NEW YORK — Designer Katie Gallagher’s family members spent eight months not realizing what occurred earlier than her lifeless physique was present in her mattress at her Manhattan condominium.
Friday, investigators stated they dominated Gallagher’s demise a murder.
Gallagher, 35, designed fashions that made it into Vogue and Glamour magazines. Her creations had been worn by stars together with Girl Gaga and Laverne Cox.
Gallagher’s sudden demise in July 2022 shocked her neighbors on Eldridge Avenue on the Decrease East Facet.
“Everyone is aware of this woman,” stated Eddie Ling, who works in a motorbike store on the bottom flooring of the constructing.
The health worker discovered fentanyl combined with different medication in Gallagher’s system. Investigators are attempting to find out if she was slipped a poisonous cocktail of medicine so as to steal from her.
Police are investigating a string of circumstances with comparable particulars – drugged victims who wind up robbed, hospitalized and, in some circumstances, useless.
READ MORE: Police investigating sample of Manhattan bar patrons being drugged, robbed; 2 deaths probably linked to incidents
Police sources inform us there are believed to be a number of crews operating comparable schemes, concentrating on and drugging victims in Manhattan bars earlier than robbing them.
Gallagher, a Pennsylvania native, is survived by her mother and father and sisters. They arrange a GoFundMe which has raised greater than $30,000 to this point to finish and show her last vogue assortment.
Watch Dave Carlin’s report
“Throughout that time frame earlier than it is declared a murder, the household is left in limbo. There’s all these open questions,” stated New York Metropolis Council Member Erik Bottcher.
Bottcher desires to lift public consciousness of drug-facilitated thefts and teams of criminals concentrating on bar patrons.
“The phrase is out that you would be able to victimize somebody and you’ll entry their financial institution accounts electronically in ways in which you could not years in the past, with the banking apps that may be opened with facial recognition,” stated Bottcher.
“Lots of people get focused and so they do not even know,” stated Nia Mapp, a Queens resident. “I’d hope that it might convey extra consciousness to the state of affairs because it occurs to lots of people that we simply do not find out about.”
“They’re on the market preying on harmless people who find themselves going out to simply take pleasure in an evening out in town. We now have to make it clear, if you happen to commit these crimes you may be apprehended,” stated Bottcher.
Based on police, Julio Ramirez, 25, and John Umberger, 33, died final 12 months from lethal drug cocktails slipped to them so as to rob them. Their deaths had been additionally declared homicides earlier in March.
READ MORE: Deaths of two males who had been drugged in Hell’s Kitchen bars dominated homicides
“My concern is that as we go on, that the truth is there are various extra deaths which have come from these teams, from this very factor,” stated Linda Clary, Umberger’s mom. “What are we doing to cease this from persevering with to occur? … We do not need anybody to harm like we’re hurting as a result of it is so pointless.”
In an announcement, Gallagher’s household informed CBS2: “Once we take into consideration the callous disregard for her life and all that she would have accomplished or might have accomplished had this not occurred, our hearts break over again.”
It’s unknown what, if something, was stolen from Gallagher or the place she was earlier than her physique was found.
Gallagher’s sister informed CBS2 the household is planning a remembrance ceremony within the metropolis in Could.
Anybody with details about Gallagher’s demise is requested to name the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You may also submit a tip through their web site or through DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are stored confidential.
