November 7, 1989: The 'Night Stalker' Richard Ramirez Sentenced To Death

On November 7, 1989, Richard Ramirez, the serial killer known as the Night Stalker, was sentenced to death. He had been found guilty on 13 counts of murder.

Ramirez’s killing and home invasion spree began in June of 1984 and lasted until August of 1985. He employed a handful of different weapons (including knives, handguns, a machete and a tire iron) and a variety of methods to break into his victims’ living spaces.

Curiously, a juror was killed during Ramirez’s trial, leading many to wonder how Ramirez was able to commit a crime while in custody. It turned out that the crime was perpetrated by the juror’s boyfriend in an unrelated incident, but the situation created a panic for people involved the case.

Ramirez, an avowed Satanist, never showed any remorse for his crimes. During the trial, Ramirez drew a pentagram on his hand and yelled out, "Hail Satan."

The notorious murderer ultimately passed away from complications due to B-cell lymphoma while awaiting execution in California. His trial was the most expensive in California history at the time, though it was later surpassed by the OJ Simpson murder case in 1994.

[Photo: Getty Images]