The New York Metropolis Police Division confirmed Monday that it’s investigating a string of robberies and assaults that could be related to the deaths of two homosexual males earlier this yr shortly after they left homosexual bars in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood.
In an emailed assertion, Julian Phillips, a spokesperson for the NYPD’s Workplace of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Info, confirmed that the deaths of Julio Ramirez and John Umberger are being investigated amongst “a number of incidents the place people have been victims of both robberies or assault.”
In April, Ramirez, a 25-year-old social employee, was discovered lifeless behind a taxi an hour after being seen leaving the Ritz Bar and Lounge with three unidentified males. His household beforehand advised NBC Information that roughly $20,000 had been drained from his financial institution accounts and that they believed he was drugged.
A few month later, Umberger, a 33-year-old political advisor, was discovered lifeless after he and two unidentified males left one other common Hell’s Kitchen homosexual bar, the Q. The unidentified males transferred about $20,000 out of Umberger’s financial institution accounts and maxed out his bank cards, based on Umberger’s mom, Linda Clary, who additionally believes her son was drugged.
The NYPD spokesperson stated town’s health worker continues to be figuring out the official causes of deaths for Ramirez and Umberger and added that some, although not all, of the victims of their investigation are believed to be a part of the LGBTQ group.
Over the weekend, New York Metropolis Council member Erik Bottcher, who represents a swath of Manhattan’s West Aspect that features Hell’s Kitchen, launched an announcement on Instagram saying that his workplace has been in touch with the NYPD and the New York County District Lawyer’s Workplace concerning the investigation.
“The monsters chargeable for these crimes must be apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the legislation,” he wrote, including that “important assets” are being devoted to the case.
Neither a consultant for Bottcher’s workplace nor for the New York County District Lawyer’s Workplace instantly responded to a request for remark.
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