported visited him in prison four times a week. At the time, she claimed to believe that Ramirez was wholly innocent.

In an interview with the Examiner, she said she loved Ramirez "more than anything in the world. Then, in 1997, Lioy told CNN that "I just believe in him completely". She added: "He's kind, he's funny, he's charming."

Ramirez proposed in 1988, and the pair tied the knot in 1996. But after 13 years of marriage, Lioy apparently cut ties with the killer. She did so after DNA evidence was found in 2009, which linked Ramirez to the murder and rape of a nine-year-old girl in 1984.

Did Richard Ramirez have kids?

Richard Ramirez did not have any children.

But after his split with Lioy, he reportedly entered into another relationship. This time, with 23-year-old writer, Christine Lee.

Lee claimed to be engaged to Ramirez on The Geraldo Riveria Show. However, it's unclear when and if this ever happened. She also refused to divulge any information about their alleged relationship.