Where Is Cop Frank Salerno From Netflix’s Night Stalker Today?
By WILLIAM KENNEDY
History - Science
The 2021 Netflix documentary series "Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer" tells the story of Richard Ramirez, a notorious serial killer who terrorized the Los Angeles area with a string of grisly murders. An important player in the true story of the Night Stalker case was detective Frank Salerno, who, along with detective Gil Carrillo, helped finally catch Ramirez.
Ramirez, also known as the Night Stalker, was convicted of 13 counts of murder and sentenced to death — but he died from cancer before his execution could be carried out. Salerno, on the other hand, retired after nearly 50 years in LA-area law enforcement to prioritize family life following Ramirez’s conviction in 1989.
Salerno later established “Salerno and Scully Investigations,” which offered private investigation and armored car transportation, among other services. He also continued to consult and teach on topics related to murder and detective work at many institutions, as well as providing commentary for a number of crime-related TV series and documentaries, including Netflix's “Night Stalker.”