Emilio was a gang member who was angry with Roman Brady II/John Black for killing his older brother Raul. Emilio was also helping his sister April steal drugs for their mother who was dying of cancer.
In 1988 Emilio got a job working as a grounds keeper at the Kiriakis Mansion. Emilio and Adrienne formed an immediate friendship, and when the garden was murdered Emilio was arrested for the crime.
Emilio was eventually cleared, and began an affair with the married Adrienne Kiriakis. Her husband Justin was furious and tried to have Emilio killed in an accident hi rigged at the stables, but Justin was the victim of his own trapped and ended up paralyzed. The accident brought Justin and Adrienne back together, but Emilio was angry and wanted revenge.
After Franky Brady had left Salem Emilio began seeing Jennifer Horton. Emilio had cut the brakes in Justin's car as an act of revenge but it backfired when Jennifer got into the car with Justin. When Emilio tried to stop them he was hit. Later Emilio left town to dodge an attempted murder charge. Later when Justin dropped the charges Emilio returned to Salem.
When Emilio returned he found Jennifer and Jack Devereaux pretending to be man and wife. Jack was in love with Jennifer, who found herself with feelings for both Jack and Emilio. When Jen's cousin Melissa Jannings returned to town she encouraged Jen and Emilo's relationship because she did not want Jack to hurt Jen like he hurt her. However, Melissa and Emilo formed a singing team and Melissa found herself falling in love with Emilio.
Melissa and Emilio's relationship started going sour. Emilio had a temper and got out of hand with Melissa a few times. At the Alamain New Years Eve party in 1990, Melissa and Emilio struggled in a room on the top floor of Lawrence's house. Emilio had drank too much and became violent with Melissa. Melissa pushed him away from her and Emilio stumbled back and crashed through a window and fell to his death.
Julio was the youngest Ramirez child and a musician. Julio met and fell for Carrie Brady, who's father Roman II/John absolutely forbid his daughter to see him. Carrie and Julio saw each other behind Roman II/John's back, and when Roman II/John finally saw that Julio was not in a gang like his two older brother's were he softened up and let them see each other.
In 1989 Julio got a scholarship to Juliard and left Salem to pursue a musical career.
Raul was the eldes Ramirez child. He held hostages at the new Community Center and Clinic that Kayla had opened. John shot him to prevent him from killing Kayla Afterwards, John/Roman II was devastated that he'd killed the young man.
Rosa Ramirez was the mother of April, Emilio, Julio, and other male unknown. Rosa was dying from Cancer and had made her children promise never to allow her to live on life support. Rosa ended up in a bad car accident and was rushed to the hospital. She was put on life support, but wasn't expected to live. April knew her mother did not want to be left on life support, but she was torn over the thought of turning it off. Eventually Rosa's husband Monty Dolan pulled the plug, and April covered for him.
Monty was the father of the Ramirez children, but was an alcoholic who was never around to support his wife or raise his children. When his wife Rosa was put on life support he knew she didn't want to be left living by a machine, so he pulled the plug. His daughter April found out he did it and took the wrap for him. When it was eventually learned that Monty pulled the plug he wasn't sent to jail because he was old and his health was poor.