On October 3, 1996, Doreen Lioy, 41, got married to Death Row inmate Richard Ramirez, 36, "The Night Stalker," in a simple and tasteful ceremony in San Quentin's waiting room. Lioy, a free-lance editor who works part-time for teen magazines, lives in a houseboat, has bachelor's degree in English literature, and is said to have an IQ of 152. She doesn't smoke or curse and claims to still be a virgin. Ramirez, on the other hand, who is into Satanism and heavy metal, has been convicted of 13 rape/murders in Los Angeles and has another count pending in San Francisco.

On the day of the wedding the bride showed up at the prison gates in a white wedding dress with chiffon sleeves accompanied by two attorneys. Ramirez, wearing starched prison blues with no restraints, was joined by his brother, his sister and his 17-year-old niece.

The ceremony was held in the prison's main visiting room. There were about 60 or so prisoners and their visitors standing by oblivious to the proceedings. Two other inmates also got married. But Richard was the first to tie the knot. The wedding was not religious -- a simple rite with Joseph Ramirez acting as best man. There was no maid of honor, and no one from the Lioy family showed up. After making their vows, the happy couple exchanged rings, and were introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ramirez. Then, they kissed.

Doreen was first attracted to Richard in 1985 when she saw a picture of him in the paper wearing a bandage The devoted lover, she wrote 75 letters to her jailhouse Romeo. Nine months later, she was allowed to visit him for the first time. They first got engaged in 1988, but prison regulations delayed the wedding. Sadly for the newlyweds Death Row inmates are not allowed to enjoy conjugal visits, therefore making the consummation of their love an impossibility.

As the glowing bride emerged from the prison, she told the waiting throng of cameramen and reporters, "I just want to say I am ecstatically happy today and very, very proud to have married Richard and be his wife. And I hope that you will be very respectful of the day and let me go and enjoy my day in peace."

This is Doreen Ramirez. After viewing several websites pertaining to my husband, Richard--including yours--I feel compelled to inform you that I am appalled to read the inaccuracies and, in some cases, outright lies, about my husband and myself. People who do not even know either of us are spewing outrageous opinions which they are passing off as facts, when it is patently clear they know nearly nothing about Richard's case. I appeal to all intelligent persons not to believe everything which is being presented about Richard in the media. The facts of his case ultimately will confirm that Richard is a wrongly-convicted man, and I believe fervently that his innocence will be proven to the world. Thank you.

From: PrincessKim10967@cs.com 
Date: Sun, 2 Jun 2002 19:04:26 EDT
Subject: ?????
To: elvision@mayhem.net

I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE MARRIED HIM? I WAS REAL LITTLE WHEN RICHARD WAS ARRESTED, AND I HAVE JUST FOUND OUT THAT HE IS MARRIED. I MEAN SHE IS RIGHT NO ONE DOES KNOW HIM. BUT I FIND IT FUNNY, IF HE DIDN'T DO ANY OF THOSE KILLINGS THEN WHEY WOULD THERE BE ALL THIS PROVE! BUT WHATEVER. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE IN DEATH ROW GET MARRIED! IT'S NOT LIKE SHE CAN EVER SPEND ANY TIME WITH HIM, AWAY FROM THE PRISON HOUSE. I GUESS SHE MUST REALLY LOVE HIM!