Deaths of two men drugged and beaten after night out at Hell’s Kitchen gay bar ruled murder

Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan (WABC) — The New York City Chief Coroner’s Office has ruled on the deaths of two men who died after being drugged and beaten after spending the night at a gay bar in Hell’s Kitchen.

The 2022 deaths of John Amberger and Julio Ramirez were ruled a homicide after they were given fentanyl-contaminated drugs.

Ramirez, 25, was found dead in the back seat of a taxi after spending the night at the Ritz Bar and Lounge, his bank account emptied.

Umberger, 33, was found dead in his East 61st Street apartment where he had been staying since arriving in New York on business.

Also read | Mother wants answers after son found dead after night out in Hell’s Kitchen

The deaths of Ramirez and Umberger, first revealed by their families, brought several patterns of drugging and robbery involving members of the gay community to the public eye, and caused as many as seven overdoses. caused death.

The coroner’s determination that the death was a homicide allows detectives and prosecutors to initiate charges against suspects under investigation for other similar deaths.

Before, Kenwood Allen indicted Two similar but, at this point, unrelated deaths.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said the investigation is ongoing.

Also read | Pennsylvania woman missing since 1992 found alive in Puerto Rico

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