The Making of the Night Stalker (Part One)

Summary

CRIME HOUSE 24/7
Night Watch with Katie Ring
Episode: The Making of the Night Stalker (Part One)
Date: February 24, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this first installment of a three-part series, host Katie Ring delves deep into the early life and psychological formation of Richard Ramirez, later known as the “Night Stalker.” The episode explores Ramirez’s traumatic childhood, influences that shaped his violent pathology, and the escalation from troubled youth to relentless serial killer. With a focus on factual reporting and sensitive storytelling, this episode foregrounds the roots of Ramirez’s crimes and sets the stage for the notorious terror he later unleashed across California in the mid-1980s.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Life and Family Trauma

(Timestamp: 03:30)

• Religious Upbringing:
  • Born Ricardo “Richard” Ramirez in El Paso, Texas on February 29, 1960, to devout Catholic Mexican immigrant parents, Mercedes and Julian Ramirez.
• Childhood Abuse:
  • The Ramirez household was marked by severe physical abuse at the hands of Julian, particularly toward Richard’s older siblings, but Richard himself was also a target for minor infractions.
  • Memorable moment: Julian once punished himself after a beating by hitting himself in the head with a hammer.

“But no amount of praying or begging could make him stop…even the slightest infraction, like hanging out with the wrong friends, found him on the receiving end of Julian's attack.”
— Katie Ring (04:05)

• Head Injuries and Epilepsy:
  • Multiple head traumas by age 10; diagnosed with epilepsy in 1972.
  • Treated with phenobarbital, linked to mood changes and confusion.
  • Katie shares personal context:

“I actually have epilepsy and was administered it after my first seizure and the nurse told me that this is what being drunk feels like. Luckily, we have much better medications now...”
— Katie Ring (05:10)

2. Negative Influences and Escalation

(Timestamp: 05:50)

• Miguel Ramirez (Cousin’s) Influence:
  • Vietnam veteran, exposed Richard to marijuana, stories, and photos of gruesome war crimes and abuse.
  • Miguel’s tales normalized violence and sexual aggression for Richard.

“Miguel’s stories not only justified physical and sexual violence, they normalized it for Richard…he learned both violent stories and some military survival and stealth tactics…”
— Katie Ring (06:50)

• Witnessing Murder:
  • At 13, Richard was present when Miguel murdered his wife, Jesse; Miguel went to prison.

3. Early Criminal Activity and Growing Deviance

(Timestamp: 07:35)

• Life with Sister Ruth and Brother-in-Law Roberto:

  • After the murder, Ramirez moved in with Ruth; Roberto exposed Richard to voyeurism, taking him out at night to spy on neighbors.

• Experimentation and Dropout:

  • Began using harder drugs like LSD; developed interest in Satanism and occult.
  • Dropped out in 9th grade; took a job at a Holiday Inn.

• Attempted Sexual Assault at Holiday Inn (1974):

  • Broke into guests’ room, attempted to attack a woman, was beaten by her husband (10:32).
  • Charges not pursued due to out-of-state victims, teaching Richard “the wrong lessons.”

“He got off completely free and learned all of the wrong lessons from the experience. Instead of changing his ways, he doubled down on them.”
— Katie Ring (11:13)

4. Move to Los Angeles and Descent into Violence

(Timestamp: 12:23)

• Relocation and Further Crimes:

  • Moved to LA at age 18, influenced by brother’s tales of opportunity.
  • Engaged in robbery and drug use; studied the Satanic Bible.
  • Increasingly obsessed with violence and Satanic ideas.

• First Known Murder (June 1984):

  • Murdered and assaulted 79-year-old Jenny Vincow in Glassell Park, LA.

“When Richard realized there was nothing to steal, he became enraged and he decided to make Jenny pay…he stabbed her to death and then essayed her.”
— Katie Ring (14:00)

• Arrested for Car Theft:
  • Briefly arrested; police took fingerprints and photo, but released him.
  • Did not return for his hearing; authorities did not pursue further.

5. The Night Stalker Emerges: The 1985 Killing Spree

(Timestamp: 15:34)

• St. Patrick’s Day Murders (March 17, 1985):
  • Stole a car, listened to AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell.”
  • Attempted to shoot Maria Hernandez—her keys deflected the bullet, she survived by playing dead.
  • Killed Dale Okazaki, Hernandez’s roommate.
  • Immediately afterward, murdered 22-year-old Veronica Yu.

“As Richard was leaving, he noticed that Maria was still alive. She raised her arms and pleaded…And for some reason, he did. He calmly walked off, then got into his car and sped away.”
— Katie Ring (16:55)

• Second Wave: April–June 1985
  • Returned to robbery and violence, targeting the Zazara family (Vincent and Maxine):
    • Killed both parents, with Maxine suffering extreme post-mortem violence and mutilation (20:17).
    • Ramirez “realized how much he truly enjoyed it.”

“In his own words, Richard described his growing obsession: ‘To have that power in life, there’s nothing more sexually exciting. It's the ultimate very few people experience.’”
— Katie Ring (21:20)

• Double Homicides and Escalation:
  • May 1985: Attacked Bill and Lillian Doy; Bill was shot, Lillian assaulted, house ransacked.
  • End of May: Brutal assault of sisters Mabel “Ma” Bell and Florence “Nettie” Lang; pentagrams drawn at the scene.

6. Attempted Police Intervention and Forensic Breakthrough

(Timestamp: 23:40)

• Investigation Led by Detective Frank Salerno:
  • Called in to investigate after the murder of Mary Louise Cannon in July 1985.
  • Noted pattern linking murders, including ballistic evidence and shoe prints.
  • Distinctive “Avia aerobic shoe, size 11½” print found at multiple scenes—a critical future lead.

“Frank and his partner Gil cross referenced the evidence at Mary Louise’s house to the other crime scenes. Another shoe print had been lifted from a homicide in June…and that footprint was identical…”
— Katie Ring (25:05)

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “Miguel’s stories not only justified physical and sexual violence, they normalized it for Richard.”
  — Katie Ring (06:50)

• “He got off completely free and learned all of the wrong lessons from the experience. Instead of changing his ways, he doubled down on them.”
  — Katie Ring (11:13)

• “When Richard realized there was nothing to steal, he became enraged and he decided to make Jenny pay…he stabbed her to death and then essayed her.”
  — Katie Ring (14:00)

• “In his own words, Richard described his growing obsession: ‘To have that power in life, there’s nothing more sexually exciting. It's the ultimate very few people experience.’”
  — Katie Ring (21:20)

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Key Timestamps

• 03:30 – Background: Family, upbringing, and early trauma
• 05:50 – Miguel’s influence and normalization of violence
• 07:35 – Voyeurism and criminal escalation
• 10:32 – First attempted sexual assault; near capture
• 12:23 – Move to LA, criminal development, first murder
• 15:34 – 1985 spree begins: Hernandez/Okazaki case, Veronica Yu
• 20:17 – Zazara family attacks; Ramirez’s enjoyment of murder
• 23:40 – Mary Louise Cannon murder and forensic evidence
• 25:05 – Police connect evidence across multiple deaths

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Closing

The episode ends as Katie Ring foreshadows the escalation of the Night Stalker’s crimes, California’s growing panic, and the intensifying police investigation. She invites listeners to reflect and comment, teasing the next chapter in the Night Watch series.

“Next time on Nightwatch, we’ll continue our series as Richard Ramirez’s obsession with Satan only deepens and his violence escalates into a relentless summer killing spree that leaves all of California terrified.”
— Katie Ring (26:37)

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For listeners seeking a thorough, context-rich dive into the early life and criminal development of one of America’s most notorious killers, this Night Watch episode delivers detailed narrative analysis, psychological insight, and sets the stage for a deeper exploration in parts two and three.

Transcript

[Vanessa]

Hi, it's Vanessa. If you're drawn to true crime stories about disappearances, there's a new Crime House original you should check out. It's called the Final Hours, hosted by Sarah Turney and Courtney Nicole. Sarah's an advocate for missing and murdered victims whose own sister disappeared in 2001. And Courtney is a true crime storyteller who's seen firsthand how crime can change a family forever. Together, they bring lived experience to every case, examining the moments just before a person disappears. The routines, the timelines, the small details that often get overlooked because every disappearance has a moment where everything still feels normal. Until it doesn't. Listen to and follow the final hours on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes drop every Monday.

[Katie Ring]

This is Crime House. Fueled by an obsession with Satan, Richard Ramirez went on a sadistic killing spree throughout California in 1984 and 1985. And it was his brutal crimes and penchant for attacking his victims under the COVID of darkness that earned him the nickname the the Night Stalker. Welcome to Night Watch on crime house 24 7. I'm your host, Katie Ring, and together we'll be following the cases making headlines now, where justice is still unfolding. Follow us wherever you are listening and if you want ad free episodes, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts plus subscribe to our YouTube channelightwatchpod. This episode discusses an active criminal case. The information we share is based on what's publicly available at the time of recording and may change as new, new evidence comes to light. We aim to inform, not to decide guilt or innocence. So everyone mentioned is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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[Katie Ring]

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[Katie Ring]

From a young age, religion played a major role in Ricardo Richard Ramirez's life. He was born in El paso, Texas on February 29, 1960 to Mercedes and Julian Ramirez, who were both Mexican immigrants and devout Catholics. Richard and his four older siblings were raised Catholic as well, but that didn't mean the home was peaceful. Julian expected a lot out of his kids and would often beat his children whenever they rebelled, which was often. Richard's older brothers were constantly in trouble with the police and as punishment, Julian would physically abuse them while the rest of the family hid or prayed. But no amount of praying or begging could make him stop. Although Richard was more quiet and didn't act up as much as his brothers, and he didn't escape his father's wrath, even the slightest infraction, like hanging out with the wrong friends, found him on the receiving end of Julian's attack. It didn't seem like Julian enjoyed the beatings though, or at least if he did, he felt extreme guilt afterwards because he would punish himself for hurting his children. Once, after beating the boys, Richard reportedly saw his father smash himself in the head with a hammer. On top of the abuse, Richard suffered a series of serious head injuries. When he was around two years old, a dresser fell on his head, knocking him unconscious and leaving a significant injury that required many stitches. Around age 5, he was hit in the head by a swing and knocked out again. And when he was 10 years old, he suffered a concussion playing football. He suffered at least three seizures at school and numerous other epileptic seizures outside of School. In 1972, doctors diagnosed him with epilepsy and prescribed him phenobarbital to control the seizures. Phenobarbital is a powerful barbiturate. I actually have epilepsy and was administered it after my first seizure and the nurse told me that this is what being drunk feels like. Luckily, we have much better medications now and you can live a totally normal life with epilepsy. But in the early 1970s, phenobarbital was a common first line treatment, especially for children. In some cases, particularly in young patients, it was sometimes associated with mood changes, depression, confusion and behavioral disturbances. After the seizures, Richard's mom said that his eating and sleeping habits changed. He no longer seemed to care about school. His grades began to drop and he would often smoke marijuana to get rid of his headaches and to help him sleep, because otherwise he couldn't sleep. The once sweet child became a depressed and paranoid preteen who exhibited progressively alarming behavior. Although Richard was clearly struggling with his new diagnosis and medication, There were much more sinister factors that shaped Richard into the monster we now know. Tonight, we're starting our three part deep dive on Richard Ramirez, the serial killer who would go on to be known as the Night Stalker. But before he became a feared killer, Richard was a boy from a troubled home. Exhibiting concerning signs. Richard's behavioral issues followed him to school where he became socially isolated. He had to stop playing football due to his seizures and blackouts, which caused him to shy away from people and spend a lot of time alone. Richard did have at least one friend, though. His older cousin, Miguel. Miguel was in his 20s, and on paper, he seemed like a great role model for Richard. He'd served two tours in Vietnam and was considered a war hero, someone to look up to. But in reality, Miguel was the last person Richard should have been hanging out with. He introduced his younger cousin to marijuana and would get him high While he boasted about gruesome war crimes and shared Polaroid photos of his victims he claimed to have abused and killed, including women who were tied and mutilated. In some accounts, he posed in the photos with the severed heads of women he had essayed. Miguel's stories not only justified physical and sexual violence, they normalized it for Richard. And without anyone to tell him differently, these actions became something to aspire to. He later said that these pictures didn't shock him, they interested him. And that he learned both violent stories and some military survival and stealth tactics from Miguel. But he didn't stay under Miguel's influence for too long. The two of them parted ways on May 4, 1973, when Richard was 13. That day, Miguel and his wife Jesse got into a loud disagreement while Richard was over. Richard later said he couldn't recall what the argument was about, but he remembered that for some reason, Miguel kept a.38 caliber pistol in the refrigerator. And at some point during the fight, Miguel calmly took out the gun and pointed it at Jesse. She called his bluff and told him to shoot her. And Richard watched as his cousin shot and murdered his own wife. After that, Miguel went to prison for her murder. Shortly after the shooting, Richard moved in with his older sister Ruth and her husband Roberto. While being away from Miguel might have seemed like a relief, Ruth was Unaware of her husband's dark interests, Roberto had voyeuristic tendencies and would take Richard out at night to prowl the streets and peek into neighbors houses with him to cope with his isolation and curiosity. Richard also escalated from marijuana to harder drugs like LSD and began exploring new spiritual ideas including Satanism and the occult teachings he believed justified the sexual and violent acts Miguel had once shown him. Between what he had learned from Miguel and Roberto, his exploration of Satanism, he, his drug use and his after dark activities, Richard wasn't exactly focused on school and by the time he was in 9th grade he dropped out and found a maintenance job at a local Holiday Inn. The job made Richard more financially independent, but it did not keep him out of trouble. He started robbing guests while they slept and would spy on pretty women coming in and out of the hotel, and Richard felt compelled to spy on them. He began fantasizing about the women he watched and eventually he ended up acting on those fantasies.

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[Katie Ring]

In 1974, Richard Ramirez saw a woman in her 20s check into a hotel with her husband. Later that night, he broke into their room. When the husband left to go get something, she was in the shower. And when she came out of the bathroom, he wrestled her to the ground, tied her up and took her clothes off. But just as he was about to assault her, the woman's husband came into the room before Richard could run. The husband beat him into submission before calling the police. When the authorities arrived, Richard had been rushed to the hospital because his wounds were so severe. After that he was put in jail, but he was still in such bad shape that when his mom and sister came to fetch him, they hardly recognized him. Richard told them it was all a misunderstanding. He claimed the young woman had invited him into the room to have sex and her husband had just caught them in the act and gotten angry. Richard's mom and sister seemed to buy his story. They took him home and nursed him Back to health. The couple he attacked were from out of state and did not want to return to testify. So no formal charges were pursued and Ramirez avoided prosecution for the attack. He got off completely free and learned all of the wrong lessons from the experience. Instead of changing his ways, he doubled down on them. Things only got worse by late 1977, when Richard was 17. Around that time, his cousin Miguel was released from prison and they resumed their problematic relationship. Miguel was just as bad of an influence as before. He taught Richard about survival skills and stealth tactics, including how to break into homes without being caught. Using Miguel's teachings, Richard started stealing from houses in El Paso. Over the next two years, he earned a reputation in the local underworld as someone who could steal and would steal anything. And it wasn't long before Richard started dreaming bigger. In 1978, right after he turned 18, he got on a bus bound for Los Angeles. Richard's older brother already lived in LA and he'd told Richard how the city was full of beautiful women and wealthy homes. Richard thought it was the kind of place where he'd have the freedom to indulge in his every desire. It was in la, the City of Angels, that he would fully embrace his demons. When Richard stepped off the Greyhound bus in la, he was greeted with bright lights and endless blue skies. Here, he could be anyone he wanted to be. And what he wanted to be was a criminal. After arriving in L. A, Richard spent the next few years stealing and doing cocaine, which combined with poor hygiene, caused his teeth to decay quite severely. He also occupied his time studying the Satanic Bible in his mind. Satanism gave him permission to indulge in the chaos and violence and he'd been fantasizing about since he became a teenager. What was going on in Richard's mind at this point was turning him into something dangerous. And In June of 1984, seven years after arriving in LA, Richard finally unleashed the monster inside him. One night at the end of the month, the 24 year old was walking through the Glassell park neighborhood on the northeast side of la. He'd spent the last of his cash on coke and was looking for an easy way to get some more. At some point, he noticed a house that had an open window. Richard simply walked up, lifted the screen and climbed inside. The home belonged to Jenny Vincow, a 79 year old woman who lived alone and in relative poverty. When Richard realized there was nothing to steal, he became enraged and he decided to make Jenny pay. Richard pulled a six inch hunting knife from his pocket, then crept into Jenny's room where she was sleeping. Before she realized what was happening, he stabbed her to death and then essayed her. Once the rage subsided, it seemed Richard realized what he had done. He fled the scene and jumped in his car, begging Satan for protection. As far as Richard was concerned, Satan heard his wish. No one came after him for Jenny's murder. But he did find himself in trouble for something else. Around mid December 1984, Richard was pulled over and arrested for driving a stolen car. His photograph and fingerprints were taken and he was released a few days later. They instructed him to return for a preliminary trial which he didn't do. But the authorities didn't bother to chase him down. Richard's crime was a low level offense and they most likely didn't think it was worth their time. But if they knew what he was really capable of, they would have done everything in their power to find him. Because soon enough, Richard felt the urge to kill again. But to avoid getting caught, he knew there were some things he needed to change. Richard's cousin Miguel had taught him that as a soldier it was important to kill flawlessly and with precision. So Richard decided to give up drugs so he could have a clear head. He also wanted to be more efficient. So he bought a.22 caliber revolver. Richard spent the next few months thinking about his next kill. And on March 17, 1985 he decided it was time to act. It was St. Patrick's Day and that night Richard stole a car and blasted AC DC's highway to Hell on the radio. This would become his go to band. Richard felt like ACDC songs were specially written for him by Satan himself. With the music blaring, Richard pulled onto the highway and prayed to Satan for him to help him find another victim. Soon Richard spotted a gold Camaro. 20 year old Maria Hernandez was behind the wheel heading home from seeing her boyfriend. Richard followed Maria's Camaro to the suburb of Rosemead, trailing her to the condo she shared with her roommate, 35 year old Dale Okazaki. As soon as Maria turned into the driveway, Richard parked his car, put on an AC DC hat and crept up behind her as she approached her front gate. While Maria opened the lock separating the garage from the house, she heard a sound. She turned to find Richard walking towards her with a gun drawn. When she screamed, Richard fired. Maria's hands flew up to protect herself and incredibly her keys deflected the bullet. She fell to the ground anyway and played dead while Richard moved past her body and into the house. There Richard shot and killed Maria's roommate. Dale, who was hiding behind a kitchen counter. As Richard was leaving, he noticed that Maria was still alive. She raised her arms and pleaded for Richard to let her live. And for some reason, he did. He calmly walked off, then got into his car and sped away. But he wasn't done yet. Once again, Richard turned the music all the way up and drove around aimlessly. He felt restless and full of adrenaline, possessed by the urge to kill. When Richard got to the nearby neighborhood of Monterey park, he spotted law student Veronica Yu driving home from a friend's house. He decided she would be his next victim. Veronica noticed Richard's car behind her and pulled over to let him pass. But when she got back onto the road, she ended up being next to him at the red light. While they were stopped, Richard got out of his car, went to Veronica's window, then pulled her out of the vehicle. When Veronica fought back, Richard shot her repeatedly before fleeing. Veronica's murder satisfied Richard's bloodlust for the time being, but he was eager for more. He became convinced that the more brutal his crimes were, the more Satan would approve. So Richard wasn't finished. Not even close. Because what came next wasn't just another murder. It was the moment the Night Stalker truly began.

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[Vanessa]

If you're drawn to true crime stories about disappearances, there's a new crime house show for you to check out. It's the new Crime House original series, the Final Hours, hosted by Sarah Turney and Courtney Nicole. Sarah is an advocate for missing and murdered victims whose own sister disappeared in 2001. And Courtney is a true crime storyteller and investigator who witnessed firsthand how crime can change a family forever. Together, they bring lived experience to every case, looking not only at what happened, but what led up to it. Each episode examines the moments just before a person disappears. The routines, the timelines, and the small details that often get overlooked. Because every disappearance has a moment where everything still feels normal. A text that doesn't raise concern, a routine that goes unchanged, A door that closes just like it always has. Until it doesn't. The final hours puts those moments under a microscope. Because when it comes to justice, there's no such thing as overanalyzing. Listen to and follow the final hours on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen. New episodes every Monday.

[Katie Ring]

By the spring of 1985, Richard Ramirez had already killed four people. But he was only getting started, because in the weeks that followed, he would unleash a wave of violence that terrorized Los Angeles. In late March, a little over a week after killing Dale and Veronica, Richard returned to a house he'd previously robbed in Whittier, California. Whittier was a wealthy neighborhood on the eastern edge of la, and he figured the house's owners had replaced the expensive items he had previously stolen. And since he was familiar with the layout of the house, he already knew it would be easy to find a way in. When Richard arrived, he snuck up a window and realized that the home was occupied. The father, Vincent Zazaria, had fallen asleep while watching tv, so Richard went around to the back of the house and pried a different window open. But Richard had more than robbery on his mind. He slipped inside with his gun raised and made his way to where Vincent was sleeping before he fatally shot him. At the sound of the shot, Vincent's wife Maxine ran out of the bedroom and Richard pounced. He was able to bind her hands with a necktie and told her not to look at him as he raided the house. Maxine didn't listen. She managed to slip out of her restraints and found her husband's shotgun. But when she tried to shoot Richard, the gun was empty. Her attempt at defending herself enraged Richard. He beat Maxine to death and then dismembered parts of her body before burglarizing the house. After that night, Richard felt a shift within himself. Until this point, he'd been curious and intrigued by murder and how to do it effectively. But after killing the Zazaras, he realized how much he truly enjoyed it. In his own words, Richard described his growing obsession in this to have that power in life, there's nothing more sexually exciting. It's the ultimate very few people experience. After that night, it was as if Richard had opened a Pandora's box, releasing the horrors inside of himself, never to be contained again. From then on, he would wear black, stalk his victims at night, and attack without hesitation or remorse. The Night Stalker was born and the 25 year old serial killer was ready to strike again. On May 14, 1980, 5. Richard stole another car and used it to cruise the streets of LA after dark looking for another victim. He eventually found himself back in Monterey park where he'd killed Victoria Yu two months earlier. As a result of the crime, there was heavy police presence in the area. But Richard wasn't worried. He believed Satan would protect him. That night, he entered the home of 66 year old Bill Doy and his disabled wife, 56 year old Lillian Doy. Richard snuck into the couple's home and as Bill reached for his gun, Richard shot him in the face with a.22 semiautomatic pistol. He beat him unconscious, then went into the couple's bedroom where he bound Lillian with thumb cuffs, then essayed her. He then ransacked the home for all of its valuables. This double homicide marked the beginning of another horrific, unrelenting crime spree. On May 29, 1985, Richard broke into the home of Mabel ma Bell was 83, and her disabled sister Florence Nettie Lang, 81, in Monrovia, California. He bludgeoned both women and SA'd one of them using extreme violence inside of the home, then drew pentagrams all over the scene. Both sisters were found alive but critically injured. And unfortunately, two days later, Mabel died in the hospital from her injuries. But Richard wasn't done. In early July, he snuck into a woman's house in the suburb of Arcadia, about 13 miles from downtown LA. He murdered the elderly woman who lived there, Mary Louise Cannon, then ransacked her home. But even though Richard was escaping undetected, his crimes weren't going unnoticed. The day after Richard killed Mary Louise Cannon, one of her neighbors was outside of his home when he noticed one of Mary Louise's window screens lying on the grass. He had a key to her house, so he was able to go inside to see if everything was okay. He saw the place had been ransacked and found Mary Louise dead in her bedroom. So he immediately called the police. Later that morning, Detective Frank Salerno and his partner Gil Carillo drove out to the crime scene. At 46, Frank was known as the bulldog because when he got a lead on something, he didn't let go. And he had experience catching serial killers cracking high profile cases like the Hillside strangler, who murdered 10 women in LA between 1977 and 1978. Investigators originally thought he was just one serial killer, but Frank found that it was actually two men. When Frank got to Mary Louise's house, he quickly realized the circumstances were very similar to the other recent murders. Not only that, he'd already connected several of Richard's crimes by the bullets he'd used to kill the victims. And when Frank saw this latest crime scene, he was pretty sure that the mystery killer had attacked Mary Louise as well. During the murders, Richard was chaotic and left a lot of evidence behind. And although there weren't any fingerprints, Frank Salerno's team did find footprints in the dirt outside of Mary Louise Scannon's house. One of them was saturated with blood, which created a distinctive outline that the police linked to a particular brand of footwear, an Avia aerobic shoe, size 11 and a half. Frank and his partner Gil Cross referenced the evidence at Mary Louise's house to the other crime scenes. Another shoe print had been lifted from a homicide in June when two sisters were attacked in their home and one was killed. That footprint was identical to the one found at Mary Louise's. It was an enticing lead for Frank to pursue, but there was still a lot of work to do before it could be linked to anyone. But in the meantime, Richard continued to wreak havoc. Next time on Nightwatch, we'll continue our series on the Night Stalker as Richard Ramirez obsession with Satan only deepens and his violence escalates into a relentless summer killing spree that leaves all of California terrified. What did you think of tonight's case? Drop your thoughts and theories in the comments and see you tomorrow night for part two. If you haven't already, make sure to follow us wherever you get your podcasts and subscribe to our YouTube channelightwatchpod. Your support means everything.

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[Vanessa]

hi, it's Vanessa. If you're drawn to true crime stories about disappearances, check out the new Crime House original, the Final Hours, hosted by Sarah Turney and Courtney Nicole. Listen to and follow the final hours on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes drop every Monday.