The immediate jubilation surrounding Richard Ramirez's capture quickly gave way to a chilling, collective horror as the full scope of his atrocities began to unfold in the news. The public had been aware of a terrifying, elusive serial killer, but the depth of his depravity and the sheer number of his victims had largely remained shrouded in the shadows of the night. Now, with the "Night Stalker" apprehended, the floodgates opened, and the media, fueled by law enforcement briefings and terrified survivor accounts, began to paint a grim picture.
Newspapers, already thick with reports about Alex Hayes's involvement in the capture, shifted their focus to the victims and the brutal nature of the crimes. Each day brought new, more horrific details, turning the city's relief into a profound sense of grief and outrage. The full scope of Richard Ramirez's reign of terror was unveiled, detailing his trail of murders, sexual assaults, and burglaries that stretched across Southern California and beyond. It became known that he was accused of 13 murders, 11 sexual assaults, 5 attempted murders, and 14 burglaries. Investigative pieces chronicled each known crime, often accompanied by maps of the widespread crime scenes. Harrowing stories from survivors gave a human face to the statistics of terror, while analyses explored the psychological profiles being developed by law enforcement, touching upon the satanic symbols found at crime scenes and the disturbing motivations behind his violence. Articles extended coverage to Northern California, where some of his earlier, less publicized crimes had occurred, highlighting the widespread nature of his attacks. These revelations brought to light a city's nightmare, profoundly impacting the communities, particularly Hispanic ones, where Ramirez had frequently targeted victims. Alex Hayes's presence accelerated Ramirez's capture, adding a unique, almost cinematic, layer to the real-life horror.
The revelations sent shockwaves far beyond California. Families of victims, who had lived for months or even years with unanswered questions, now faced the brutal truth of their loved ones' fates. Communities that had been gripped by fear could finally begin the slow, painful process of healing, albeit forever scarred by the nightmare that had stalked their nights.
For Alex Hayes, already a figure of immense public fascination, his tangential involvement amplified the story's reach. While the true heroes were the tireless police, detectives, and the brave citizens who helped corner Ramirez, Alex's celebrity status ensured the details of the capture, and by extension, the crimes, were broadcast to an even wider audience. The constant media attention around the case, even as it delved into the dark specifics of the crimes, kept Alex's name subtly in the public consciousness.
Despite being portrayed as a heroic figure, Alex, internally, knew his actions were simply instinctual. He tried to avoid the public scrutiny this time around, preferring to let the spotlight remain on the true gravity of Ramirez's crimes and the law enforcement efforts.
Filming for 'Say Anything...' continued largely in silence regarding the incident. Most of the crew consciously avoided mentioning Alex's capture of the serial killer, sensing his discomfort with the topic. However, this unspoken tension hung in the air.
One afternoon, between takes, Mia Sara approached Alex, who was relaxing on a folding chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. "The whole crew is tightly wound," she observed softly.
Alex looked at her in confusion. "Why?"
Mia sighed. "They know you don't like to talk about that incident, so they're trying to contain their curiosity, and it's affecting the filming. Everyone's walking on eggshells around you."
Alex let out a slow sigh, looking at Mia. "What do you want me to do?" he asked, his voice weary.
"Talk with them," Mia suggested gently. "All of them, once, like a meeting. Answer all their questions." She paused, her gaze steady. "It helps you too. You haven't talked about it after giving your statement."
Alex looked troubled. "It's not my first time apprehending criminals, you know?" he murmured, a faint attempt to dismiss the gravity of the situation.
Mia nodded, knowing well about his previous encounter where he had fought three robbers. "But they were just ordinary robbers, Alex. He... he's a monster."
Alex knew she was right. He was feeling a profound discomfort, not just from the public attention, but from having come face-to-face with pure evil. It was deeply disturbing. Perhaps talking about it, answering the crew's questions, would help alleviate some of that internal burden.
He nodded, a firm resolve settling on his features. "Okay. Arrange it."
Mia's face brightened immediately. She quickly spread the word, and a meeting with the entire crew was arranged for the end of the day's shooting. They were ecstatic. Once gathered, questions poured out: "How did it happen?" "How did you subdue him?" "How did you feel after knowing who he was?"
As Alex candidly answered these questions, detailing the blur of instinct, the struggle, and the chilling realization, he felt most of the discomfort and lingering unease he had carried for the last few weeks slowly dissipate. The shared conversation, the genuine curiosity, and the collective processing of the extraordinary event, allowed him to finally release some of the emotional weight.
After this, the atmosphere among the crew noticeably lightened, returning to its usual bustling, collaborative rhythm, and Alex himself felt a profound sense of relief.
As filming for Say Anything... continued its steady progress, news about Alex's other highly anticipated project began to circulate. The release date for Ferris Bueller's Day Off was officially set for October 18, 1985. Disney was planning a wide release, intending to open the film in more than 1800 theaters nationwide. While this was a slightly smaller release than the massive 2000 theaters for Catch Me If You Can, which is a highly publicized collaboration between a top director and a top star, targeting a broader adult audience, it was still a significant number for a teen-focused film. The studio's decision to launch Ferris Bueller's Day Off in so many theaters was a clear indication of their intent to capitalize on Alex Hayes's immense popularity and the consistent drawing power of his films among teenagers and young adults, who typically drove strong opening month collections.
With the release date for 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' approaching, both Alex and Mia, given their starring roles in the film had to dedicate time between shoots of Say Anything... to promotional activities. This included interviews, magazine spreads, and appearances on popular talk shows, all carefully orchestrated to build hype for the film.
Despite these promotional obligations, the production of Say Anything... remained on schedule. By October 13th, filming for Say Anything... was successfully completed. The cast and crew celebrated with a low-key wrap party, a sense of accomplishment filling the air.
Just two days later, on October 15th, Alex's birthday arrived. He chose to celebrate it as a small, private affair at his Hollywood Hills mansion, a stark contrast to the public frenzy that often surrounded his life. His family from Texas – his father John, stepmother Maria, and half-sister Sofia – were there, along with his aunt Nancy's family, including Janet and Uncle Edward. His close friends Robert Downey Jr. Diane Lane, Sarah Jessica Parker, and of course, his girlfriend Mia Sara, completed the intimate circle.
Adding to the esteemed guest list, a few key industry figures also attended: Steven Spielberg, John Hughes, Cameron Crowe, and his agent, Paula Wagner. Even though it was intended to be a private gathering, the ever-present paparazzi still lingered outside his gates, their flashbulbs occasionally illuminating the night. Their presence, inadvertently, served as an additional wave of publicity for the upcoming Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
Note:
Richard Ramirez is a real life Serial Killer in 1980s.
And I changed the actors in his dreams to Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt from Tom Cruise and Keanu Reeves.
I made changes to earlier chapters also.