Robert Demaio and Jacob Barroso: 2 suspects surrender to police over drug related deaths in NYC gay bar
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Two suspects involved in the deaths of John Umberger, and Julio Ramirez, have surrendered before the New York City Police Department. The two victims were allegedly drugged after they left the Ritz Bar and Lounge in April 2022. The authorities ruled their death as homicides and recently released the suspects’ names.
Ramirez, 25, was found dead in the back of a taxi and his bank accounts were swiped off after a night out. The second victim Umberger was found dead inside a rented apartment where he had been staying after once arriving in New York for business in June 2022. Robert DeMaio, 34, turned himself in on Monday morning, and the second suspect Jacob Barroso surrendered on Saturday morning, April 1, as per NYPD. At present, they are facing counts of murder, robbery, grand larceny, identity theft, and conspiracy, as per ABC News report.
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'Shane Hoskins was also arraigned in Supreme court'
Shane Hoskins was arraigned in Supreme Court on Thursday, March 30, allegedly linked to the deaths, was charged with robbery in the first degree, identity theft in the second degree, grand larceny in the fourth degree, and two counts of conspiracy in the fourth degree.The indictments were sealed until the defendants are arrested and appeared before the court. The arraignments were done on Monday, April 3.
'Make sure these people don't hurt anyone else'
Umberger’s mother Linda Clary earlier told CBS News, "I know that no one is safe until these people are off the streets and that I know for sure. I'm feeling that we are moving in the right direction. This is just one step in the process because we want to make sure these people don't hurt anyone else, and they've hurt too many people already.”
The medical examiner’s office confirmed in March that the deaths were triggered by a ‘drug-facilitated theft.' The investigators found multiple drugs in their systems, including lidocaine, cocaine, and fentanyl. A spokesperson representing NYPD stated that the accused Hamilton, Demaio, and Barroso are being investigated in a wider ‘citywide robbery pattern, including a total of 17 incidents between them. The official shared that robberies and deaths related to Ramirez and Umberger’s case occurred between September 19, 2021, and August 28, 2022, reports MEAWW.