The Case of Elyas Abowath and Family

On August 8, 1985, Richard Ramirez entered the Diamond Bar home of Elyas Abowath and his family. Elyas, 35, was shot in the head while asleep. His wife, Sakina, was beaten, sexually assaulted and forced to reveal the location of valuables, while their two young children survived unharmed. The attack became a major turning point because authorities publicly announced that the crimes were the work of a serial killer.

Elyas Abowath was a 35-year-old Pakistani immigrant who worked for a computer company. He lived with his wife, Sakina, and their two young children in a relatively new residential neighborhood in Diamond Bar. By August 1985, Richard Ramirez had been responsible for a rapidly growing series of murders and attacks throughout Southern California. The Abowath family was attacked during the early morning hours of August 8, 1985, just two days after Ramirez had attacked Christopher and Virginia Petersen in Northridge.

Ramirez entered the Abowath home at approximately 4 a.m. Elyas was asleep in the master bedroom when Ramirez shot him in the head with a .25-caliber handgun. Sakina was then restrained and beaten. Ramirez forced her to reveal where the family's jewelry was kept and sexually assaulted her. Their two children, aged 3 years and 3 months, were unharmed. The family home was located on a poorly lit hillside cul-de-sac. After the attack, the family's three-year-old son went next door seeking help, telling the neighbors that his father was not feeling well. The neighbors then discovered what had happened.

The Abowath murders became a critical development in the Night Stalker investigation. Later on August 8, Los Angeles County Sheriff Sherman Block publicly announced that authorities had linked the attack to a series of six killings committed by the same suspect. This was the first public confirmation that Southern California was dealing with a serial killer. The announcement triggered widespread fear throughout the region, with residents increasing home security, holding neighborhood vigils and changing their routines. The investigation rapidly expanded as detectives from multiple agencies shared information about the attacks. Evidence from the Abowath crime scene was compared with evidence from other Night Stalker attacks. Investigators were able to establish connections through the weapon, methods and other physical evidence. Following Ramirez's arrest later that month, investigators identified him as the offender responsible for the Abowath attack.

Richard Ramirez was convicted in 1989 of murdering Elyas Abowath. The murder formed part of the 13 murder convictions that resulted in Ramirez receiving a death sentence. Sakina Abowath and her children survived the attack. Ramirez remained on California's death row until his death from complications of B-cell lymphoma at San Quentin State Prison on June 7, 2013.

The Abowath case was one of the most important incidents in the Night Stalker investigation because it was the first case in which authorities publicly announced that the attacks were being committed by a serial killer. The announcement dramatically changed public awareness of the investigation and contributed to the widespread fear that followed.