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New York|3 Convicted of Murder for Luring Men From Gay Bars to Their Deaths
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/nyregion/gay-bay-murder-charges.html
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Two men were fatally drugged as their bank accounts were being drained. The killers lurked outside Manhattan clubs near closing time.
Feb. 10, 2025Updated 4:24 p.m. ET
A Manhattan jury on Monday convicted three men of murder for drugging and robbing patrons of gay bars and clubs and luring them to their deaths.
Two men were killed as their bank accounts were being drained. One of them, Julio Ramirez, was left in the back of a taxi. The other, John Umberger, died in a townhouse where his attackers partied next to his lifeless body.
The three men on trial, Jayqwan Hamilton, 37, Jacob Barroso, 32, and Robert DeMaio, 36, were also convicted of robbery and conspiracy.
Around 2:30 Monday afternoon, after about four hours of deliberations, the jury forewoman stood up from her seat in the jury box and announced a verdict of “guilty” to each and every count that the defendants faced. As she spoke, family members of the men gasped.
As the three left the courtroom, their hands cuffed behind their backs, friends and relatives in the gallery shouted, “Love you.” Mr. DeMaio looked into the crowd as he was led away, tears streaming down his reddened face.
All three men were convicted of the murder of Mr. Ramirez, as well as conspiracy and various counts of robbery. Mr. DeMaio and Mr. Hamilton were both convicted of burglary and of the murder of Mr. Umberger.
