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A review by nightwolfnym
The Night Stalker by Philip Carlo
4.0
I've always been familiar with Richard's notoriety as the Night Stalker as a true crime reader, but I had never really read up on Richard Ramirez's life before or knew the exact details of the crimes he committed, so this book made for an interesting read to say the least. It was divided into three main parts: The murders being committed, Richard's life growing up, and then his capture and trial. The first part of the book was the most disturbing of course. Out of all the true crime books I've ever read, the murders he committed truly stuck me as some of the most senseless and grisly series of crimes ever committed and had me lying awake in the early hours, worried that somebody was outside. I think it was just the total randomness of his crimes and how he would literally target anyone. Most serial killers have a particular type they will seek out, but Richard's bloodlust led him to bedrooms of people from all walks of life. Truly terrifying to know a serial killer roamed free and no one was safe.
The most interesting part of the book is Richard's life though. I always find it fascinating to learn what a serial killers childhood was like and if there's something there that could explain what puts them on their path to murder. Reading about Richard's life and his family, it really doesn't surprise me he ended up in prison for murder. He was surrounded by bad influences and witnessed a murder at an impressionable age, committed by a cousin that he looked up to. He also suffered from seizures and never had any real proper medical care. Also, all the Ramirez's seemed to have volatile tempers. I can definitely see what led him down the road to a criminal lifestyle. Of course this doesn't excuse anything he did. He had a certain level of intelligence and knew the difference between right & wrong yet still acted on his grisly fantasies and never showed any remorse after the fact. I think the only thing he ever felt guilty about was what it did to his family.
The author put a lot of research into the book and it was highly detailed, and this was never more apparent than the third part of the book, which included his trial. I found all the legalities a chore to read. It was a very long and often boring process to get though, but his capture and the post- conviction stuff was interesting. Another interesting, yet disturbing, part of his trial was the amount of supporters he acquired - or "Ramirez Groupies" as they're known as. One woman actually married him on death row, she seemed to believe completely in his innocence...he even had a juror fall in love, and convicted him, yet visited him in prison and vowed to help him with an appeal. The mindset of these two woman in particular baffles the hell out of me. The majority of his groupies are danger seekers that love the idea of being with a man capable of great violence, but knowing they are safe from him. I'll never understand the obsession woman have with murderers, yet Richard has/had more admirers than any other serial killer in history.
I read the special anniversary edition and the last part of the book included an interview the author had with Richard in prison. It was short, but proved interesting. Richard came across as lacking any remorse and hearing him describe the murder he witnessed at a young age was chilling.
Since this book is a few years old i guess i will add this: Richard Ramirez spent over 23 years on death row, waiting to be executed, but instead died earlier this year (June 7th, 2013) of cancer at the age of 53. I do wonder what the last few years of his life was like behind bars.
The most interesting part of the book is Richard's life though. I always find it fascinating to learn what a serial killers childhood was like and if there's something there that could explain what puts them on their path to murder. Reading about Richard's life and his family, it really doesn't surprise me he ended up in prison for murder. He was surrounded by bad influences and witnessed a murder at an impressionable age, committed by a cousin that he looked up to. He also suffered from seizures and never had any real proper medical care. Also, all the Ramirez's seemed to have volatile tempers. I can definitely see what led him down the road to a criminal lifestyle. Of course this doesn't excuse anything he did. He had a certain level of intelligence and knew the difference between right & wrong yet still acted on his grisly fantasies and never showed any remorse after the fact. I think the only thing he ever felt guilty about was what it did to his family.
The author put a lot of research into the book and it was highly detailed, and this was never more apparent than the third part of the book, which included his trial. I found all the legalities a chore to read. It was a very long and often boring process to get though, but his capture and the post- conviction stuff was interesting. Another interesting, yet disturbing, part of his trial was the amount of supporters he acquired - or "Ramirez Groupies" as they're known as. One woman actually married him on death row, she seemed to believe completely in his innocence...he even had a juror fall in love, and convicted him, yet visited him in prison and vowed to help him with an appeal. The mindset of these two woman in particular baffles the hell out of me. The majority of his groupies are danger seekers that love the idea of being with a man capable of great violence, but knowing they are safe from him. I'll never understand the obsession woman have with murderers, yet Richard has/had more admirers than any other serial killer in history.
I read the special anniversary edition and the last part of the book included an interview the author had with Richard in prison. It was short, but proved interesting. Richard came across as lacking any remorse and hearing him describe the murder he witnessed at a young age was chilling.
Since this book is a few years old i guess i will add this: Richard Ramirez spent over 23 years on death row, waiting to be executed, but instead died earlier this year (June 7th, 2013) of cancer at the age of 53. I do wonder what the last few years of his life was like behind bars.