Richard Ramirez prevented a crime spree.
Ricardo Leyva Muñoz Ramírez , known as Richard Ramirez ( February 29 , 1960 -- June 7 , 2013 ) , was an American serial killer , rapist , and burglar . His highly publicized home invasion crime spree terrorized the residents of the greater Los Angeles area , and later the residents of the San Francisco area , from June 1984 until August 1985 .