par·a·phil·i·a
/ˌperəˈfilēə/
noun
a condition characterized by abnormal sexual desires, typically involving extreme or dangerous activities.
Hybristophilia is a paraphilia or “sexual disorder” in which sexual arousal and attraction are responsive and contingent upon being with someone who is a known dangerous criminal such as murderers and rapists but can extend to cheaters, liars, and people with violent outbursts. It is not a clinically recognized mental illness within the ICD-10 and hybristophilia predominantly affects women, the few research sources on the subject sometimes refer to a perceived lack of concern for research into women’s behavioral health when the issues raised differ from patterns experienced by men (Martin, 2019)
Some of histories most notorious hybristophiliacs include Bonnie Elizabeth Parker, better known as associated with Clyde Barrow (eg. Bonnie and Clyde), Carol Ann Boon from the Ted Bundy Case (who even testified on his behalf), the “Manson Girls” (who blindly followed his directions to murder innocent people on his behalf), and of course, one of the most controversial cases, the Richard Ramirez’ “Ramirez Groupies.”
Realizing they sound more like rock-star bands than people with a severe sexual disorder, this article will focus in particular on Ms. Christine Lee and Doreen Lioy, whom both shared a “fatal attraction” to Richard Ramirez.
The “Night Stalker”
Ricardo Leyva Muñoz Ramirez was born in El Paso, Texas, on February 29, 1960 as the youngest of five children. Adolescent Ramirez began to meld his burgeoning sexual fantasies with violence, including forced bondage and rape, and would later go on to be dubbed the “Night Stalker. His killing spree lasted exactly 14 months before his arrest August 31, 1985. During that time, he killed at least 14 people, attempted to kill five more, and assaulted numerous others.
Richard Ramirez was a sociopath who was prone to “emotional outbursts” and unlike psychopaths like John Wayne Gacy and Ted Bundy, he did not plan his murders, however, but acted on impulse.
During trial, he showed a blatant disinterest in everything but the girls who showed up at his trial. He would wave at them and blow kisses at them, grinning ear to ear and occasionally showing off to them what a big man he was by having an “emotional outburst,” or what the rest of us would call, a temper tantrum.
He was convicted and sentenced to death in the California Gas Chamber a total of six times for his crimes which not only included murder but also included petty theft and vehicle theft among other charges.
Doreen Lioy and Christine Lee
Doreen Lioy is a former journalist from Burbank, California who’s most noteworthy work is THS Investigates: Love Behind Bars. She is best known however, for being the wife of Ramirez. Some say that Lioy met Ramirez during the trial phase of his imprisonment, however this would not be true. She actually learned about him after watching his arrest on Television and embarking on “follow-ups” on his background after she fell in love with him. Around 1988, Ramirez ended up asking her to marry him and October 3rd, 1996, they tied the knot.
Despite being a strong advocate for Richard and her constant opposition to his execution publicly, even saying that she would commit suicide if they put Ramirez to Death, things eventually became silent. According to reports, the two separated in 2010, although the cause of the separation was unknown. It was, however, attributed to Richard Ramirez’ lack of empathy especially towards the murder of 9-year-old Mei Leung, who Ramirez admitted to raping , stabbing, and hanging her like “Christ on the Cross” (Collman, A. 2016) with her feet hanging inches off the ground in the basement of a hotel where he worked.
After Ramirez and Lioy’s separation, Ramirez began talking to Christine Lee; a young, un-employed mother of two who said that she liked him because he “treated her right.” In Violent Attachments, pg 67, Reid Meloy writes that she seemingly buried down the fact that he was capable of the horrendous crimes he was charged with.
Why Do We Fall in Love
After Richard Ramirez passed away in 2013, not much more is heard from Lioy or Ms. Lee. In fact, they nearly up and disappear. It seems like his death closes the most controversial chapter in Hybristophilia’s history, and opens up the question: why do people fall for killers? According to Katherine Ramsland, it’s usually either that they believe their love can either transform the convict from cunning and cruel to caring, or they believe that they might believe they can share the killer’s media spotlight. I would have to believe that in Doreen’s case, that was probably the motivation because in the beginning, one can only assume that she contacted him for an interview and one thing led to another. However, in Ms. Lee’s case, from what I’ve researched, it was more that she believed her love could make him a caring and compassionate person. In the end, we will never truly know what causes a hybristophiliac to fall in love with a vicious serial killer, so I’ll leave that to you to form your own opinions.
References
https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/06/07/night-stalker-victim-says-he-should-have-suffered-more/
https://answersafrica.com/doreen-lioy-bio-facts-about-richard-ramirezs-wife.html
https://allthatsinteresting.com/richard-ramirez-night-stalker
