A millionaire from Hawaii was allegedly buried alive in wet cement after his younger lover discovered that he had HIV.
The details emerged during a court hearing regarding the case of Gary Ruby, 73, whose body was found entombed in a bathtub at his $2.2 million gated Honolulu residence in 2022.
Juan Tejedor Baron, Ruby’s then 26-year-old partner, initially confessed to the shocking murder but has since retracted his confession. During a court session on December 9, the prosecution brought forth disturbing evidence that suggested Ruby may have still been alive when cement was poured over him.
Deputy Prosecutor Scott Bell noted, “There’s an inference that Gary was still alive when you poured the cement over him.”
Baron contested this inference, labeling it as mere speculation while acknowledging the gravity of the allegations against him. Previously, he had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, identity theft, and two counts of theft as part of a plea agreement that presumably would have spared him from life without parole and limited his sentence to no more than 20 years.
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However, Baron, originally from Colombia, has claimed he did not fully comprehend the plea agreement due to the absence of a translator. His attorney, Randall Hironaka, is aiming to demonstrate that Baron was under significant duress regarding the possibility of the death penalty and had been taking prescription medication at the time, which may have impaired his judgment.
In a prior hearing, Baron testified that his former attorney instilled in him a fear of harsh penalties, leading him to believe he could face execution. He argued that his state of mind was further compromised by medication he was taking.
Baron was apprehend**Young Partner Accused of Murdering Wealthy Boyfriend, 73, by Burying Him Alive in Cement After Learning He Had HIV**
A millionaire from Hawaii was allegedly buried alive in wet cement after his younger lover discovered that he had HIV. The details emerged during a court hearing regarding the case of Gary Ruby, 73, whose body was found entombed in a bathtub at his $2.2 million gated Honolulu residence in 2022.
Juan Tejedor Baron, Ruby’s then 26-year-old partner, initially confessed to the shocking murder but has since retracted his confession. During a court session on December 9, the prosecution brought forth disturbing evidence that suggested Ruby may have still been alive when cement was poured over him. Deputy Prosecutor Scott Bell noted, “There’s an inference that Gary was still alive when you poured the cement over him.”
Baron contested this inference, labeling it as mere speculation while acknowledging the gravity of the allegations against him. Previously, he had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, identity theft, and two counts of theft as part of a plea agreement that presumably would have spared him from life without parole and limited his sentence to no more than 20 years.
However, Baron, originally from Colombia, has claimed he did not fully comprehend the plea agreement due to the absence of a translator. His attorney, Randall Hironaka, is aiming to demonstrate that Baron was under significant duress regarding the possibility of the death penalty and had been taking prescription medication at the time, which may have impaired his judgment.
In a prior hearing, Baron testified that his former attorney instilled in him a fear of harsh penalties, leading him to believe he could face execution. He argued that his state of mind was further compromised by medication he was taking.
Baron was apprehended in March 2022 after attempting to flee the country, making it as far as a bus terminal in California before law enforcement found him hiding in a concealed area of a Mexico-bound bus.
He reportedly confessed to killing Ruby after the older man disclosed his HIV-positive status following a sexual encounter in February. According to the arrest warrant, Baron choked Ruby with a belt after he felt enraged by the revelation.
Baron allegedly explained that after the incident, he dragged Ruby’s body to the bathtub and attempted to stage it as a suicide by slashing the victim’s wrists. He then proceeded to cover Ruby’s body in cement and coffee grounds he found in the garage in a bid to mask the decomposing smell.
After the murder, Baron attempted to assume ownership of Ruby’s assets, including his luxury car and multimillion-dollar home, claiming to investigators that both were his.
The court proceedings are set to resume on December 23, where additional testimony from Baron’s former attorneys and an interpreter is expected.ed in March 2022 after attempting to flee the country, making it as far as a bus terminal in California before law enforcement found him hiding in a concealed area of a Mexico-bound bus.
He reportedly confessed to killing Ruby after the older man disclosed his HIV-positive status following a sexual encounter in February. According to the arrest warrant, Baron choked Ruby with a belt after he felt enraged by the revelation.
Baron allegedly explained that after the incident, he dragged Ruby’s body to the bathtub and attempted to stage it as a suicide by slashing the victim’s wrists. He then proceeded to cover Ruby’s body in cement and coffee grounds he found in the garage in a bid to mask the decomposing smell.
After the murder, Baron attempted to assume ownership of Ruby’s assets, including his luxury car and multimillion-dollar home, claiming to investigators that both were his.
The court proceedings are set to resume on December 23, where additional testimony from Baron’s former attorneys and an interpreter is expected.
