Should You Watch the Night Stalker Docuseries on Netflix?
Who is the night stalker? Is the Night Stalker docuseries real? Is it scary? Is the Night Stalker still alive?
These all questions that might be going through your head after hearing of the new Netflix docuseries. If you’re not into true crime like I am… I admit, it could be a tad scary in concept. Especially if you have an active imagination, it’s possible you will imagine this man coming into your room at night through your window.
Richard Ramirez, the Night Stalker, was charged with 14 counts of homicide and that’s not including the kidnapping and rapes of young children. Honestly, what was the most disturbing about him, was the fact that he didn’t have an ‘ideal witness’. He was purely an opportunity killer. Gender. Race. Age. Nothing linking the victims together likely you typically see. I mean, Bundy had a clear type, which is quite obvious to anyone that has watched a single documentary on him.
It is said that he left a pentagram somewhere at every crime scene, but I guess that wasn’t enough to link all of the killings, but one other thing that did and there will be more on that because it’s the one thing that I had a very hard time understanding after watching the documentary.
Richard is originally from El Paso, TX and unsurprisingly had a rough childhood. In Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer, they mentioned that his dad would tie him to a cross in the cemetery and leave him there overnight.
OVERNIGHT.
Can you even imagine that kind of that behavior
He also had a cousin that was in Vietnam that told him about the torture they’d use during the war and introduced him to drugs.
I’m not trying to make excuses for anyone, but I’m in the camp of serial killers are created not born, and with that small glimpse into his background I think it’s easy to see what set him down the path he ultimately did.
Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer
The docuseries is broken down into four episodes that are just short on an hour. The first episode you meet the two detectives that first connected all of the murders, Gil Carrillo and Frank Salerno.
Both of these men are bad ass, let’s just say it. Gil Carrillo was the first and only person to believe for the longest time that one man was committing all of these ‘unlinkable’ crimes. Finally, when Frank, who was instrumental in catching the Hillside Strangler, stepped up wanting to partner with Gil did people finally take him seriously.
The second episode is where we discover the evidence of the shoe that linked the crime scenes, they found a car that might have useful evidence, eye witness drawings. And we learn about more victims.
The third episode, probably the most frustrating for us the viewers and I can’t even begin to imagine how frustrated Frank and Gil must have been, because multiple roadblocks were thrown in their way. From turf wars, limited resources and the media getting in the way. If you are prone to throwing things when mad. Just go ahead and hide anything within reach.
The fourth and final episode is my favorite! You get to watch a neighbor rally together and take down Richard Ramierez. It was empowering to watch and the Night Stalker is lucky he wasn’t killed right there in East Los Angeles.
But I still have questions…
In one of the first two episodes we see the foot print he left at the scene of a couple of crimes. They were size 12, Avia shoes, which at the time were new to the market. From eye witness accounts we know that the shoes are black.
Okay, that sounds plausible, right?
Here is where I get hung up. The black, size 12, Avia shoes were the ONLY pair sold in L.A. at the time. In 1985, there was a population of over 8 million. And you are telling me that there was only one shoe of this kind sold there.
What are the odds that the most dangerous criminal that year, had that one pair of unique shoes? Where did he buy them? How did he get his hands on this exact pair of shoes?
My friend and I just can’t get over it. We need someone to explain how this can happen.
Also, the unexplainable, at least for me, was the fact that he was able to open a window to a house and the home owners swear it was painted shut and had never been opened since they moved in.
I admit, I’m not the handiest of people, but how is that done? A razor blade? To be clear, I’m doubting what these people say. I just want to understand how that’s possible.
The Trial
I’m sure you’ve heard by now, but the first day in court the Night Stalker stands up with a pentagram tattooed on his hand and shouts, ‘Hail Satan’. Honestly, this man showed no signs of remorse. He was smiling and winking at his ‘groupies’. He wore sunglasses, and just appeared cocky as hell and I wanted to slap the smile off of his face.
And these women? Even men, reall. Just glorified him. Sent him naked pictures, got the pentagram tattoo to match his.
Like Bundy, whom he studied, he was married in prison while serving his life sentence. His wife believed in his innocence and as far as I know still believes in it. I honestly can’t even imagine, but I guess I’d rather her marry him believing he’s innocent than marrying him, believing that he’s guilty.
He was sentenced to death, but ultimately died of cancer before he could be executed. Had he committed these crimes in Texas, his birth place… I have a feeling that wouldn’t have been the case.
Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer is one of the best documentaries I’ve seen. It’s well put together, riveting, disturbing and will have you engrossed the entire time.
The footage of him being taken down by the neighborhood is unforgettable and I couldn’t have been more proud of a community coming together like that. I felt pride for both Frank and Gil for pursuing Richard Ramirez and being so key to the entire ordeal.
I cannot recommend Night Stalker to you more, it’s a must watch docuseries.
