When you search for “Richard Ramirez,” you might find two very different death dates. One belongs to the infamous Night Stalker; the other to a different condemned inmate who died in 2026. Here’s what official records reveal and how to separate fact from the mix-up.

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Victim count: 13 verified murders · Active period: June 1984 – August 1985 · Death date: June 7, 2013 · Sentence: 19 death sentences · Alias: Night Stalker · Apprehension: 1985 via citizen tip

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact cause of Night Stalker’s death beyond “natural causes” (Britannica)
  • Whether victim count exceeds 13 (A&E)
  • Full psychological motive never officially established (Wikipedia)
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

Eight key identifiers, each confirmed by official sources: the biographic record of the Night Stalker is well-documented, but the recent 2026 death of a different inmate has muddied public awareness.

Field Value
Full name Ricardo Leyva Muñoz Ramirez
Alias Night Stalker
Born February 29, 1960, El Paso, Texas
Died June 7, 2013, Greenbrae, California
Convicted murders 13
Sentence 19 death sentences (commuted by death)
Trial start 1988
Active period June 28, 1984 – August 24, 1985

What is the latest verified information about Richard Ramirez?

Confirmation of death date – 2013, not 2026

  • Night Stalker Richard Ramirez died June 7, 2013 (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference resource))
  • Cause listed as natural causes (A&E (television network))

He succumbed to natural causes after a 24-year stay on death row. His death was widely reported at the time, yet a 2026 CDCR notice about a different Richard Ramirez has revived confusion.

The 2026 CDCR notice – a different condemned inmate

The notice states that Richard R. Ramirez was 66, died at California Health Care Facility in Stockton, and had been received from Orange County on August 15, 1985, placed on condemned status for first-degree murder with a firearm enhancement.

The catch

The 2026 CDCR death notice has been widely misattributed to the Night Stalker, but the department’s own release identifies the deceased as Richard R. Ramirez, a different condemned inmate. Always verify the individual behind the name.

The pattern: Two condemned inmates share a common name, but their crimes, timelines, and death dates are distinct. Official records from 2013 definitively close the book on the Night Stalker.

What should readers know first about Richard Ramirez?

Biographical summary

  • Born February 29, 1960, in El Paso, Texas (Britannica)
  • Gained the alias “Night Stalker” during a 14-month spree (A&E)
  • Confessed to multiple murders, sexual assaults, and burglaries (Wikipedia)

Crime spree timeline

  • First confirmed murder: June 28, 1984 (Britannica)
  • Last confirmed murder and capture: August 24, 1985
Date Event
February 29, 1960 Richard Ramirez born in El Paso, Texas
June 28, 1984 First confirmed murder (J. Lenoir) (Britannica)
March 1985 Media nickname “Night Stalker” emerges
August 24, 1985 Last confirmed murder; captured by citizens after public identification
September 1989 Convicted on 13 murder counts, sentenced to death (A&E)
June 7, 2013 Died at Marin General Hospital, Greenbrae, California (Britannica)

What this means: The Night Stalker’s criminal career lasted just over a year, yet his legal aftermath spanned nearly three decades before his natural death on death row.

Which official sources confirm key claims about Richard Ramirez?

Primary official sources

  • CDCR (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation) – provides the 2026 death notice for Richard R. Ramirez, clarifying it is not the Night Stalker.
  • Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher) – edited biography with verified victim count and legal summary.
  • A&E (television network and content publisher) – details the death and medical condition of Richard Ramirez.
  • FOX 11 Los Angeles (regional news outlet) – reported the 2026 confusion with confirmation from officials.
  • Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia) – consolidates court documents and sentencing timeline.

The implication: Relying on a single source can lead to error. Cross-referencing multiple authoritative records is the only way to avoid the homonym trap.

What is still unclear or unverified about Richard Ramirez?

The 2026 death notice confusion

  • Many online sources conflate the two inmates
  • Cause of death for Richard R. Ramirez not yet released by coroner (CDCR)

Despite clear official statements, many online platforms and social media posts continue to spread the error. The full scope of this misinformation has not been systematically tracked.

Victim count discrepancies

  • Official count: 13 murders (A&E)
  • Unofficial estimates up to 15 potential victims

Some researchers suggest the actual number may be higher because some victims survived attacks or were not linked to Ramirez at trial (A&E). The exact motive – often attributed to Satanism or childhood trauma – remains a subject of psychological speculation rather than confirmed diagnosis (Wikipedia).

What to watch

Misinformation about the Night Stalker’s death date is now widespread. Readers should check the publication date and official sources before accepting any claim about Richard Ramirez’s death.

The trade-off: The certainty of 13 convictions must be weighed against the uncertainty of untested leads and the enduring mystery of Ramirez’s full criminal history.

What are the most common user questions on Richard Ramirez?

How many people did Richard Ramirez kill?

  • At least 13 confirmed at trial (Britannica)

Some sources note that the actual number may be higher but not proven.

When and where did he die?

  • June 7, 2013, Marin General Hospital, Greenbrae, California (Britannica)

He was 53 years old.

What is the Night Stalker documentary?

  • Several documentaries exist, including “Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer” (2021)

Wikipedia lists productions with official court recordings.

Why this matters: User search behavior shows people are actively seeking clarity after the 2026 CDCR notice. Providing clear, source-backed answers helps counter the spread of outdated or incorrect information.

Timeline: key events in the Richard Ramirez case

Date Event
February 29, 1960 Richard Ramirez born in El Paso, Texas
June 28, 1984 First confirmed murder (J. Lenoir) (Britannica)
March 1985 Media nickname “Night Stalker” emerges
August 24, 1985 Last confirmed murder; captured by citizens after public identification
September 1989 Convicted on 13 murder counts, sentenced to death (A&E)
June 7, 2013 Richard Ramirez dies at Marin General Hospital, Greenbrae, California (Britannica)
May 24, 2026 Richard R. Ramirez (different inmate) dies at CHCF Stockton – media confusion erupts (CDCR)

Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Richard Ramirez (Night Stalker) died June 7, 2013 (Britannica)
  • 13 murders confirmed in court records (A&E)
  • Sentenced to 19 death sentences in 1989 (Wikipedia)
  • Born Ricardo Leyva Muñoz Ramirez on February 29, 1960 (Britannica)
  • Active June 1984 – August 1985 in Los Angeles and San Francisco (Britannica)

What remains unclear

  • Exact cause of Night Stalker’s death beyond “natural causes” (Britannica)
  • Whether victim count exceeds 13 (A&E)
  • Full psychological motive
  • Extent of the 2026 Richard R. Ramirez confusion in media archives

Official statements and source excerpts

“Condemned incarcerated person Richard R. Ramirez died on May 24, 2026 while incarcerated at California Health Care Facility in Stockton.”

– CDCR official statement

“Officials said he was not the infamous ‘Night Stalker’ serial killer of the same name.”

– FOX 11 Los Angeles

“Richard Ramirez terrorized the greater Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay areas beginning in 1984. He was sentenced to death in 1989 for 13 murders.”

– A&E

For anyone researching Richard Ramirez, the choice between trusting a 2026 viral post and official 2013 records is clear: rely on primary sources from CDCR, Britannica, and A&E, or risk perpetuating a case of mistaken identity that muddies one of America’s most notorious crime stories. The consequence: accurate history vs. misinformation.

Additional sources

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Frequently asked questions

How many people did Richard Ramirez kill?

At least 13 murders were confirmed in court. Some sources suggest up to 15 potential victims, but only 13 were proven at trial.

When did Richard Ramirez die?

The Night Stalker died on June 7, 2013, at age 53, at Marin General Hospital in Greenbrae, California. He was not executed; he died of natural causes.

What was Richard Ramirez’s cause of death?

Official records list natural causes. Some reports indicate he had B-cell lymphoma while on death row.

Was Richard Ramirez executed?

No. He was sentenced to death in 1989 but died on death row in 2013 before his execution could be carried out.

How long was Richard Ramirez on death row?

He was on death row from his 1989 sentencing until his death in 2013, a period of approximately 24 years.

What did Richard Ramirez do?

He was a serial killer, sex offender, and burglar who terrorized Southern California and the San Francisco Bay Area in 1984–85. He was convicted of 13 murders, plus numerous sexual assaults and burglaries.

Who was the Night Stalker?

The Night Stalker is the nickname for Richard Ramirez, the serial killer active in California in the mid-1980s.

Where can I find official Richard Ramirez records?

For the Night Stalker: Britannica, A&E, and Wikipedia provide verified summaries. For the 2026 Richard R. Ramirez death notice: the CDCR news release is the primary source.

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