This episode was based on real-life American serial killers Martha Jule Beck and Raymond Martinez Fernandez, who, like Martha and Ramon, drew in homely women through dating advertisements before stealing from them and eventually killing them. However, the real-life "Lonely Hearts Killers" as they were dubbed by the media committed their crimes in the 1940's through "lonely hearts" ads printed in newspapers. This episode is instead set in the 1980's and Ramon draws in women through VHS tape dating services.
Ramon Delgado was portrayed by Brazilian actor Bruno Campos, who later became better-known as the voice actor of Prince Naveen in Disney's 2009 film The Princess and the Frog (2009). His acting role in "Lonely Hearts" alongside co-actress Emily Nelson (Martha Puck) was one of his last roles before he starred in The Princess and the Frog.