All language subtitles for Horror.At.The.Cecil.Hotel.S01E01.WEBRip.x264-ION10.English

**

41, we have a code 39...

- DOWNTOWN L.A...
- Corner lot at 401 West Main.

WHAT'S A CODE 39?

CODE 39, SOMEONE IS DEAD.

...A REPORTER ON ASSIGNMENT
TO UNCOVER CRIME...

THE YOUNG WOMAN APPEARS TO HAVE
BEEN STRANGLED AND BEATEN.

...WHEN A KILLER STRIKES.

THE CITY WAS ON EDGE.

I KEEP MY DOORS LOCKED
AND MY GUNS LOADED.

AND THERE'S
A SHOCKING CONNECTION...

THE KILLER WAS SEEN DISPOSING
OF BLOODY CLOTHES.

...TO CALIFORNIA'S MOST
NOTORIOUS SERIAL KILLER...

HAIL SATAN.

...TO THE INFAMOUS CECIL HOTEL

...AND A JOURNALIST
WHO BECAME PART OF THE STORY.

I'M GOING TO NEED YOU
TO STAY BACK.

ASSAULTS, RAPES, MURDER.

THERE'S BEEN MURDER AT CECIL.

**

**

SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE
THE CECIL HOTEL IS HAUNTED

AND ACTUALLY CURSED.

I'VE VISITED THE HOTEL
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

I'VE FOLLOWED UP INVESTIGATIONS,
AND WALKING INTO THAT HOTEL

WAS ALWAYS
AN EERIE FEELING FOR ME.

LOOKING AT BROCHURES
OR LOOKING AT

THE LOCATION OVER THE INTERNET,

THE CECIL HOTEL WOULD LOOK
LIKE A NICE PLACE TO STAY,

BUT ULTIMATELY,
UPON ANYONE'S ARRIVAL,

I THINK THEY WOULD QUICKLY SEE

THAT IT'S NOT
WHAT WAS ADVERTISED.

**

JACK UNTERWEGER CHECKING IN.

YOU SURE YOU GOT
THE RIGHT PLACE?

I HOPE SO.
I CALLED LAST MONTH.

I RESERVED ROOM 1402.

HERE IT IS, JACK UNTERWEGER.

IT'S JUST WE DON'T GET TOO MANY
SUIT-AND-TIE TYPES ANYMORE.

HOW MANY NIGHTS, MR. UNTERWEGER?

DON'T KNOW.
CAN I PAY BY THE DAY?

SOME PEOPLE PAY
BY THE HOUR.

ELEVATOR IS DOWN THE HALL
ON YOUR LEFT.

TOP FLOOR, COME OUT OF
THE ELEVATOR, TAKE A LEFT.

THANK YOU.

JACK UNTERWEGER
WAS A JOURNALIST

AND A TALK SHOW HOST IN AUSTRIA,

AND HE WAS VERY WELL-KNOWN
FOR WRITING ABOUT TRUE CRIME

AND SPECIFICALLY MURDER.

HE WAS ACTUALLY CELEBRATED
FOR HIS WRITING ON THE SUBJECT.

I HAD FINALLY ARRIVED
AT THE CECIL HOTEL,

BUT I WASN'T ABOUT
TO CATCH UP ON SLEEP.

IT WAS MY FIRST TIME IN L.A.

IT WAS EVEN MY FIRST TIME
IN THE U.S.

AND RIGHT OFF THE BAT

I COULD TELL I WAS IN
THE RIGHT PLACE.

BY THE 1990s, THE CECIL
WAS THE PERFECT PLACE

FOR A CRIME WRITER INTERESTED
IN SEEDY LOS ANGELES, TO STAY.

**

IT WAS WHERE
DRUG DEALERS AND PIMPS

AND PROSTITUTES
AND HOMELESS PEOPLE

KIND OF CONGREGATED
AND WERE, IN A LOT OF WAYS,

KIND OF LEFT TO
THEIR OWN DEVICES

WITH THEIR OWN SET
OF RULES AND LAWS.

I MEAN, IT WAS ALMOST
A LAWLESS PLACE.

IN 1924 WHEN THE CECIL HOTEL
WAS BUILT, I MEAN,

IT WAS PRIMARILY FOR TOURISTS

AND BUSINESS PEOPLE
TO VISIT LOS ANGELES.

YOU KNOW,
IT WAS A GLAMOROUS TIME.

BY 1991,
THE CECIL WAS JUST

A SAD REFLECTION
OF ITS FORMER SELF.

IT HAD BEEN THIS BEAUTIFUL
ART-DECO HOTEL,

AND NOW IT WAS JUST SORT OF
LIKE A DEAD FLOWER.

MOST PEOPLE ASSOCIATE L.A.

WITH HOLLYWOOD, MOVIES, STARS,

ALL THAT GLAMOUR,

BUT I WAS HERE TO FIND
THE OTHER LOS ANGELES,

STREETS TEEMING WITH TROUBLE.

**

POLICE ARE HERE FOR YOU.

**

JACK ARRANGED WITH

THE LOS ANGELES POLICE
DEPARTMENT

TO GO ON RIDE-ALONGS,

AND THE PRIMARY NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT POLICE WERE TAKING HIM TO

WAS THE NEIGHBORHOOD
AROUND THE CECIL HOTEL.

JACK, JIM LARRY,
GOOD TO FINALLY MEET YOU.

- SAME HERE, JIM.
- YOU READY?

I'VE BEEN READY FOR MONTHS.

UNTERWEGER CAME
TO LOS ANGELES ON ASSIGNMENT

WITH SOME AUSTRIAN MAGAZINES
TO WRITE ABOUT CRIME

AND SPECIFICALLY PROSTITUTION

IN THE LOS ANGELES
METROPOLITAN AREA.

**

FOR JACK,
IT WAS IMPORTANT AS A WRITER

TO GET INTRODUCED
INTO THE CULTURE

AND UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES.

WHILE I CAME TO REPORT
ON VICE,

IT WAS HOMICIDE THAT FIRST
DREW ME TO CRIME IN L.A.

IT HAD ONLY BEEN 6 YEARS
SINCE A SERIAL KILLER

NAMED RICHARD RAMIREZ
TERRORIZED THE CITY

AND MADE INTERNATIONAL NEWS.

6 TO 8 MURDERS
AND 25 TO 30 ATTACKS.

YOU KNOW, BACK HOME,
THE L.A.P.D. IS...

WELL, WE THINK OF THEM
AS THE FINEST POLICE FORCE

IN THE WORLD.

SO DO WE.

THAT'S OFF THE RECORD.

JACK HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS
ABOUT CRIME PROBLEMS

AND THE ISSUES AND HOW THEY'RE
TRYING TO DEAL WITH IT.

THIS JOB, PATROLLING
THE STREETS OF L.A.,

WHAT'S THE HARDEST PART?

FIGHTING AGAINST THE TIDE,
JACK. THAT'S THE HARDEST PART.

SOMEHOW, EVERYTHING GOT
TURNED AROUND IN THIS CITY.

WE USED TO STAY AHEAD
OF THE CRIME.

NOW ALL WE DO IS CLEAN UP,
WAIT FOR THE NEXT CALL.

YOU TAKE PROSTITUTION.

WE STILL MAKE ARRESTS,
BUT WE SET IT UP

SO THAT ALL OF THE HOOKERS
HAVE BEEN CORRALLED

INTO A FEW PARTS
OF THE CITY.

KEEP AN EYE ON THINGS
THAT WAY. THAT'S SMART.

**

IN L.A., CRIME WAS
AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH IN 1991,

AND IF YOU WERE GOING TO
COME HERE TO WRITE ABOUT IT,

THAT WOULD'VE BEEN THE YEAR.

CRACK COCAINE HAD INFILTRATED
MOST OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

CRIME, MURDER WAS ON THE RISE,

AND ON MAIN STREET, WHERE
THE CECIL HOTEL IS LOCATED,

THERE WAS LOTS OF STREETWALKERS,
LOTS OF ACTIVITY.

HERE'S A LITTLE COLOR
FOR YOUR STORY, JACK.

HEY, YOU KNOW
THE DRILL, JANELLE.

WHAT AM I GOING TO FIND
IN HERE, JANELLE?

- I DON'T KNOW. NOTHING.
- YOU DON'T KNOW OR NOTHING?

**

HOW MANY TIMES
YOU BEEN ARRESTED, JANELLE?

I DON'T KNOW. 10?

WELL, IF YOU WANT TO KEEP IT
AT 10, TALK TO MY FRIEND HERE.

HE'S WRITING A STORY ON CRIME
IN OUR FAIR CITY.

I DON'T HAVE TO USE
YOUR REAL NAME.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW?

I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT YOU,
YOUR LIFE ON THE STREETS,

WHAT YOU DO
TO MAKE IT DAY TO DAY.

I STAND HERE.

YOU STAND HERE?

IT WAS THE SAME STORY

I HEARD TIME AND TIME AGAIN
BACK HOME.

THEY CAME FROM BROKEN HOMES
AND ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS

AND BELIEVED THEY WERE FINDING
SALVATION IN THE STREETS.

BUT ON THESE STREETS
NEAR THE CECIL,

THEY WERE TRULY RISKING IT ALL.

I'D LIKE TO PAY YOU
FOR YOUR TIME.

- JACK, TIME TO GO.
- RIGHT. OKAY.

WELL, THANK YOU, JANELLE,
AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU.

LUCK'S GOT NOTHING
TO DO WITH IT.

**

JACK ASKED THE POLICE, YOU KNOW,
"TAKE ME TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS

"WHERE YOU HAVE THE MOST CRIME,
WHERE THEY HAD A LOT OF DRUGS,

A LOT OF PROSTITUTION,
A LOT OF KILLING,"

AND THAT'S PRIMARILY
THE NEIGHBORHOOD

AROUND THE CECIL HOTEL.

**

DETECTIVE, I WANT TO
THANK YOU AGAIN

FOR LETTING ME RIDE ALONG
WITH YOU.

WE CAN DO THIS AGAIN
IF YOU WANT.

GOT TO MAKE SURE
YOU GET ENOUGH MATERIAL.

THANKS.
I'LL TAKE ALL I CAN GET.

**

MY EDITORS THOUGHT I WAS
CRAZY TO STAY AT THE CECIL.

THEY TRIED TO PUT ME UP
IN A NICER PLACE,

BUT I PREFERRED TO BE
IN THE EYE OF THE STORM.

**

- I WANT MY MONEY!
- PLEASE COME ON!

IT WAS THE DARK SIDE OF L.A...

NO MOVIE STARS, NO GLAMOUR.

I WANT MY MONEY!

JUST THE CECIL HOTEL.

I WANT MY MONEY!
WHERE'S MY MONEY?

WHERE'S MY MONEY?!

**

JACK CONTINUED
TO GO ON RIDE-ALONGS

WITH THE LOS ANGELES
POLICE DEPARTMENT,

AND IT REALLY DREW HIM INTO
THE HEART OF THESE SUBJECTS

THAT HE WAS WRITING ABOUT.

ALL THE WHILE,
IN THE BACK OF MY MIND,

I WAS HOPING TO PICK UP A STORY

ABOUT A KILLER
LIKE RICHARD RAMIREZ.

**

I KNOW IT'S ODD TO SAY,
BUT NOT ONLY AM I READY.

I'M DYING
TO GET BACK OUT THERE.

FOR JACK, COMING FROM
ANOTHER COUNTRY,

TO ARRIVE HERE
AND TO SECURE RIDE-ALONGS,

I MEAN, THIS HAD TO BE
THE ULTIMATE FOR HIM.

I WAS GOING OVER MY NOTES
FROM YESTERDAY,

AND THERE'S ONE THING
I DON'T QUITE GET.

SURE.

THESE PROSTITUTES,
WHEN YOU ARREST THEM, WHO...

WE HAVE A CODE 39,
CORNER LOT AT 401 WEST MAIN.

CENTRAL 11414 IS LOCAL
AND EN ROUTE.

WHAT'S A CODE 39?

CODE 39, SOMEONE IS DEAD.

**

**

I CAME TO LOS ANGELES
TO WRITE ABOUT THE CITY'S CRIME

AND DISCOVERED
THERE WAS NO SHORTAGE.

**

DELIVERY GUY FOUND HER
THIS MORNING.

JACK, I'M GOING TO NEED YOU
TO STAY BACK.

IT WAS ONLY MY SECOND TIME
RIDING ALONG WITH THE L.A.P.D.,

BUT I WAS ALREADY LAYING EYES
ON A GENUINE AMERICAN HOMICIDE.

LIGATURE MARKS HERE AND HERE.

**

- WHO'S COMING?
- THE CORONER IS ON HIS WAY.

OKAY. HANG TIGHT TILL
THEY GET HERE.

THEN START KNOCKING ON DOORS.

THERE'S ANOTHER DETECTIVE COMING
ALONG WITH A CORONER'S UNIT,

SO WE SHOULD GET OUT OF THE WAY
AND LET THEM DO THEIR WORK.

RIGHT, RIGHT, OF COURSE.

LET'S GO.

JUNE 19th, 1991.

THE BODY OF SHANNON EXLEY

WAS DISCOVERED IN A VACANT LOT
IN EAST LOS ANGELES.

SHANNON'S MURDER
WAS PARTICULARLY BRUTAL

AND HORRIFIC.

SHE'S BEEN STRANGLED
WITH HER OWN BRA,

AND THERE'S A CERTAIN
KIND OF KNOT

THAT'S BEEN USED
TO MAKE A LIGATURE.

THE NIGHT BEFORE SHANNON
WAS DISCOVERED,

SHE HAD ACTUALLY
TALKED TO HER FATHER,

AND SHE TOLD HER FATHER THAT SHE
WANTED TO GET HER LIFE STRAIGHT.

SHE WANTED TO GET OFF
THE STREETS.

SHE WANTED TO GET AWAY FROM
THE DRUGS, THE PROSTITUTION.

HER DAD WAS COMPLETELY
SUPPORTIVE,

ONLY TO FIND OUT THE NEXT DAY
THAT SHE WAS DISCOVERED DEAD.

AFTER EACH RIDE-ALONG,
I'D RETURN TO THE CECIL,

WHICH, LIKE THE REST
OF DOWNTOWN L.A.,

APPARENTLY HAD
ITS FAIR SHARE OF DEATH.

I WANTED THE HOTEL TO BE
A CHARACTER IN MY STORY,

SO I TALKED TO EVERYONE
I COULD ABOUT THIS PLACE.

THERE WAS A GUY NAMED
BILLY FLYNN, FOR INSTANCE.

HE HAD BEEN AT THE CECIL
FOR YEARS,

ONE OF ABOUT 100
LONG-TERM RESIDENTS

THAT LIVED HERE FULL-TIME.

IT WAS SO CHEAP
YOU COULD DO THAT.

FLYNN KNEW AS MUCH AS ANYONE
ABOUT THE HOTEL

AND ITS BIZARRE HISTORY.

HE LIKED TO TALK.

- CAN I HELP YOU?
- YOU BILLY FLYNN?

I'M JACK UNTERWEGER.
I'M A WRITER.

I WAS HOPING YOU'D HAVE
A DRINK WITH ME.

**

**

DO YOU BELIEVE IN A PLACE
BEING CURSED, JACK?

I SUPPOSE SO.

I DON'T SUPPOSE SO.
I KNOW SO.

THIS PLACE, THE CECIL,
THIS PLACE IS CURSED.

WE TALKED FOR HOURS.

FLYNN TOLD ME ONE REAL-LIFE
HORROR STORY AFTER ANOTHER

ABOUT THE CECIL.

THERE'S BEEN BEATINGS,
ROBBERIES,

ASSAULTS, RAPES, MURDER.

THERE'S BEEN MURDER
AT THE CECIL,

PERMANENT RESIDENT
JUST LIKE ME.

WHAT WAS HER NAME?

GOLDIE OSGOOD,
PIGEON LADY.

THEY CALLED HER THE PIGEON LADY
BECAUSE SHE USED TO GO

ACROSS THE STREET,
FEED PIGEONS ALL DAY.

TURNS OUT COPS FIND HER
RIGHT DOWN THE HALL,

RAPED, BEATEN,

STABBED TO DEATH.

PIGEON LADY IS AN INTERESTING
STORY, AND IT WAS BRUTAL.

SHE WAS FOUND STRANGLED TO DEATH
IN HER ROOM AT THE CECIL HOTEL,

AND IT WAS ONE OF THOSE
CRIME SCENES

THAT EVEN HARDENED INVESTIGATORS
SORT OF TEARED UP OVER.

AND IT REALLY STRUCK 'EM HARD
BECAUSE THIS WAS A WOMAN

THAT WAS WELL-KNOWN
IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD FOR BEING

JUST A KINDHEARTED LADY THAT
LOVED THE BIRDS.

NEVER CAUGHT THE GUY
THAT DID IT.

AND WHEN WAS THAT?

THAT WAS 1982.

WHEN DID YOU MOVE IN HERE?

1982.

**

I LEFT FLYNN'S ROOM

WONDERING WHETHER
THE CECIL ATTRACTED

DANGEROUS, ADDICTED,
OR INSANE TYPES OF PEOPLE,

OR IF THE HOTEL SOMEHOW
PUSHED GUESTS OVER THE EDGE,

OR MAYBE IT WAS JUST CURSED.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

LOOK AT YOU.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT?"

I'M A WRITER. I'M WORKING.

THAT'S NOT WHY YOU'RE HERE.

I KNOW WHY YOU'RE HERE,
AND THAT AIN'T IT.

GIVE ME 20 BUCKS.

**

I'LL BE SEEING YOU AROUND,
JACK.

**

FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS,

I RODE AROUND L.A. WITH
THE POLICE,

AND THEY SHOWED ME ALL OF IT --

THE DRUG DEALERS,
THE PIMPS, THE PROSTITUTES.

I HAD NO IDEA HOW BAD
THINGS WERE ABOUT TO GET,

BUT AS A JOURNALIST, SOMETIMES
BAD NEWS IS GOOD NEWS,

MORE MATERIAL
TO INCLUDE IN MY STORY.

RETURNING FROM
A 13-MONTH LAYOFF

AFTER SHOULDER SURGERY,

HERSHISER GAVE UP FOUR RUNS
AND SIX HITS

AS THE DODGERS LOST TO
THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS 9-4.

IN OTHER NEWS,
THE L.A.P.D. REPORTS

THAT A HOMELESS MAN FORAGING
FOR FIREWOOD IN BOYLE HEIGHTS

DISCOVERED THE BODY OF A WOMAN

WHO APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN
BRUTALLY MURDERED.

THIS IS
THE SECOND FEMALE VICTIM

TO BE FOUND IN BOYLE HEIGHTS
IN THE PAST WEEK.

THE YOUNG WOMAN APPEARS TO HAVE
BEEN STRANGLED AND BEATEN.

IRENE RODRIGUEZ WAS
THE SECOND VICTIM.

SHE WAS ALSO FROM
THAT 7th AVENUE AREA

WHERE SHANNON HAD BEEN WORKING.

AND LIKE SHANNON,
SHE WAS A HEROIN ADDICT

AND, AGAIN, WAS PROSTITUTING
TO SUPPORT THE HABIT.

SHE WAS STRANGLED
WITH HER OWN BRA.

SHE WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED
AND BEATEN

BEFORE AND AFTER SHE DIED,

JUST LIKE THE OTHER GIRL,
SHANNON EXLEY.

SEE THOSE LIGATURE MARKS?
THIS IS WHERE THEY CAME FROM.

LOOK AT THIS.

LOOK AT THE KNOTS.

VERY DETAILED, PRECISE.

NOW LOOK AT THIS ONE.

WE FOUND THIS ON SHANNON.

SAME KNOTS.

BOTH VICTIMS STRANGLED
WITH A BRA.

BOTH BRAS HAD THESE KNOTS.

SAME VIOLENT SEXUAL ASSAULT.

IRENE HAD ARRIVED IN LOS ANGELES
IN APRIL OF THAT YEAR.

SHE HAD LEFT TEXAS,

WHERE SHE WAS LIVING
WITH HER COMMON-LAW HUSBAND.

THEY HAD FOUR CHILDREN TOGETHER.

SHE WASN'T AROUND
A LOT BECAUSE HER LIFESTYLE,

BUT THE FACT
THAT SHE'D BEEN MURDERED

AND TAKEN FROM THEM
SO BRUTALLY

WAS JUST AN ABSOLUTELY TRAGIC
SITUATION FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY.

I CAME TO THE CECIL
TO WRITE ABOUT CRIME.

NOW IT WAS LOOKING AS IF

A SERIAL KILLER
LIKE RICHARD RAMIREZ

MIGHT BE ON THE LOOSE AGAIN.

THEY'RE ASKING ANYONE WITH
INFORMATION TO CALL.

I HAD A STORY.

POLICE ARE REFRAINING
FROM IDENTIFYING THE VICTIM

UNTIL HER NEXT OF KIN
ARE NOTIFIED.

TWO VICTIMS.

THEIR MANNER OF DEATH WAS
SIMILAR IN NATURE.

WE DEFINITELY HAD
A SERIAL KILLER ON THE LOOSE.

THE SAME DETECTIVE UNIT
THAT HANDLED

IRENE AND SHANNON'S MURDER
WERE THE SAME DETECTIVES

ASSIGNED TO INVESTIGATE
RICHARD RAMIREZ,

AND HERE WE ARE YEARS LATER WITH
TWO FEMALE VICTIMS BEING KILLED.

YOU KNOW, IS THERE GONNA BE
A THIRD?

IS THERE GONNA BE A FOURTH?

IS THE CITY GONNA UNRAVEL
AND BE IN THIS STATE OF PANIC

AS WE WERE DURING RAMIREZ?

BUT RICHARD RAMIREZ
HAS THE BEST ALIBI THERE IS.

HE'S BEEN BEHIND BARS AND ON
DEATH ROW FOR ABOUT 6 YEARS.

AND IF THIS IS THE WORK OF
A RAMIREZ COPYCAT,

THEN I NEED TO KNOW AS MUCH
AS POSSIBLE ABOUT RAMIREZ.

I FOUND A RESEARCH LIBRARY
NEAR THE CECIL

AND BEGAN LOOKING DEEPER
INTO RAMIREZ.

I WAS ABLE TO FIND THOUSANDS
OF RECORDS ON HIM.

I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND OUT
THAT BACK IN THE '80s,

HE, TOO, STAYED AT THE CECIL.

FOR HIM, THERE WAS NO BETTER
PLACE TO CONDUCT BUSINESS.

AND THE CECIL HOUSED
THE MOST DANGEROUS KILLER

IN L.A.'s HISTORY.

**

**

I WAS ON ASSIGNMENT,

WRITING ABOUT CRIME IN
LOS ANGELES,

AND IT SEEMED LIKE I CAME
TO THE RIGHT PLACE

AT THE RIGHT TIME.

IT WAS EERILY REMINISCENT OF
A MURDER SPREE THAT

MADE FAMOUS A SERIAL KILLER
NAMED RICHARD RAMIREZ.

BUT NOW, THE MORE I LOOKED
INTO HIS STORY,

THE MORE FASCINATED I BECAME
BY THE MADNESS HE EMBODIED.

HIS REIGN OF TERROR
BEGAN ON MARCH 17th, 1985.

IT WAS JUST ANOTHER NIGHT
IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

WHATEVER YOU WANT ME TO DO.

- ALL RIGHT.
- ALL RIGHT?

- GOOD NIGHT.
- GOOD NIGHT.

I GOT THIS.

- THANK YOU, PETEY.
- ALL RIGHT.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
DRIVE SAFE.

**

MARIA HERNANDEZ
LIVED IN AN APARTMENT

IN ROSEMEAD, CALIFORNIA.

IT'S ABOUT 15 MILES EAST OF
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.

**

**

MARIA HAD JUST DRIVEN HOME.

SHE HAD BEEN OUT FOR
THE EVENING.

IT WAS 10:40 AT NIGHT,
ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

**

**

PLEASE! PLEASE!
PLEASE DON'T --

NO, PLEASE!
PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!

PLEASE, PLEASE!

MARIA'S ROOMMATE, DAYLE OKAZAKI,
WAS INSIDE OF THE HOME.

SHE HAD DUCKED
WHEN SHE HEARD THE GUNSHOT

AND ACTUALLY SAW RAMIREZ
COME INTO THE HOUSE.

**

**

DAYLE OKAZAKI HAD DIED
FROM A SINGLE GUNSHOT WOUND

TO THE FOREHEAD,

AND HER ROOMMATE,
MARIA HERNANDEZ,

HAD SUSTAINED A GUNSHOT WOUND
TO HER RIGHT HAND.

BUT THE SUSPECT WAS GONE
PRIOR TO ARRIVAL

OF ANY OF THE DEPUTIES
RESPONDING.

HE HAD LONG BLACK HAIR.

NO!

AND HIS EYES WERE BLACK, TOO.

NO, PLEASE!

JUST DEAD EYES.

HIS SKIN AND HIS...HIS FACE.

HIS HANDS...

SHE DESCRIBED THIS MAN

AS A GUY WITH BAD TEETH,
BAD BREATH.

SHE FELT A DARKNESS AROUND HIM,

A DARK PRESENCE.

I READ THAT

MARIA HERNANDEZ
AND DAYLE OKAZAKI

WERE ONLY THE START
OF THE KILLER'S RAMPAGE.

EVEN ON THAT SAME NIGHT,
THERE WAS ANOTHER VICTIM.

THE KILLER LEFT DAYLE
AND MARIA'S HOME

AND DROVE AROUND FOR AWHILE,

AND HE ENDED UP
IN A NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY

CALLED MONTEREY PARK.

AND HE ENCOUNTERED A WOMAN

JUST PULLING UP
IN FRONT OF HER HOUSE.

HER NAME WAS TSAI-LIAN YU.

HE WAITED UNTIL
SHE GOT OUT OF HER CAR,

AND THEN HE SHOT HER.

KILLED HER RIGHT THERE.

MORE KILLINGS FOLLOWED.

SOME OF THEM HE WOULD SHOOT.

SOME OF THEM HE WOULD STAB.

SOME HE WOULD BEAT TO DEATH.

SOMETIMES, HE WOULD RAPE.

SOMETIMES, HE WOULD ROB.

I WAS ACTUALLY WORKING
SOUTH LOS ANGELES

AS A DETECTIVE,
AND THE CITY WAS ON EDGE.

I MEAN, WE HAD A SERIAL KILLER
ON THE LOOSE WITH NO HARD LEADS.

COPS STILL HAD NO IDEA
THE KILLER WAS RAMIREZ,

BUT THE MEDIA GAVE HIM
A NAME --

THE NIGHT STALKER.

THE SUSPECT VARIES
THE TIME, PLACE,

AND TYPE OF ATTACK,

BUT HE ALWAYS ENTERS THROUGH
AN OPEN DOOR OR WINDOW.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY OFFICIALS

HAVE AUTHORIZED
A $10,000 REWARD.

HE MOVED AROUND L.A.,

STRIKING IN ALL DIFFERENT KINDS
OF NEIGHBORHOODS.

IT WAS ALL SO RANDOM.

THE ONLY CONSTANT WAS THAT
HE'D STAYED AT THE CECIL.

**

**

THERE WERE REPORTS AT THIS TIME

THAT THE KILLER WAS SEEN
LATE AT NIGHT

DISPOSING OF BLOODY CLOTHES
AND EVIDENCE

IN THE DUMPSTER
BEHIND THE CECIL.

**

SOME PEOPLE CLAIMED THAT
THE KILLER WOULD BE

JUST WALKING BACK INTO THE CECIL

AND DOWN THE HALL
JUST IN HIS UNDERWEAR,

PRESUMABLY 'CAUSE HE HAD JUST
MAYBE KILLED SOMEBODY

AND DISPOSED OF THE CLOTHES.

THE THING THAT YOU'VE GOT
TO REMEMBER ABOUT THE CECIL

IN THE '80s IS
NOBODY PROBABLY CARED.

IT WAS A TYPICAL TUESDAY.

6 TO 8 MURDERS
AND 25 TO 30 ATTACKS.

I'VE BEEN VERY APPREHENSIVE.

I KEEP MY DOORS LOCKED
AND MY GUNS LOADED.

NOBODY KNOWS WHERE THIS
INDIVIDUAL MAY STRIKE NEXT.

215926 AAC.

THE BODY COUNT ROSE
WITH THE MERCURY

IN THE SUMMER OF 1985.

THE KILLER'S MURDERS
BECAME DARKER,

INFLUENCED BY HIS EVER-APPARENT
BELIEF IN SATANISM.

HE WAS MUTILATING HIS VICTIMS
AND DRAWING SATANIC SYMBOLS

ON THE WALLS OF THEIR HOMES,

AND SOMETIMES ON
THE VICTIMS THEMSELVES.

THE NIGHT STALKER WORSHIPPED
THE DEVIL AND HE WORSHIPED EVIL,

AND IN SOME CASES
WHERE HE ENCOUNTERED VICTIMS,

HE WOULD ASK THEM
TO PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO SATAN.

THERE WAS ONE VICTIM.

HE TOLD HER, "DON'T LOOK AT ME.
DON'T CALL THE COPS."

SHE SAID, "DON'T WORRY.
I WON'T. I SWEAR TO GOD."

HE TOLD HER, "DON'T SWEAR TO
GOD. SWEAR TO SATAN."

**

IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG

FOR PANIC TO TEAR ACROSS
LOS ANGELES.

THE LATEST VICTIM,
A 35-YEAR-OLD MAN,

SHOT IN THE HEAD LAST THURSDAY.

I'M AFRAID FOR EVERYBODY --
ELDERLY, YOUNG, EVERYBODY.

DETECTIVES WERE BAFFLED BECAUSE
THERE WASN'T ANY RHYME OR REASON

TO WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

EVERYBODY WAS SCARED
FOR THEIR LIVES.

YOU DIDN'T KNOW
WHEN HE WOULD APPEAR.

HE STRUCK ALL OVER
LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

HE ALSO DIDN'T HAVE A PARTICULAR
KIND OF PERSON HE LIKED TO KILL.

THE NIGHT STALKER
KILLED INDISCRIMINATELY

AND HE KILLED EVERYBODY.

IT WAS THIS UNPREDICTABILITY
THAT ADDED

AN EXTRA LAYER OF JUST
ABSOLUTE TERROR AND FEAR

IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

THE NIGHT STALKER
BECAME WORLD-FAMOUS,

AND THAT'S WHAT HE SEEMED
TO CRAVE MOST -- FAME.

NO ONE KNEW HE WAS LIVING
RIGHT UNDER THEIR NOSE,

RIGHT THERE AT 640 MAIN STREET
AT THE CECIL HOTEL.

BUT THIS REIGN OF TERROR
COULDN'T LAST FOREVER.

IT NEVER DOES.

**

**

A KILLER WAS ON THE LOOSE,

AND MY STORY ABOUT
LOS ANGELES CRIME

WAS TAKING A NEW TACK.

IT WAS JUST LIKE THE MID-'80s,

WHEN THE NEWS ARCHIVES
DESCRIBED

A CITY SPIRALING
OUT OF CONTROL.

WHILE RICHARD RAMIREZ WAS
LIVING AT THE CECIL HOTEL,

HE WAS RIDING HIGH ON A WAVE
OF TERROR ACROSS L.A.

WITH EACH ATTACK,
HIS EGO GREW, WITH GOOD REASON.

MY WORK
IN SERIAL KILLERS IS THAT

THEY THINK THEY'RE BETTER
THAN EVERYBODY.

THEY'RE SMARTER THAN EVERYBODY,

AND THEY PROVE IT
WHEN THEY DO THESE MURDERS

AND GET AWAY WITH IT.

AND THE MORE THEY DO
AND THE MORE THEY GET AWAY,

THE MORE THAT FUELS
THE NARCISSISM,

THE MORE THEY WANT TO SEE THAT
IN THE NEWSPAPER

AND THE MORE THEY WANT TO SEE IT
ON TELEVISION

BECAUSE IT JUST PROVES TO THEM

THEIR SUPERIORITY
TO EVERYBODY ELSE.

BUT ON AUGUST 25, 1985,
EVERYTHING CHANGED.

A SUSPECT ATTACKED
A COUPLE LIVING TOGETHER

IN MISSION VIEJO,

AND HE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED
THE FEMALE AND SHOT THE MALE,

LEAVING HIM FOR DEAD.

FORTUNATELY FOR EVERYONE
INVOLVED, THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN

WHO SAW THE SUSPECT
DRIVING BY IN A CAR.

HE NOTIFIED AUTHORITIES,

AND THAT CAR WAS
A REPORTED STOLEN VEHICLE,

AND IT WAS FOUND IN THE VICINITY
OF THE SKID ROW AREA,

CLOSE TO THE CECIL HOTEL.

AND THEY WERE ULTIMATELY ABLE
TO FIND A FINGERPRINT

INSIDE THE CAR.

IT WAS A PARTIAL THUMB PRINT
ON THE REARVIEW MIRROR.

GOTCHA.

THEY RUN IT THROUGH A DATABASE,

AND WHEN THEY DO,

THEY FIND THE ONE GUY
THAT THEY BELIEVE IS RESPONSIBLE

FOR 13 MURDERS AND 30 ASSAULTS.

HE WAS POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED
AS RICHARD RAMIREZ.

RICHARD RAMIREZ WAS
A YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT.

HE WAS A DRIFTER.

THERE WAS NO VIOLENCE
IN HIS PAST.

HE WAS A THIEF,
LITTLE STREET HOOD,

A TWO-BIT CRIMINAL.

WE'VE GOT A BOOKING PHOTO
OF HIM,

AND IT MATCHED WHAT
THE SURVIVING VICTIMS HAD SEEN.

POLICE WERE THEN
SURE OF IT.

RICHARD RAMIREZ
WAS THE NIGHT STALKER,

THE MOST WANTED MAN IN AMERICA.

**

THEY PUT OUT HIS MUG SHOT.

THEY GAVE IT TO
ALL THE LOCAL MEDIA --

TV STATIONS,
NEWSPAPERS, EVERYTHING.

AND ON A SATURDAY MORNING,

RICHARD RAMIREZ'S PICTURE
WAS PLASTERED

ON THE FRONT PAGE
OF EVERY NEWSPAPER IN L.A.

ALL OF THE PATROL UNITS,
ALL OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS

AND SURROUNDING AGENCIES
WERE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR RAMIREZ.

**

HEY, THAT'S HIM!
THAT'S THE GUY!

- HEY.
- HEY.

WHERE DO YOU THINK
YOU'RE GOING, MAN?

THIS YOU RIGHT HERE?

A MOB OF LOCALS

ACTUALLY CHASED RAMIREZ DOWN

AND BEAT HIM VERY BADLY

AND HELD HIM UNTIL THE COPS
CAME AND ARRESTED HIM.

THE PUBLIC, WHO WAS
TERRORIZED BY RAMIREZ,

WERE THE ONES WHO WERE ABLE
TO TAKE HIM DOWN,

WHICH IS, IN SOME WAY,
KIND OF SWEET POETIC JUSTICE.

IT WAS OVER --

THE TERROR, THE HORROR.

LOS ANGELES COULD SLEEP
WITH BOTH EYES CLOSED AGAIN...

AT LEAST FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

MR. RAMIREZ, A.K.A.
"THE NIGHT STALKER,"

WAS CONVICTED OF
13 COUNTS OF MURDERS,

SEVERAL OTHER COUNTS
OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.

HE WAS ULTIMATELY SENTENCED
TO DEATH IN NOVEMBER OF 1989.

RICHARD'S DEMEANOR IN COURT
WAS SHOCKING.

IN ONE INSTANCE, HE LAUGHED

WHEN THE PROSECUTOR
WOULD NAME OF THE VICTIMS

AND THE CRIMES HE WAS
ACCUSED OF COMMITTING.

HE DIDN'T CARE
ABOUT HIS VICTIMS.

HE WAS CALLOUS. HE WAS COLD.

AND HE BELIEVED THAT HE WAS
DOING SATAN'S WORK.

RAMIREZ BECAME SOMETHING
OF A CELEBRITY.

HE HAD BOOKS AND MOVIES
WRITTEN ABOUT HIM.

EVEN THOUGH
HE WAS ON DEATH ROW,

WOMEN WANTED TO BE WITH HIM.

HE EVEN GOT MARRIED
WHILE HE WAS IN PRISON.

**

THIS, AGAIN, IS ABOUT
MANIPULATING THE PUBLIC,

MANIPULATING THE FEAR, HAVING
THE CONTROL TO TERRORIZE PEOPLE

AND REVELING IN
THE INFAMY OF IT ALL.

THE DEATH SENTENCE

THAT WAS IMPOSED UPON
RICHARD RAMIREZ

WAS NEVER CARRIED OUT BY
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

PRIOR TO EXECUTION,
HE DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES.

**

RICHARD RAMIREZ'S
CONNECTION TO THE CECIL

ADDED AN EXTRA LAYER OF JUST
ABSOLUTE TERROR AND FEAR

TO ITS NOTORIOUS REPUTATION

AS KIND OF THIS MURDER HUB
OF LOS ANGELES.

SO DID RICHARD RAMIREZ,
EVEN IN DEATH,

HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH
THE MURDERS NEAR THE CECIL?

YES. YES, HE DID.

I HAVE NO DOUBT
IN MY MIND AT ALL

THAT JACK UNTERWEGER
STAYED AT THE CECIL HOTEL

BECAUSE HE KNEW
THAT RICHARD RAMIREZ

HAD LIVED THERE BEFORE HIM,

AND HE JUST WANTED TO FEEL
THAT SAME ENERGY.

I CAME TO THE CECIL TO
COPY RICHARD RAMIREZ.

I STAYED IN HIS ROOM.

I ROAMED HIS STREETS.

I WANTED TO BE JUST LIKE HIM.

I WANTED TO BE FAMOUS LIKE HIM.

I WANTED TO BE POWERFUL
LIKE HIM.

I WANTED TO BE FEARED
LIKE HIM...

...BECAUSE JUST LIKE
THE NIGHT STALKER,

I HAD COME TO LOS ANGELES

TO KILL.

**

**

I'D COME TO LOS ANGELES
UNDER THE GUISE

OF WRITING ABOUT CRIME.

- READY?
- I'VE BEEN READY FOR MONTHS.

BUT I FOOLED THE L.A.P.D.
INTO HELPING ME MAKE CRIME.

JACK, I'M GONNA NEED YOU
TO STAY BACK.

THE COPS SHOWED ME MY PREY...

I DON'T HAVE TO USE
YOUR REAL NAME.

...WHILE I STAYED AT
THE CECIL HOTEL IN ROOM 1402,

RICHARD RAMIREZ'S ROOM.

I BECAME THE CITY'S
NEXT BIG SERIAL KILLER.

**

HEY THERE.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

DOES CANDY WORK FOR YOU?

IT WAS ALMOST TOO EASY.

WAVE A $10 BILL AT THEM,
AND THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING.

- YOU FROM AROUND HERE?
- NO.

YOU STAYING IN THE AREA?

I AM. THE CECIL.

- I KNOW THAT PLACE.
- YEAH, IT'S OVER THERE.

LOOKING FOR SOME FUN?

YEAH.

WANNA GET OUT OF HERE?

- YEAH.
- ALL RIGHT.

**

JACK UNTERWEGER'S
THIRD VICTIM WAS PEGGY BOOTH.

**

SHE WAS MURDERED
IN A SIMILAR MANNER.

HEY.

**

SHE WAS BEATEN AND STRANGLED,
AND THEN HER BRA WAS USED

IN A STRIKINGLY SIMILAR MANNER

AS SHANNON EXLEY'S BRA
HAD BEEN USED AS A WEAPON.

THEY HAD BEEN CUT AND THEN
TIED BACK TOGETHER

AND PULLED TIGHTLY
AROUND THE NECK

AND TIED IN KIND OF
AN UNUSUALLY INTRICATE KNOT.

PEGGY WAS ONLY 26 YEARS OLD.

I MEAN, SHE HAD HER
WHOLE LIFE AHEAD OF HER,

AND THIS IS NOT
AN IMMEDIATE DEATH.

I MEAN, THIS TAKES
MINUTES TO OCCUR,

AND TO, YOU KNOW, BE ALIVE AND
THE FIGHTING OFF YOUR ASSAILANT

AND WHAT A HORRIBLE WAY TO DIE.

**

AFTER THREE MURDERS,
IT WAS TIME

TO CHECK OUT AT THE CECIL
AND LEAVE LOS ANGELES.

**

WHEN UNTERWEGER CHECKED OUT
OF THE HOTEL CECIL

ON JULY 2, 1991,
HE HAD ACCOMPLISHED

EVERYTHING HE HAD SET OUT TO DO,

AND HE HAD GOTTEN AWAY WITH IT.

BUT IT WASN'T THE FIRST TIME.

LATER, THE AUTHORITIES
FOUND THAT

HE HAD BEEN CONVICTED
OF A 1974 MURDER

AND SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON,

BUT THEN HE BECAME
THIS AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR

AND PLAYWRIGHT IN PRISON.

HE WAS RELEASED AFTER 15 YEARS,

AND HE WAS OUT
LESS THAN ABOUT 4 MONTHS

BEFORE HE DID HIS FIRST MURDER.

THE OBVIOUS TRAGEDY
OF THIS IS

HE DID MANIPULATE THE L.A.P.D.

TO FAMILIARIZE HIMSELF WITH
THE PROSTITUTION SCENE IN L.A.

I MEAN, COULD I HAVE
SOMEONE LIKE THAT IN MY CAR,

NOT KNOWING?

I MEAN, HERE WAS A KILLER
SITTING WITH THE COPS,

AND HE MAY BE PREYING AND
LOOKING FOR HIS NEXT VICTIMS.

WHAT A HORRIBLE FEELING.

IN A WAY, THERE'S SOME
BRILLIANCE TO THIS.

IF YOU'RE A SERIAL KILLER AND
YOU'RE GOING TO COME INTO L.A.

AND KILL SOME PROSTITUTES,

YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP
A VERY LOW PROFILE.

JACK, WHAT DOES HE DO?

HE GOES TO THE L.A.P.D.
AND GETS A RIDE-ALONG.

YOU KNOW, WHO WOULD SUSPECT HIM?

**

I WAS ALREADY LONG GONE

WHEN THE L.A.P.D. FIGURED OUT
WHAT I'D DONE.

I WAS HOME IN VIENNA,
BUT I WASN'T HOME FREE.

AUTHORITIES WERE ON MY TRAIL
AFTER REALIZING

I HAD KILLED
MANY OTHERS IN EUROPE

BEFORE MY L.A. TRIP.

AT THE HEIGHT OF JACK'S FAME,

THERE WAS A SERIES
OF PROSTITUTE MURDERS

THAT TOOK PLACE IN AUSTRIA

AND A COUPLE OF OTHER
EUROPEAN COUNTRIES CLOSE BY.

THESE ARE WOMEN WHO HAD
BEEN BRUTALLY BEATEN,

WOMEN WHO HAD BEEN STRANGLED
WITH THEIR OWN BRAS.

THEY KNEW THEY WERE LINKED
TO ONE GUY.

HE WAS CALLED
THE VIENNA WOODS KILLER,

AND IT WAS ONLY AFTER
A POTENTIAL VICTIM GOT AWAY

AND MADE IT TO
A POLICE STATION

THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO HELP
DETECTIVES FIGURE OUT

WHO THE VIENNA WOODS
KILLER REALLY WAS,

AND IT WAS JACK UNTERWEGER.

JACK UNTERWEGER WAS ULTIMATELY
CHARGED WITH 11 MURDERS,

THREE OF WHICH OCCURRED
IN LOS ANGELES

WHILE HE WAS STAYING
AT THE CECIL HOTEL

WHILE HE RODE
WITH POLICE OFFICERS

FROM LOS ANGELES.

JACK'S REAL REASON
FOR COMING TO LOS ANGELES

WAS HE WAS FASCINATED WITH
RICHARD RAMIREZ.

HE WANTED TO LIVE
RAMIREZ'S LIFE IN HIS OWN WAY.

HE WANTED TO BE
IN THE CECIL HOTEL.

HE WANTED TO COMMIT MURDER
IN LOS ANGELES.

HE WANTED TO BE A PART OF
THE ROGUES' GALLERY

OF LOS ANGELES CRIMINALS,

AND HE SAW THE PINNACLE
OF THAT BEING RICHARD RAMIREZ

AND HIS LIFE IN THE CECIL HOTEL.

**

I THINK THAT,
IN HIS OWN WAY,

JACK WAS PAYING A HOMAGE
TO THE NIGHT STALKER,

TO RICHARD RAMIREZ,

BUT I THINK
HE JUST LIKED THE IDEA.

I MEAN, THERE AREN'T THAT MANY
SERIAL KILLERS AT WORK.

HOW OFTEN ARE YOU GOING TO BUMP
INTO ONE OF YOUR OWN KIND,

EVEN IF IT'S A FEW YEARS
AFTER THE FACT?

I THINK HE WANTED TO FEED
ON THAT ENERGY.

FOR MOST PLACES,
THE FACT THAT TWO SERIAL KILLERS

HAD LIVED THERE WOULD BE
KIND OF THE REASON

A PLACE IS SO DARK AND HAUNTED,

BUT THIS WAS JUST KIND OF PAR
FOR THE COURSE AT THE CECIL.

THE CECIL HAD HAD HORRIBLE
THINGS TAKING PLACE AT IT

ALMOST FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

SEEMS LIKE KILLERS AND PREDATORS
LOVE THE CECIL HOTEL.

IT SEEMS TO BE
A NATURAL HABITAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE PEOPLE
AT THE CECIL OR THE PLACE,

BUT IT'S REALLY CHILLING
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

**

IN THE END, I WAS TRIED
AND CONVICTED

OF 9 OUT OF THE 11 MURDERS
I'D BEEN CHARGED WITH.

I WAS SENTENCED
TO LIFE IN PRISON.

**

BUT I WOULD GET THE LAST WORD.

I WOULD DEFY THEM ALL --

THE JUDGE, THE LAWYERS,
THE POLICE.

I WOULD NEVER SPEND
A SINGLE NIGHT IN PRISON.

WITHIN ABOUT 6 HOURS
OF THE VERDICT COMING IN,

JACK HAD HUNG HIMSELF
IN HIS CELL.

HE DID THE SAME KNOT THERE THAT
HE DID WITH THE OTHER VICTIMS,

AND SOME PEOPLE COMMENTED THAT
THAT WAS PROBABLY

JACK'S BEST MURDER OF ALL.

**