The Murder of Gary Ruby
Juan Baron has been arrested for killing his lover, Gary Ruby, 73. Gary’s body was discovered covered in concrete and coffee grounds in the bathtub.
Background
On March 7, 2022, at 10:46 a.m., police in Honolulu, Hawaii, received a call from Lorne Ruby, who requested a welfare check for his brother, Gary Ruby. Lorne told the police he has not spoken to his brother in three weeks. Lorne also informed the police that Gary had “a new love interest” named Juan Baron.
Gary lived in Hawaii, Loa Ridge, a gated community. The police report explains the gated community only has one point where residents can enter and exit, which is manned by a security guard. Residents need a card to enter the community.
Police arrived at his house around 11:00 a.m., and spoke to a man, Scott Hannon, who was exiting the house. They asked him if he knew Gary and Hannon told them that his friend inside, Juan Baron, may know him. Police spoke to Baron, who stated he bought the house from Gary 5 years ago. Police told him that Gary only bought the house in 2020. Gary then stated he bought the house 2 years ago.
Police instructed Scott and Baron to go to the main office, so Baron could show proof he had bought the house. Both men left in a 2020 Audi A6, which was registered to Baron.
Police and both men arrive at the main office. Police spoke with the operations manager, who disclosed that Baron showed up on March 7, 2022, to register as a new owner of the home. The operations manager received an email from Gary at 11:28 a.m., the same morning, containing the deed to the house and relevant paperwork, none which had been notarized or signed by Gary. The phone number Baron provided the operations manager with was registered to a gym that Baron had no connection with.
Though there was some suspicion, there was not enough to detain Baron or Hannon, so they were let go.
Search of House
At some point, police searched the house. They could smell decomposition and found a bathtub filled with concrete with coffee grounds on top. The police report states that officers then called the Medical Examiner and a Forensic Anthropologist to excavate the concrete.
According to the police report, the first layer was coffee grounds, with insects burrowing in it. Samples of the insects were sent for further analysis; the coffee grounds were removed. A special team called the Strategic Enforcement Detail (SED) was called in to aid in helping remove the concrete. The concrete was removed while still in the bathtub.
On March 8, 2022, at 2:42 p.m., the forensic team uncovered the body of Gary Ruby. The manner of death was determined to be homicide.
Arrest
Hannon was apprehended in Inglewood, California, but police release him the next day. Police stated there was not enough evidence to connect him to any of the crimes.
Police apprehended Baron on March 9, 2022, in California. They found him in a crawl space in the back of a Greyhound headed for Mexico. According to the police report, Baron had pulled back a metal plate where there was an “enclosed bench seat.” Police took Baron in for questioning. He was charged with Baron was arrested and charged with second degree murder, first degree identity theft, and first-degree theft.
Confession
According to the police report, Baron admitted he lied about buying the house. He told police that he had an intimate relationship with Rudy and engaged in sexual intercourse with him. Afterwards, Rudy had disclosed that he had HIV, which enraged Baron. (Note: Rudy’s family denies that he had ever been diagnosed with HIV).
Baron put a belt around Gary’s neck until he went unconscious. In an attempt to hide the murder, Baron put Gary in the bathtub and slit his wrists to stage a suicide. At some point, Baron saw the bags of concrete in the garage and decided he would fill the tub with it. Needing more concrete, he drove to Lowes to get more, and filled the tub. Baron explained to the police that he had used the coffee grounds to hide the smell of decomposition.
Baron further admitted he forged the Audi’s ownership documents to the DMV and was planning on doing the same for the house.
Court Proceedings
On April 21, 2022, Baron plead not guilty to all charges. His trial is scheduled for June 2022.