Charles Ramsey glorified in too-many-to-count Internet memes

As a harrowing story unfolds in Ohio this week around three women who say they were held captive in a Cleveland house for a decade, the media and the public have chosen a hero to elevate to Internet stardom.

Charles Ramsey's story of how he helped Amanda Berry escape his neighbour's home, told to an ABC News affiliate, quickly led him to become a central character in the news cycle. Memes abound, with images and edited videos quoting the odd details of his elaborate account — including the McDonald's meal he was eating at the time of the escape.

[ Related: Cleveland's Charles Ramsey: hero, or black stereotype? ]

Ramsey told ABC that he saw his neighbour, Ariel Castro, every day, and he even ate barbecue ribs with him. He said he was shocked to hear a woman from inside the house screaming for help on Monday and equally surprised once he recognized her name, Amanda Berry, as a woman who had been missing for years.

Castro was charged with the kidnap and rape of Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight, according to Reuters.

Meanwhile, the Internet was busy superimposing text over images of Charles Ramsey's face. By Tuesday, a YouTube user had auto-tuned Ramsey's interview into a song repeating one of his most memorable quotes.

"I knew something was wrong when a little, pretty white girl ran into a black man's arms. Dead giveaway," he says, in computerized rhythm.

Even McDonald's Corp. tweeted it would be in touch with Ramsey.

Ramsey's heroism was tempered by the news that he's been convicted of domestic violence, according to the Smoking Gun.

[ Related: Cleveland's Charles Ramsey becomes an Internet folk hero ]

Nonetheless, in poured the memes, eventually descending into slogans and silly screen captures, not to mention comparisons with Eddy Murphy.

Ramsey earned additional praise when he told CNN's Anderson Cooper that any reward for helping the women should go to them because he already has a job.

Whether it's his tendency to punctuate sentences with "hey, bro" or his matter-of-fact telling of a story that has many speechless, Charles Ramsey has people listening.