Two Tragic Deaths in NYC Sparked Investigation into Druggings and Robberies
In 2022, two men died in New York City after spending evenings at gay bars. These deaths were later connected to a string of incidents involving drugging and robbery in the city’s LGBTQ+ nightlife scene.
Julio Ramirez, a 25-year-old social worker, and John Umberger, a 33-year-old political consultant visiting from Washington, D.C., were found dead after separate nights out in Manhattan. Both men were missing their phones, and large amounts of money had been taken from their bank accounts. Initially, authorities considered the possibility of overdoses.
Friend Shiva Campbell grew concerned when Julio Ramirez didn’t respond to her messages and missed work. She knew something was wrong.
Weeks later, John Umberger was found dead in his apartment. He had been out in Hell’s Kitchen a few days earlier. Like Ramirez, his phone and wallet were gone, and over $20,000 had been withdrawn from his accounts.
Other men also reported being drugged and robbed after nights out at gay bars in Manhattan. They woke up confused, with no memory of how they got home, and later discovered money missing from their accounts.
Flyers warning people to be careful started appearing in Hell’s Kitchen. Authorities eventually opened homicide investigations into the deaths of Ramirez and Umberger.
Prosecutors said that three men, Jayqwan Hamilton, Robert DeMaio, and Jacob Barroso, were targeting people outside gay bars. They allegedly drugged their victims with fentanyl and stole their money and belongings. Hamilton and DeMaio were charged in the deaths of both Ramirez and Umberger, while Barroso was charged in Ramirez’s death.
In May 2025, Hamilton and DeMaio were sentenced to 40 years to life in prison, and Barroso was sentenced to 20 years to life.
