NEW YORK – New York authorities are investigating the death of two homosexuals, one of whom is Hispanic, who died mysteriously in the Hell’s Kitchen area, causing great alarm among residents of this part of Manhattan.
A month-long investigation into the mysterious deaths of victims who, on several occasions, were allegedly drugged and robbed after going out to enjoy the nightlife of Lower Manhattan has yet to lead to any arrests.
Suspecting those responsible may be targeting future victims, concerned New Yorkers have gone door to door warning residents of the dangers of the city’s nightlife.
The NYPD has not yet classified the deaths of Julio Ramírez and John Umberger as homicides, but Councilman Erik Bottcher, who has been in contact with police, suspects it is a felony.
“We are demanding justice for their murders,” Bottcher said Thursday night.
In partnership with the New York City Office of Nightlife, Council Member Bottcher urges those seeking late night entertainment to pay attention.
The new notice follows growing calls for concern recently made by Umberger’s mother, who believes her son may have been targeted after he was found dead after spending a night in a Hell’s Kitchen bar.
“There’s definitely a system of being stoned, whether it’s from drinks or shots or whatever, that immobilizes the person protesting that they’re taking advantage of it. And it erases your memory,” said Linda Clary.
Umberger was sightseeing, having fun with friends on May 28, when the group ended up at the Q NYC on 8th Avenue. But after that, the details get fuzzy. The 33-year-old man was last seen leaving the club with two unidentified men later that night.
As the days went by, Clary found it strange that her son didn’t reply to her texts. She alerted the police that his son was missing. On June 1, Umberger was found dead at his employer’s Upper East Side home.
“They seem to be targeting gay youth, but I think youth in general are vulnerable in countless cities, in countless places,” Clary told sister station NBC 4 New York.
His grieving mother says Umberger’s cell phone and credit cards were stolen, with more than $25,000 wiped out of his bank account.
“The people responsible for this will be caught. They will be brought to justice, we will not stop until they are found,” Bottcher said.
Umberger’s mysterious death is eerily similar to that of another gay man in the city, Julio Ramírez. In April, police say Ramírez got into a taxi with a group of strangers after a night out. He was last seen alive outside the Ritz bar on West 46th Street.
“Going into a taxi with a group of strangers, giving away his phone or his things, that’s not like him,” said a friend of Ramírez, Karinina Quimpo.
Ramírez’s bank account was also wiped out. NYPD will only confirm that investigations are ongoing for both men.
Clary said detectives are also investigating 14 other victims with similar histories, but all of whom survived. She also said people are investigating other deaths as well.
Another possible victim, who didn’t feel comfortable sharing her name, said she was also attacked in the neighborhood.
“They took my money and they know what they’re doing because they checked my phone, a week later they checked my bank account,” she told NBC 4 New York.
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