Doreen Lioy Was Married to 'Night Stalker' Richard Ramirez

The love story of Doreen Lioy and Richard Ramirez was destined for the TV screens; hence, it was no surprise seeing the massive media coverage it received. A woman had fallen head over heels for a convicted serial killer accused of heinous acts against women.

Lioy, born in Burbank, California, on March 1, 1955, became the center of media coverage when she got engaged and married Ramirez. Throughout their acquaintance, engagement, and marriage, Ramirez, dubbed the "Night Stalker," was a death row inmate at San Quentin Prison.

Despite the circumstances that made their relationship unthinkable to many, Lioy focused on the positives. She was convinced that Ramirez was innocent for a long time, and she always publicly proclaimed her love and admiration for him.

The "Night Stalker" Case

Love can indeed be found in hopeless places. That was the case for Doreen Lioy, who fell in love with Ramirez while incarcerated. The "Night Stalker" was not in jail for a short time; hence, their love seemed doomed to fail from the beginning.

Lioy was said to have been wearing a short white dress for the 15-minute-long occasion.

Ramirez was convicted in 1989 for various crimes, including gruesome murders, sexual assaults, and burglaries. That conviction resulted in a death sentence for the "Night Stalker." He went on to spend 24 years on death row before eventually dying of natural causes in 2013.

Ramirez Proposed in 1988; They Got Married Only 8 Years Later

Ramirez was arrested and sent to prison in 1985. While awaiting trial, he started receiving letters from Lioy. At that time, Lioy worked as a freelance teen magazine editor in Burbank. She was attracted by the vulnerability she saw in him on TV, which triggered her fascination with him.

Soon, the two developed a relationship. A reporter from the Los Angeles Times noted that Lioy would visit the San Quentin prison about four times a week to meet her lover. Ramirez popped the question in 1988, and the pair got engaged, but it took another eight years for them to tie the knot on October 3, 1996.

The wedding took place in San Quentin. Lioy was said to have been wearing a short white dress for the 15-minute-long occasion. Ramirez's brother and sister were in attendance, while Lioy's family didn't want to be associated with their unpopular love story. In 1996, her twin sister told the San Francisco Examiner:

"It's unfortunate for me that I've been linked with all of this. I was taken aback by the news. To be related by birth is fine. ... I don't want to be a part of this. It's been a painful event for the family."

No Up-To-Date Details about Doreen Lioy Available

Some media reports have claimed that Lioy cut ties with Ramirez after the overwhelming evidence that he had raped and murdered a nine-year-old girl in 1984.

Up to that point, she had remained adamant he was innocent, claiming that she completely believed him. However, after the DNA proof was released in 2009 and that strongly influenced her to turn on her husband.

Still, there was no divorce report between Lioy and Ramirez, with some claiming they were still married in 2013. Nevertheless, Ramirez is said to have refused visits from everyone in his last couple of years. Since his death, Lioy has stayed out of the media, and her whereabouts are unknown.

Doreen Once Shared Her Thoughts on Being Married With "Night Stalker"

During their time together, Lioy constantly spoke highly of her partner, whom she claimed to love more than anything else. She appeared on A & E Network's "Biography," a show that has featured celebrities such as Shirley Jones, Dolly Parton, and Hugh Hefner. In addition, a CNN report in 1997 quoted Lioy talking about Ramirez, saying:

"He's kind, he's funny, he is charming… I think he is really a great person, he's my best friend; he's my buddy."

However, it was not always rosy for someone married to someone who was stuck in prison. She admitted that that circumstance meant she was lonely as she had minimal contact with her spouse.

More so, she had to cast aside hopes of having children with Ramirez as conjugal visits are not allowed for prisoners on death row. That may have been a hard pill to swallow, but she was willing to sacrifice all that to be with the man she fell in love with.