A 23-year-old man has allegedly confessed to murdering his 73-year-old lover in Hawaii, encasing the body in a cement-filled bathtub, and attempting to fraudulently acquire the deceased’s million-dollar home and luxury car.
Juan Tjedor Baron (above) was apprehended by federal and state police in California as he was attempting to flee the country, and charged with one count each of second-degree murder, first-degree identity theft, and first-degree theft in the death of Gary Ruby.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed in Honolulu’s First Circuit District Court, local police responded on March 7 to a welfare check at Ruby’s residence, requested by his brother, Lorne Ruby. Lorne told police he hadn’t heard from his brother in three weeks, and that the last time they spoke, Gary talked about “a new love interest named Juan” who was “significantly younger than Gary.”
When police arrived at the home, located in an exclusive gated community, they were greeted by Baron, who told them he’d purchased the property from Ruby five years ago. When a security guard noted Gary had only bought the home in 2020, Baron allegedly revised his story and said he acquired it from Ruby two years ago.
Authorities returned the following day to search the premises and discovered “a bathtub in the master bathroom was filled with a concrete-plaster substance with a layer of coffee grounds on the surface,” according to the affidavit. They found Ruby’s body encased inside.
By then, Baron had already flown off the island. He was arrested in California on March 9 “hiding in a crawl space under an enclosed bench” in a Mexico-bound bus.
The following day, Baron “waived his constitutional right to remain silent and consented to a Mirandized interview,” during which he allegedly confessed to the murder.
“Baron stated he had sex with Gary but became angry after Gary informed Baron that Gary was HIV positive,” the affidavit states. “Baron stated that soon after, he noticed Gary choked on food, and Baron reacted by placing a belt around Gary’s neck and tightening the belt until Gary lost consciousness. Baron then dragged Gary to the bathtub and used a kitchen knife to slit Gary’s wrists in an effort to stage a suicide.”
Baron allegedly found several bags of concrete in Ruby’s garage — and purchased four more at Lowe’s — and concealed the body in the bathtub. He used coffee grounds to “conceal the smell of decomposition.”
He also allegedly admitted he had concocted a plan to fraudulently acquire Ruby’s 2020 Audi and home with forged ownership papers.
Baron is currently in custody at the LAPD Metro Detention Center without bond as he awaits extradition to Honolulu.
glennmcbride
Desgraciado.
Fahd
RIP Gary Ruby.
Will his killer rely on a variation on the gay panic defense – the HIV- positive defense? I wonder if Hawaii law will permit it.
Creamsicle
That doesn’t explain all the planning involved in trying to conceal Gary’s body, as well as the fraud involved in trying to acquire his property.
Doug
I wonder how much of the HIV positive story is actually real or if the guy is just trying to come up with an alibi.
There are some really twisted people out there.
Manray
Bringing up the HIV positive detail seems like an excuse.
His life will be spent on prison. Good
mdrc
That does not speak to the person I know Gary to have been. To the knowledge of his friends and family he was not HIV positive. Baron is a sick psychopathic con man- he likely lied about that too…
Aranos
Can’t even remember how often I’ve read about some young guy bringing up this same lame HIV excuse to justify his killing of an older gay. Disgusting.
Kangol2
Tejedor Baron confessed to killing someone else, after trying to conceal the murder, acquire the dead man’s property and then flee the country once he identified as the murderer . He will be spending a great deal of time in a US prison as a result. RIP Gary Ruby.
jt1990
I had no idea Herbert the Pervert was dead. And I’ve watched about every episode of Family Guy! Last I heard he was President….doing ok but having some memory issues
Manray
Are you stupid as your pathetic.comments imply?? You really sound like an imbecile but yet you keep writing.
Den
@ Manray. He is easily as stupid as his posts imply. A definite waste of oxygen. People like him have no idea how they humiliate themselves and what others, with more intelligence, education and humanity, think of them. I doubt there is anybody in his life that either respects or likes him. If he did not bring that on himself I might have some pity.
inbama
Baron needed a concrete alibi.
Terrycloth
Gee he seems nice.
johncp56
Wow-what an evil moron