A condemned inmate at San Quentin State Prison known as the “Night Stalker” died early this morning, a prison lieutenant said.
Richard Ramirez, 53, died of natural causes at Marin General Hospital this morning, San Quentin State Prison Lt. Sam Robinson said.
Ramirez was found guilty in 1989 of 13 murders and other attempted killings, sexual assaults and burglaries that primarily occurred in Southern California in the 1980s.
He also shot and killed a man in San Francisco in August 1985 and assaulted the man’s wife, who survived the attack.
After his arrest in 1985 and subsequent trial and conviction, Ramirez was put on death row.
Prison officials said since 1978, 59 condemned inmates in California have died from natural causes, 22 have committed suicide and 13 have been executed.
There are 735 inmates on death row in California.
Sasha Lekach, Bay City News
