It’s hard to believe that this innocent child grew into one of the darkest figures in U.S. history. Born in El Paso, Texas, Richard Ramirez’s early years were filled with pain few could imagine. His father’s violent temper left deep scars, and by six, repeated beatings had caused lasting brain injuries.
As a teen, he watched his cousin kill his wife — a moment that seemed to shatter whatever innocence remained. From there, Richard’s life spiraled. Drugs, theft, and obsession with evil soon followed. By the 1980s, he became known as the “Night Stalker”, a name that terrified Californians for over a year.
“He forced people to swear on Satan,” one investigator recalled. “His cruelty was beyond understanding.” When captured, his smirk chilled the world.
Ramirez died in prison in 2013, never showing remorse. Looking at that childhood photo today, one haunting question remains: how does an innocent boy become a monster?
