Richard Ramirez was born on February 29, 1960, in El Paso, Texas, as the youngest child in a large immigrant family. His childhood was overshadowed by financial hardship and an unstable home environment, particularly due to his father’s severe temper. These early challenges affected his emotional development, contributing to feelings of fear, insecurity, and disconnection.
Throughout his youth, Ramirez experienced multiple head injuries, which medical professionals later believed may have contributed to difficulties with impulse control and behavior. Combined with the emotional strain of growing up in a stressful household, these incidents marked the beginning of a troubled journey. By adolescence, he began to feel increasingly isolated and distanced from school and family, turning instead to life on the streets for a false sense of freedom and escape.
