On Wednesday, Juan Baron was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the murder of 73-year-old Gary Ruby. Ruby’s body was found in 2022 encased in concrete inside a bathtub at his Hawaii Loa Ridge home. According to KITV, after the murder, Baron impersonated Ruby and took control of his home and assets.
Baron, 26, will not be eligible for parole until serving at least 20 years after pleading guilty in 2024 to second-degree murder, first-degree theft, and first-degree identity theft. He tried unsuccessfully to withdraw his plea in May. During sentencing, the victim’s family gave emotional statements. Lorne Ruby, the victim’s brother, called Baron “evil and unremorseful” and told him, “You buried him alive.” Gary Ruby’s niece said, “The medical examiner found particles of cement in my uncle’s lungs” and, “I have to live knowing that he was still breathing when you poured cement on him,” as reported by Hawaii News Now.
During sentencing, Baron's mother expressed optimism for her son’s rehabilitation, saying via Zoom, "We not only know that rehabilitation is possible, but that it's on its way," as mentioned by Hawaii News Now. The judge said the Hawaii Paroling Authority will determine how long Baron must serve before being eligible for parole. Lorne Ruby, speaking after the sentence, emphasized the importance of restoring his brother’s memory. Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm stated, "This case highlights the vulnerability of our kupuna. The defendant's callous conduct took the life of Mr. Ruby for his own profit and brought considerable pain to the Ruby ohana. We hope that this sentence can bring some closure to them," as per KITV.
