Mysterious Death Of 25-Year-Old Man Last Seen Leaving An NYC Bar May Be Tied To A Robbery Ring

Friends of Julio Ramirez suspect he may have been drugged before his death — and he may not be the only victim.

Julio Ramirez, 25, was found dead in the back of an NYC taxicab in the early hours of April 21, 2022.

Friends of Julio Ramirez suspect he may have been drugged before his death — and he may not be the only victim.

Photo by: Julio Ramirez via Instagram

Julio Ramirez via Instagram

Julio Ramirez was a 25-year-old man with a bright future. He had earned a dual master’s degree in public health and social work from the University of Buffalo in 2021. In the spring of 2022, Ramirez was living in Brooklyn, New York, and he was excited about being a mental health counselor in underserved communities, according to PIX11 News.

Ramirez was enjoying a night out on the town in April 2022 when he met up with a friend at a bar in Hell’s Kitchen, a vibrant New York City neighborhood that’s known for its nightlife. Within hours, he would be dead.

NBC News reported that Ramirez left Ritz Bar and Lounge, a popular, multi-level gay bar, around 3:17 a.m. Security footage showed that he walked away from the bar with three unknown men who joined him after he’d been waiting outside for over 10 minutes alone.

They all entered a nearby taxi, but Ramirez’s dead body was alone in the backseat when he was found dead in the early morning hours of April 21, 2022. The cab driver contacted police in Manhattan to report that Ramirez was unresponsive.

In the days and hours after the young man’s death, over $20,000 had been spent on his bank accounts, reported PIX11 News. Within less than a week, his checking and savings accounts were emptied through apps that let you send money electronically like Zelle.

Carlos Ramirez, the victim’s brother, told NBC News, “They had literally taken every dollar that he had, all his savings and all of his money.”

That’s just one of the signs that the mysterious death of Ramirez may be linked to an organized team of men who drug their victims before robbing them of often substantial amounts of money and credit. Carlos thinks that his brother may have been robbed and drugged that night he died in what was a targeted attack.

Karinina Quimpo, Ramirez’s close friend and former college classmate, said there are too many unanswered questions about his death. She and Carlos both think that Julio may have been slipped gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, or GHB, which is widely known as the “date rape drug”.

In the aftermath of Ramirez’s death at least three other people came forward to say they had been drugged and robbed in Hell’s Kitchen, too. A woman even came forward to state that her brother-in-law had died after leaving a New York City bar in a situation that had similarities to Ramirez’s death.

“If this is a pattern, if this is a public safety issue, it’s really important that we continue to talk about this story,” said Quimpo.

Next Up

Arrests Made In Robberies, Deaths Of Men At NYC Gay Clubs

On March 31, 2023, the New York Police Department identified three suspects in connection to the deaths of 25-year-old Julio Ramirez and 33-year-old John Umberger.

Tupac Shakur’s Stepfather To Be Freed From Prison After More Than 35 Years

Mutulu Shakur, 72, will be released on parole on Dec. 16, 2022.

Brooklyn Teen Charged With Hate Crime In Killing Of O'Shae Sibley

O'Shae Sibley was voguing to Beyoncé’s “Renaissance” album when Dmitriy Popov began spewing racist, homophobic slurs at him before allegedly fatally stabbing him in the chest.

Police Seek Possible Witnesses To 22-Year-Old Brooklyn Woman’s Murder

On Sept. 21, 2022, police responding to reports of a foul odor at a Brooklyn, New York apartment found the dismembered remains of 22-year-old D'Asia Johnson stuffed into a suitcase.

Who Was Notorious Jewel Thief Jack “Murph The Surf” Murphy?

Not all of the details Murphy shared about his life can be verified, but what we know to be true is a fascinating tale about a daytime surfer who moonlighted as a high-end thief.

Three Men Charged In Killing Of Hip-Hop Legend Jam Master Jay

The Run-DMC DJ was shot to death in a Queens recording studio in October 2002.

Family Of Christina Yuna Lee, Who Was Murdered In Her Manhattan Apartment, Sues NYPD For Inaction

Christina Yuna Lee was fatally stabbed in her NYC apartment when a man followed her home after a night out. Now her family is suing the NYPD for negligence, saying delays in assistance ultimately led to her death.

Vegas Politician Upset Over Articles Exposing ‘Potential Wrongdoing’ Accused Of Killing Reporter

Robert Telles allegedly stabbed investigative journalist Jeff German multiple times during a surprise attack, authorities say.

Four Oklahoma Men Left For A Bicycle Ride, Their Dismembered Bodies Were Found A Week Later

A group of Oklahoma men were reported missing after going on a bicycle ride together on Oct. 9, 2022. Less than a week later, their dismembered bodies were pulled from a river.

Oregon Man Fatally Stabbed After Defending His Friend From Harassment

Colin Smith, a 32-year-old Portland man, was stabbed to death at a local bar on July 2 while defending his friend from anti-LGBTQ harassment.