Landmark Cases
Night Stalker Case
Also Known As Richard Ramirez Case
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A series of murders and break-ins committed by Richard Ramirez across the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas from April 1984 to August 1985, ended when a single fingerprint recovered from an abandoned car matched him in California's newly operational statewide automated fingerprint database.
Facts
Case YearSourced to the subject's own account LocationSourced to the subject's own accountLos Angeles and San Francisco, California, United States 1 Investigative or Reform SignificanceSourced to the subject's own accountOne of the first major successes of an automated fingerprint identification system: a single print lifted from an abandoned car matched Ramirez in a database that, by chance, had only recently begun including prints of people born after January 1, 1960, two months before his own birth. 1 Case StatusSourced to the subject's own accountClosed; convicted (sentenced to death September 1989). Ramirez died of complications from B-cell lymphoma on death row on June 7, 2013, before any execution. 1 Cross-Tradition Connections
Investigated By
LASD homicide detectives Frank Salerno and Gil Carrillo led the task force that identified and pursued Ramirez.
The LAPD formed its own dedicated task force, with the FBI assisting, alongside the Sheriff's Department investigation.
Used In
Richard Ramirez was identified through a fingerprint match run against California's new statewide automated fingerprint identification system.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Richard Ramirez
IntroductionQuote, Introduction
From April 1984 to August 1985, Ramirez murdered at least fifteen people during various break-ins
1. Wikipedia: Richard Ramirez
Death sectionQuote, Death section
Ramirez died of complications secondary to B-cell lymphoma at Marin General Hospital in Greenbrae, California, on June 7, 2013, at age 53.
1. Wikipedia: Richard Ramirez
Identification of Ramirez sectionQuote, Identification of Ramirez section
the system contained the fingerprints of criminals born after January 1, 1960, only two months before Ramirez was born
1. Wikipedia: Richard Ramirez
TheWrap: Who Was Frank Salerno, the Detective Who Helped Catch Richard Ramirez?
TheWrapInvestigated By: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Article body, agency identification of Salerno and CarrilloQuote, Investigated By: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Article body, agency identification of Salerno and Carrillo
Los Angeles Sheriff's detectives Frank Salerno and Gil Carrillo were the two agents responsible for cracking the case and bringing Ramirez to justice.
Biography.com: Richard Ramirez
Biography.com (A&E Television Networks)Investigated By: Los Angeles Police Department, Investigation sectionQuote, Investigated By: Los Angeles Police Department, Investigation section
The Los Angeles Police Department responded by putting together a dedicated task force, with the FBI stepping in to assist.
Frequently Asked Questions
What forensic evidence ended Richard Ramirez's series of attacks as the Night Stalker?
A single fingerprint recovered from a car Ramirez had abandoned was matched to him through California's newly operational statewide automated fingerprint identification database, ending a spree of murders and break-ins across the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas from April 1984 to August 1985.Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)
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