Richard Ramirez was an American serial killer and rapist who terrorized Southern California in the mid-1980s. He was convicted of 13 murders, 5 attempted murders, and 11 sexual assaults, primarily targeting women. His crimes were characterized by their brutality and included home invasions, which earned him the nickname "The Night Stalker." Born on February 29, 1960, in El Paso, Texas, Ramirez had a troubled childhood and was influenced by his cousin, a Vietnam War veteran. He was apprehended in 1985 and later sentenced to death in 1989. Ramirez died in prison on June 7, 2013, from complications related to cancer.