Ramirez developed a drug habit that he supported by committing petty crimes. He became detached from his Catholic parents, drawing him closer to his cousin Miguel. When Miguel murdered his wife by gunshot on May 4, 1973, Ramirez was present.
Ramirez took a turn for the worse in 1977. Working at a local Holiday Inn, he used his passkey to burglarize patrons while they were asleep. In one particular incident he attempted to rape a woman in one of the rooms. Thankfully, her husband returned during the attempted rape. He beat Ramirez mercilessly. Unfortunately, the travelling couple was unable or unwilling to follow through with the criminal procedure.
In 1977, Ramirez spent time in Juvenile hall for committing petty offenses. In 1982 he was placed on probation for marijuana possession. But by now he was a hardcore burglar with an expensive cocaine addiction. The following year he was sent to jail for a car theft charge. He was released from jail a no good, loser, with poor hygiene, and a sinister craving for rape, torture, and murder.
On April 10, 1984 9 year-old Mei JLinda' Leung's body was discovered hanging on a pipe in a San Francisco hotel basement. Leung had been brutally raped, beaten, and stabbed to death. This would be a cold case for 25 years. But incredibly the case was never forgotten by Holly Pera, a young policewoman at the time.
Years later, Pera became a cold case detective. Detective Pera pulled the unsolved file for the Leung case. Vital evidence from the murder scene was sent to the crime lab. A DNA technician named Mathew Gabriel discovered the match, thereby linking the murder to Ramirez.
"I was a new police officer at the time [of the murder] ... That's part of the reason that the case was re-looked at. It's the type of case as a new officer ... a case involving a little girl ... that you don't forget," said Detective Pera. (By Robert A. Waters, May 24, 2010; Kidnapping, Murder, and Mayhem: Searching for the Devil)
On June 28, 1984 Ramirez savagely raped, beat, and killed 79 year-old Jennie Vincow during a burglary of her home.
Ramirez intensified his cruelty and brutality, but to his own detriment. There was too much media coverage, the police assigned hundreds of law enforcement officers as part of a task force, and the FBI became involved in the case.
Ramirez moved from Los Angeles to San Francisco, continuing his streak of terror. At the end of August of 1985 Ramirez drove to Tucson to visit his brother. He wasn't able to see his brother. As such, he then drove to Los Angeles. At the time he didn't know that his prison photo had been plastered on national television and print media. He'd made a fatal mistake. A few days later he attacked a woman who'd survived. She identified the stolen vehicle that Ramirez had used. Therein, the police found fingerprints. Because Ramirez had a criminal record, everything came into place quite rapidly.
Ramirez was captured a day later, but not before East L.A. residents beat him senseless.
A woman who sat through his trial didn't believe that Ramirez was guilty. She sent him numerous letters, and had visited him in prison. They were married in 1996.
As conveyed to CNN by his wife Doreen Ramirez, "He's Richard Ramirez kind, he's funny, he's charming … he's a really great person. He's my best friend; he's my buddy." (By Greg Botelho, June 9, 2013; CNN Justice: Serial Killer, Rapist, Richard Ramirez--Known as Night Stalker - Dead at 53)
RAPE DURING INCARCERATION:
JUST DETENTION INTERNATIONAL (JDI): Founded in 1980 by Russell Dan Smith a survivor of rape behind bars, JDI was first named People Organized to Stop the Rape of Imprisoned Persons, later renamed Stop Prisoner Rape finally in September of 2008 it became JDI.
JDI is a health and human rights organization whose mission is to end all patterns of sexual abuse during incarceration, by jail or prison staff or other inmates. JDI campaigns for the safety of all inmates in all types of facilities.
JDI was incorporated in 1994 by Stephen Donaldson (Born Robert Anthony Martin Jr. July 27, 1946 - July 18, 1996). While in jail Donaldson was gang-raped 60 times, for 2 nights.
Donaldson was charged with trespassing on White House property during a peace protest regarding Cambodia. Worse yet, Donaldson stated that Captain Clinton Cobb, a corrections officer had Donaldson, a bisexual political activist transferred to the most dangerous cell-block in the prison.
"I had no choice but to submit to being Inmate B's prison wife. Out of fear for my life, I submitted to sucking his dick, being fucked in my ass, and performing other duties as a woman, such as making his bed. In all reality, I was his slave, as the Officials of the Arkansas Department of Corrections under the Icolor of law' did absolutely nothing," M.P, Arkansas, August 2, 1996. (No Escape: Male Rape in U.S. Prisons: Prisoners' Voices) "If a person is timid or shy or as prison inmates term him IWeak,' either mentally or physically, he stands to be a victim of physical and/or sexual assault," R.B., Colorado, September 1, 1996 (ibid)
"I was raped in prison from Feb 1991 through Nov 1991. From that it left me HIV positive, " K.S., Arkansas, September 4, 1996 (ibid)
"I have been sexually assaulted twice since being incarcerated. Both times the staff refused to do anything except to lock me up and make accusations that I'm homosexual and that if I pursue legal action they'd ship me and both times they did, J.G., Florida, September 9, 1996 (ibid)
Prison rape is an extremely horrifying event for victims. It causes long-term or lifelong psychological and/or physical damage. Victims can very easily contract an STD.
Regarding correctional officers, it depends on the facility. Some have a generally hands-off policy see no evil hear no evil, and I or we don't care. In others, it's too overwhelming for them to end rape in their facility.
An inmate who's noticeably weak, scrawny-looking, mentally challenged, appears non-threatening, white, a pretty boy, a convicted rapist or child molester, effeminate, gay, has a high pitched voice, passive, brainy-looking, not street smart, or a first-timer are likely targets for rape, gang-rape