So…I Married a Serial Killer - Mrs. Richard Ramirez
Once Upon A Crime | True Crime
Esther Ludlow
4.6 • 5K Ratings
🗓️ 11 February 2025
⏱️ 33 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Throughout history, some of the world’s most notorious serial killers have drawn romantic attention, even after their heinous crimes were exposed. From Ted Bundy to Richard Ramirez, these men—locked away for unspeakable acts—still managed to captivate and attract devoted partners. But what compels someone to pledge their love and loyalty to a known murderer?
In this episode, we dive into one of the most infamous cases of romantic obsession with a serial killer: the story of Doreen Lioy and Richard Ramirez, also known as "The Night Stalker." Despite overwhelming evidence of his brutal crimes, Lioy became Ramirez’s fiercest defender and ultimately married him while he was on death row. Was her devotion fueled by a misguided belief in redemption, a deep psychological compulsion, or something even darker?
Join us as we explore the unsettling psychology behind these relationships, the societal fascination with dangerous men, and the mystery of why some women choose to look past the horrors to see someone they deem worthy of love.
Once Upon a Crime episode, Infamous Locales: The Cecil Hotel - Part 1.
https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s2-ep91-infamous-locales-the-cecil-hotel-part-1/
Sources:
Carlo, Philip. The Life and Crimes of Richard Ramirez, The Night Stalker. New York: Citadel Press, 2006.
https://people.com/where-is-night-stalker-richard-ramirez-wife-now-8759972
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/stalker-s-bride-3121711.php
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Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | This podcast details true crime cases. |
| 0:02.8 | It contains adult themes and may contain descriptions of violence. |
| 0:06.2 | This episode contains explicit language. |
| 0:08.9 | It is not intended for children. |
| 0:10.7 | Listener discretion is advised. |
| 0:16.7 | Thank you for joining me for today's episode of Once Upon a Crime. |
| 0:25.0 | February ushers in a holiday of love, Valentine's Day. |
| 0:29.0 | Couples mark the day by exchanging heartfelt gifts, gazing at each other over candlelight dinners, |
| 0:34.0 | or taking a romantic trip together. |
| 0:37.0 | But have you ever wondered what causes two people to become attracted to one another? |
| 0:41.8 | Or how they decide to enter into a romantic relationship? |
| 0:45.6 | Of course, a variety of factors are at play when it comes to pairing up. |
| 0:49.7 | Common interests, physical attraction, familiarity, a shared sense of humor, and compatible life goals |
| 0:55.8 | are just a few often cited. Perhaps most importantly, most of us seek out partners who are |
| 1:01.7 | giving, loving, and kind. So it boggles the mind that some find themselves intensely attracted |
| 1:08.0 | to someone exhibiting the opposite of these qualities. They fall in love |
| 1:12.7 | with the worst society has to offer, kidnappers, rapists, and serial killers. Throughout history, |
| 1:20.1 | some of the world's most infamous serial killers have found themselves at the center of an |
| 1:24.5 | unsettling phenomenon, gaining romantic partners even after their horrific crimes |
| 1:29.4 | were exposed. From Ted Bundy to Richard Ramirez, these men, despite being locked away for their |
| 1:35.7 | brutal acts, still managed to attract women willing to pledge their love and loyalty, and even |
| 1:41.1 | marry them. But what drives someone to commit their life to a known murderer? |
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