Anyone who has listened to a true crime podcast (opens in new tab), watched an episode of Law & Order, or researched notorious criminals on Wikipedia knows that serial killers have a knack for leaving a "signature" on their crimes. They usually have a very specific M.O. and seem incapable of deviating from a pre-set pattern. Therefore, when someone tries to terrorize an entire state at random, with a MO that is unclear and difficult for investigators to grasp, the situation becomes a nightmare for both the police and the public.

Most of 1985 was in Los Angeles and San Francisco when the so-called Night Stalker, Richard Ramirez, embarked on a litany of crimes against victims of all ages with a variety of weapons and tactics, including murder, sexual assault, robbery, and carjacking. Fortunately for the Golden State, Ramirez was arrested in August 1985 as a result of an extensive investigation led by Detectives Frank Salerno and Gil Carrillo. Here is how Ramirez was eventually caught and what happened to the ruthless killer.

Throughout 1985, investigators spent months tracking the Night Stalker's horrific crimes throughout California, but were unable to identify him from witness sketches or shoe prints found at multiple crime scenes. At the end of August, however, a single fingerprint was found in the rearview mirror of the car he stole. That was enough to identify the night stalker as then 25-year-old Richard Ramirez. From there, the police were able to release mug shots of one of his previous arrests, allowing the public to assist in the investigation.

Indeed, within just a few days, on August 31, Ramirez was spotted at a Los Angeles liquor store and, according to reports at the time (open in new tab), had his picture on the front page of the newspaper. While fleeing the store, he was pursued by a group of bystanders; after an hour-long chase, they caught up with Ramirez and beat him until police arrived.

Ramirez's trial began in Los Angeles in late July 1988 and concluded more than a year later. Ramirez, a self-proclaimed Satanist, showed no signs of remorse throughout the proceedings, often going off the rails by shining a pentagram drawn on his palm and shouting "Hail Satan," cursing at the judge, and using reflective objects to shine light into the eyes of witnesses, the L.A. Times reported at the time (in new tab (Open in new tab). In addition, Ramirez reportedly threatened at the beginning of the trial (opens in new tab) to bring a gun into the courtroom and shoot prosecutors and bystanders, a threat that was believed to be related to the introduction of metal detectors outside the courtroom.

After a year's worth of witnesses testified and exhibits were presented, the jury reportedly deliberated for 22 days. Although the process was interrupted by the shocking murder of one of the jurors (who was eventually found to have nothing to do with Ramirez), the jury ultimately found Ramirez guilty of all 43 crimes with which he was charged, including 13 counts of murder.

In November 1989, Ramirez was sentenced to death. At sentencing, Ramirez vowed revenge (opens in new tab) and said, "You do not understand me. You do not expect me. You do not understand me. I am beyond your experience."

The judge then said, "I am beyond your experience.

After his sentencing, Ramirez was placed on death row at California's notorious San Quentin State Prison. During this time, he corresponded with several fans and eventually reportedly married magazine editor Doreen Rioi in 1996 (open in new tab).

Due to California's extensive appeals process, Ramirez ultimately died of natural causes rather than the death penalty while awaiting the outcome of several pending appeals. According to the coroner's report (open in new tab), he died in June 2013 at a nearby hospital at the age of 53 from complications of B-cell lymphoma. Ramirez was also found to have several other health conditions, including hepatitis C and chronic substance abuse resulting from pre-sentence drug use.