🔍
The murder of Mei Leung is widely considered the first known killing committed by Richard Ramirez. This case predates the peak of the Night Stalker attacks but already demonstrates key elements that would later define his crimes, including opportunistic entry, extreme violence, and targeting vulnerable victims. At this early stage, Ramirez was not yet identified as a serial offender, and the case remained largely isolated from later investigations.
Ramirez lured or forced Leung into a secluded basement area of the hotel. She was sexually assaulted and murdered. The crime demonstrated a willingness to target children and commit acts of extreme violence in confined environments.
At the time, the case was not connected to a broader pattern. Investigators treated it as an isolated homicide. It was only later, after Ramirez’s arrest, that this crime was linked to him through DNA evidence.