Alice Oscura, Featured Writer
Disclaimer: The following contains details relating to a true crime and may be triggering to some readers.
Backstory: Richard Ramirez, nicknamed The Night Stalker, was notoriously known for terrorising the residents of California with his killing spree between April 1984 to August 1985. His violent methods of killing and degrading his victims caused Ramirez to be described as a cruel and vicious person beyond human understanding. He was caught in 1985 and convicted with the penalty of death. However, he died from health complications in June 2013 while awaiting execution.
Richard Ramirez: The Night Stalker Tapes is a two-part documentary that was released on the Peacock streaming platform in December 2024. The docuseries is directed and produced by Amy Goodman Kass (I Love You, You Hate Me <2022>) has a combined total runtime of two hours and features exclusive audio recorded interviews between Ramirez and the late American bestselling biographer/journalist Philip Carlo. Carlo managed to record over 100 hours of audio interviews with the infamous serial killer in preparation for his biographical novel titled The Night Stalker: The Life and Crimes of Richard Ramirez (The True Story of America’s Most Feared Serial Killer) which was published in 1996.
The docuseries painstakingly highlights the troubled childhood of the serial killer. This plot device might be misinterpreted and unintentionally rub some viewers the wrong way. You know that old saying, “You are a product of your environment.” Well, it can seem that by taking the time to explore and analyse the effects of Ramirez’s troubled childhood by living with an explosively abusive father, numerous head injuries that he had suffered since infancy and subsequent drug addiction, it is all a way of justifying why he became a serial killer. The problem with this is that not everyone with a childhood problem or drug addictions becomes a stone-cold serial killer. However, the facts and events are intriguing because they are supported by Carlo’s audio recorded interviews with Ramirez’s siblings.
However, the more positive aspect of the documentary is that it takes the time to consistently shift focus on his victims, and how the brutality of his crimes has left long-lasting, traumatic scars on their surviving relatives. The audience gets to experience this through emotionally charged interviews with Peter Zazzara (son of victims), Robin Sandoval (granddaughter of victims), Colleen Nelson (granddaughter of victims), as well insights into the investigation from the perspective of the now retired homicide Detective Gil Carillo, who arrested Ramirez, and analysis from forensic psychologists Joni E. Johnston and Gary Brucato.
But perhaps one of the more shocking viewpoints would be how after Ramirez’s arrest, he was disturbingly catapulted into instant stardom and glamorisation by stupidly twisted young women who found the serial to be attractive and became his eager pen pals while he was incarcerated in San Quentin. One of these even resulted in a marriage. Some people are just not right in their head!
The series concludes with a bombshell family secret revealed by Ramirez’s niece, Rosalinda “Rosie” Juarez. My overall take away from the documentary is that Ramirez’s parents and relatives have just as much culpability for allowing the situation to escalate with him. They were all aware of his severe drug addiction and lack of empathy when it came to violence and death because of premature exposure to violence in his youth. The part that really gets under your skin is to hear Ramirez talk about crimes, his belief in Satanism and his love for cocaine in such a casual manner without an ounce of remorse for vicious crimes against his innocent victims.
Alice’s Score: 6.5 out of 10
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Alice has an old soul and a curious mind. I believe that anyone can be a hero and that the good guys should always win! I dislike cruelty to animals and think that they have far superior qualities to humans. My motto is there is no future without the past. I also have a weird penchant for Paranormal TV shows even though the slightest sound makes me jump. I enjoy writing reviews and throwing in fun facts to pique the readers’ curiosity. My ultimate goal in life would be to become a published writer one day. Read More