Empire State Building daredevil couple are New Jersey residents

The daredevils who climbed to the top of Empire State Building’s spire on July 1 are from New Jersey.

Angela Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Beerkus, 32, who originate from Russia, are residents of East Orange in Essex County, according to the NYPD.

The couple climbed the antenna spire atop New York City’s most famous building to hang a large banner that read: “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.”

Beerkus then appeared to propose to Nikolau atop the skyscraper some 1,454 feet about the Manhattan streets below.

Nikolau, wearing her trademark Catwoman-style headgear, then was seen admiring her hand and taking photographs of her ring to share on Instagram. The couple and their adventures in what has become known as “rooftopping” were the subject of a 2024 documentary called “Skywalkers: A Love Story.”

When the couple climbed down, they were arrested and charged with burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, violation of local law, possession of burglar’s tools, criminal tampering, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct, according to the NYPD.

Nikolau’s acrobatics run in the family, and her father, the Russian circus artist Dmitriy Nikolau, was aware of his daughter’s climb when answering a call from a reporter.

“I think it is normal to climb up a roof in any country, including the United States, according to any constitution,” he said. Asked if he was worried about his daughter, he said: “Why should I be worried? I climb up roofs myself.”

Reuters contributed to this article.