On a summer night in 2022, two gay men—Julio Ramirez and John Umberger—met their untimely deaths just blocks apart in New York City. At first, their cases were treated as overdoses. But the truth was far more sinister: both were victims of an organized scheme targeting queer men for robbery, exploitation, and murder.

In this episode of Dark Rainbows: True Crime in the Community, we unpack the eerie parallels between their deaths, the role of dating apps, and the slow response from law enforcement. This is not just about two lives stolen—it's about how LGBTQ+ safety continues to be neglected, even in places that claim to be safe.

📌 What You'll Hear in This Episode

• Who Julio and John were: their passions, careers, and dreams
• How they each vanished after a night out in NYC
• The chilling similarities in how their bank accounts were drained
• Why their deaths were initially dismissed by police
• The public pressure that finally forced action
• The suspects, indictments, and where justice stands today
• The broader message about safety for queer men in nightlife spaces

🕯️ Say Their Names

• Julio Ramirez, 25
• John Umberger, 33

Two lives full of promise. Two deaths that demand accountability.

🧠 Content Warning

This episode includes discussions of death, drugging, targeted violence, and LGBTQ+ discrimination. Listener discretion is advised.

In this emotional episode of Dark Rainbows: True Crime in the Community, we honor the life and legacy of Pebbles LaDime Doe, a 24-year-old Black transgender woman whose life was tragically stolen in Allendale County, South Carolina.

In August 2019, Pebbles was found dead in a remote area—shot and discarded like she didn’t matter. But she did matter. And in a world that continues to ignore the violence faced by Black trans women, we tell her story loud and clear.

This episode explores who Pebbles was, the events surrounding her death, the silence that followed, and what her case reveals about America’s treatment of Black trans lives.

🕯️ Say her name. Demand her justice. Remember her truth.

🔍 Topics Covered:

• Pebbles’ life and identity as a proud Black trans woman
• Details of her disappearance and murder
• The lack of media coverage and public response
• The ongoing issue of unsolved murders of trans women
• Systemic neglect and transphobia in South Carolina and beyond

📚 Resources & Support:

• National Black Justice Coalition: nbjc.org
• Transgender Law Center: transgenderlawcenter.org
• Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
• The Okra Project – Black trans mental health support

In this powerful episode of Dark Rainbows: True Crime in the Community, we uncover the heartbreaking story of Nikki Kuhnhausen — a 17-year-old transgender girl whose life was stolen in 2019 in Vancouver, Washington.

Nikki was bold, beautiful, and unapologetically herself. But when she revealed her gender identity to the man she was dating, it led to a fatal act of transphobic violence. Her death sparked national outrage, a passionate fight for justice, and the passing of Nikki’s Law, banning the use of the “panic defense” in Washington state.

We walk through Nikki’s life, the tragic events that led to her murder, the community’s response, and the courtroom battle that followed.

🕯️ Say her name. Remember her truth. Demand her justice.

🔍 Topics Covered:

• Nikki’s background and life as a proud trans teen
• Events leading up to the night she disappeared
• The investigation, arrest, and trial of David Bogdanov
• The impact of her story and the creation of Nikki’s Law
• The importance of protecting trans youth

📚 Resources:

• National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org
• Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
• The Trevor Project: 866-488-7386
• Nikki Kuhnhausen Foundation: nikki-kuhnhausen-foundation.org

💬 Join the Conversation:

Have thoughts on Nikki’s story or know of a case we should cover?

Comment, share, and tag us @DarkRainbowsPodcast 🌈