If you think your Monday morning Zoom meetings are chaotic, try sitting through the trial of one of America’s most terrifying serial killers. Richard Ramirez—aka the Night Stalker—didn’t just terrorize California in the mid-80s; he turned his 1989 trial into a spectacle that would make even the most seasoned true crime junkie’s jaw hit the floor.
I’ve spent countless nights diving into court transcripts (while my husband Ryan sleeps peacefully beside me, blissfully unaware of the horror show playing in my head). What fascinates me most isn’t just what Ramirez did—it’s how he performed once caught.
The Devil Enters the Courtroom (Literally)
Ramirez showed up to his first court appearance and flashed a pentagram drawn on his palm while shouting “Hail Satan!” like he was at some twisted concert instead of facing multiple murder charges. As subtle as a bloodstain on white carpet.
This wasn’t just some one-off stunt. Throughout his trial, Ramirez leaned hard into his satanic persona, wearing sunglasses indoors (classic serial killer move) and making threatening gestures toward the prosecutor that would’ve gotten anyone else tackled by bailiffs faster than you can say “contempt of court.”
And guess what? He actually did get into a scuffle with bailiffs. Because apparently facing 13 murder charges, numerous sexual assault allegations, and multiple burglary counts wasn’t enough drama for one trial.
When Murder Visits the Jury Box
In a twist straight out of a crime novel (except horrifyingly real), one of the jurors was found murdered during the trial. I remember gasping so loud when I first read this that I spilled coffee all over my true crime notebook.
The murder briefly derailed proceedings while everyone collectively freaked out about whether the Night Stalker had somehow orchestrated a hit from behind bars. Investigators later determined Ramirez wasn’t responsible, but can you imagine being one of the remaining jurors? I would’ve been sleeping with one eye open and a baseball bat under my pillow.
The Testimony That Sealed His Fate
Surviving victims provided gut-wrenching testimony, identifying Ramirez as their attacker. These brave souls had to sit in the same room as the monster who’d violated their homes and bodies—and point directly at him. The historical archives of the Los Angeles Times contain detailed accounts of these testimonies that still give me chills.
Meanwhile, forensic experts connected Ramirez to crime scenes through ballistics, shoe prints, and other evidence. This was before advanced DNA techniques became standard (imagine what they could’ve done with today’s technology—similar to how modern retrieval systems enhance information processing).
The Price Tag of Justice
By the time the verdict came down on September 20, 1989—guilty on all 43 charges, including 13 counts of murder—the trial had become the most expensive in California history. Worth every penny, if you ask me.
When the judge sentenced him to death on November 7, 1989, Ramirez responded with his trademark creepiness: “Big deal. Death always went with the territory. See you in Disneyland.”
(I would’ve responded with “Actually, you won’t be seeing anyone at Disneyland, buddy,” but I guess judges have to maintain decorum.)
The Lasting Nightmare
What makes the Night Stalker’s case so haunting isn’t just the brutality of his crimes—it’s how he reveled in his infamy. While most killers try to blend in or deny their actions, Ramirez embraced his evil persona with a theatrical flair that attracted groupies (yes, GROUPIES) to his trial.
One woman even married him while he sat on death row! I’ve shown Ryan her pictures, and he just shakes his head and says, “This is why I check under the bed before you go to sleep.”
Ramirez ultimately died of natural causes in 2013 before California could execute him—cheating justice one last time. But his courtroom antics remain a disturbing chapter in criminal justice history, showing how our legal system struggles to handle defendants who view their trials as performance art rather than judgment.
Would I have survived sitting through his trial? Probably. Would I have slept again afterward? Absolutely not.
Lock your doors tonight, friends. Some monsters wear sunglasses in court.