Found Deceased PA - Robert Baron, 58, Old Forge, 25 Jan 2017 *arrest*

[PommyMommy]

FEB 2, 2024

Schuback wins a round in Baron murder case, but loses two others

Prosecutors can’t use Justin Schuback’s statements to police at his upcoming trial for the 2017 murder of Old Forge restaurant owner Robert Baron, a Lackawanna County judge ruled.

www.thetimes-tribune.com

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... District Attorney Mark Powell said Friday he won’t appeal Nealon’s ruling on the statement and can prove the charges without it.

“We will be ready to proceed to trial on May 6, 2024,” he said.

Nealon rejected motions from Schuback’s defense attorneys to suppress other key evidence: computerized cell tower site data that showed Schuback’s whereabouts on the night Baron disappeared. The data showed Schuback was in the area where police later found Baron’s remains.

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The judge also rejected a defense motion to move the trial to another county or bring in a jury from another county. The defense contended Schuback couldn’t get a fair trial here without one or the other because of pre-trial publicity.

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[PommyMommy]

APR 15, 2024

Before the Baron murder case goes to trial, an alleged jailhouse confession comes up for debate

Justin Schuback is due in court for trial early next month. A judge will decide if jurors will hear what he reportedly told a cellmate

www.wnep.com

The Lackawanna County man accused of killing Old Forge restaurateur Robert Baron seven years ago reportedly told a cellmate he used a “metal object” when he “racked” him, defense attorneys wrote in a motion to keep that statement out of evidence.

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Schuback reportedly made the statement while he and his cellmate consumed the drug suboxone, which managed to make its way into the unit they were housed in together, the motion states.

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Nealon has not yet made a ruling.

Jury selection is scheduled to start May 6.

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[PommyMommy]

APR 27, 2024

Alleged jailhouse confession in Baron murder may be used at trial

More than seven years after a Lackawanna County restaurant owner vanished, a jury is set to convene soon to hear the case

www.wnep.com

The alleged murder confession a Lackawanna County man gave to his cellmate at the jail can be presented to a jury when it convenes next month to hear his case and decide his fate.

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Schuback spent hours cleaning the restaurant and loaded Baron’s heavy body into the passenger seat of Baron’s Hyundai, he allegedly told his former cellmate. He drove to a park to dispose of the man’s remains, gathered incriminating evidence into bags and a suitcase and burned it outside of the county.

Schuback’s former cellmate told investigators he regretted he didn’t clean the Hyundai well enough. The police later found spots of Baron’s blood inside the car.

 

[CCJD]

The story so far: Baron murder trial begins Monday with jury selection

More than seven years after a well-known restaurant owner from Old Forge vanished, a criminal trial is set to start

www.wnep.com

 

[PommyMommy]

MAY 6, 2024

Jury seated in Robert Baron murder trial in Lackawanna County

Proceedings get underway in the trial of Justin Schuback, who is accused of killing Old Forge restaurant owner Robert Baron in 2017.

www.wvia.org

A jury has been seated in the murder trial of Justin Schuback, who is accused of killing Old Forge restaurateur Robert Baron Sr. in what investigators call a "burglary gone bad."

Schuback trial begins

SCRANTON — Prosecutors described a man accused of killing Old Forge restaurateur Robert Baron Sr. in 2017 as “desperate for dope,” in their opening statement Monday.

www.thetimes-tribune.com

Prosecutors described a man accused of killing Old Forge restaurateur Robert Baron Sr. in 2017 as “desperate for dope,” in their opening statement Monday.

Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell told jurors Justin Schuback was unemployed, dope sick and seeking his next fix when he entered Ghigiarelli’s Restaurant at about 11 p.m. on Jan. 25, 2017.

Opening statements presented during first day of Justin Schuback's murder trial

Schuback is on trial for the murder of Old Forge businessman Robert Baron in 2017.

www.wnep.com

The case, however, has holes and jurors should question if others really may be to blame, Schuback’s attorney, Bernie Brown, said.

 

[PommyMommy]

MAY 7, 2024

First day of testimony in Justin Schuback murder trial

Witnesses shed light on what happened the day Old Forge business owner Robert Baron disappeared.

www.wnep.com

On the first day of testimony in Schuback's trial, jurors were taken inside Ghiagiarelli's back in 2017. Jurors were shown photos of the shop, and to the naked eye, it looked just as it always did until prosecutors showed photos of when investigators sprayed a substance called Luminol. The chemical glows when it touches a spot where blood has been. A blue glow covered the bar, the walls, and the bathroom.

Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell described it in his opening statement as a "blood bath" that had been cleaned up, except for some blood on a baseboard and one of Robert Baron's teeth in a sink.

Maria Baron then took the stand. Mrs. Baron told jurors that she and Robert had been separated for years by 2017 but were still friendly. They had dinner the night before.

Defense grills victim's wife on concerns about son during Baron murder trial

Wife of murder victim Robert Baron testifies during first day of Justin Schuback's trial in Lackawanna County Court.

www.wvia.org

Justin Schuback is accused of killing Robert Baron Sr., but his lead defense attorney on Tuesday grilled Baron's widow about whether she feared the couple's son had a hand in the murder.

"I hope to God it's not true," Maria Baron said Tuesday following intense questioning by lawyer Bernie Brown.

 

[PommyMommy]

MAY 7, 2024

Baron murder trial continues with witness testimony

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — More testimony Tuesday in a high-profile murder case in Lackawanna County. Justin Schuback is on trial accused of robbing and killing Robert Baron. This wa…

www.pahomepage.com

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Six people took the stand so far including Maria Baron and Robert Baron senior’s wife.

The prosecution was led by District Attorney Mark Powell, who questioned Maria Baron about her relationship with her husband, and her son Bobby Baron Jr., and her knowledge of where cash was kept in the pizzeria or apartment above it.

She was crossed by Criminal Defense Attorney Bernie Brown significantly, asking about money Maria Baron deposited following Baron Senior’s disappearance.

It was also alleged she didn’t cooperate with police which she denied.

The last witness of the day was Kourtney Rake, Justin Schubacks’s girlfriend at the time of the alleged robbery and killing of Robert Baron.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

MAY 8, 2024

Victim's son testifies, reveals details in Justin Schuback’s murder trial

The murder trial continues at The Lackawanna County Courthouse in Scranton for Justin Schuback, the person being held responsible for the murder of Robert Baron

fox56.com

On the stand Wednesday was Justin Schubacks's Cousin, Jason Cistola.

Cistola mentioned the day Baron Sr’s went missing, he was in contact with Justin Schuback, who sold more than usual drugs to him that day. And that Schuback had more money on him than he normally did.

Robert Baron Sr’s son, Bobby testified in court as a prosecution witness, who was friends with Schuback.

Bobby Baron told the jury how his father was his role model and best friend and helped around at Ghiagiarelli's Pizza in Old Forge, often.

Son of victim Robert Baron testifies in Justin Schuback murder trial

Bobby Baron described the days before and after his father vanished from the family's pizza restaurant in Old Forge.

www.wnep.com

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Bobby Baron described his dad as his hero and best friend. He's been sober since his father, Robert Baron, was killed in 2017. But Bobby's testimony took him back to a time when he was using heroin and crack cocaine.

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When it was the defense's turn to ask questions, Bobby Baron flatly denied allegations he may have had a role in his father's death. Defense attorneys Bernard Brown and Jordan Leonard have sought during the trial to present the jury with an alternative theory of the case.

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We now know from his testimony in the trial for his father's murder that Bobby Baron suspected the defendant Justin Schuback from day one. Bobby described Schuback as a former friend who had robbed Bobby during a drug deal the night before Robert's murder.

Bobby Baron admitted on the stand that he was accused many times by many people of being involved with his dad's disappearance. He was interviewed by police, his phone was seized, and his apartment was eventually searched.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

MAY 8, 2024

Old Forge restaurateur's son testifies he had no involvement in father's killing

Robert 'Bobby' Baron tells Lackawanna County Jury he was not involved in dad's 2017 murder, but admits to drug use and theft from family business in Old Forge.

www.wvia.org

[...]

Baron said he has been clean for the past seven years. At the time of his father's death, however, Baron had fallen back into using and had contacted Schuback in search of crack cocaine on the day before his father disappeared.

Baron testified that Schuback showed up on foot, which he said was unusual, and they walked to a nearby building where the transaction was to take place. Baron said he gave Schuback $50, and was told to wait.

Schuback didn't return.

[...]

Powell asked Baron why he didn't initially disclose that to police when interviewed.

Baron said he did not want his family to know he was back on drugs, fearing they would "hate me, blame me" for what had happened to Baron Sr.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

MAY 8, 2024

Video evidence shown in Justin Schuback trial

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A Lackawanna County Courtroom was packed Wednesday in the trial of accused killer Justin Schuback. Schuback is accused of robbing and killing the owner of …

www.pahomepage.com

[...]

The videos showed Schuback walking from the area of Howard Street to Ary’s Gas Station.

Schuback then walks towards Foundry Street where he lived in 2017.

The video was taken around 8:40 am on January 26, 2017.

Earlier Thursday, a brother and sister-in-law testified their names were Kevin S and Kristen S. They both lived on Connell Street at the time.

... Kevin saw the missing vehicle around 6:45 a.m. that Thursday morning, he called the police that day when he saw it on the news.

That same morning, Kevin’s sister-in-law Kristen walked her dog around 8:45 a.m. on Connell Street. However, the vehicle was no longer parked there.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

MAY 9, 2024

Former cellmate testifies in Justin Schuback murder trial

On the fourth day of the trial in the disappearance and murder of Robert Baron, jurors heard from the man who briefly shared a prison cell with the accused killer.

www.wnep.com

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In Perez's telling, Schuback eventually opened up to him during a long night last year spent getting high on drugs that Perez was prescribed from medical. Perez testified he ended up that night getting a murder confession from Schuback.

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According to his testimony, Schuback believed the restaurant had $100,000 hidden inside.

Perez continued that Bobby Baron, the victim's son, reportedly plotted with Schuback to steal the cash, but Bobby Baron wasn't there when Schuback broke in.

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Bernie Brown, one of Schuback's lawyers, went on the attack during cross-examination.

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Perez acknowledged that he had charges reduced as part of a plea deal that was offered in exchange for his testimony in the Schuback case. ...

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[PommyMommy]

MAY 9, 2024

Testimony continues in Justin Schuback Trial

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Thursday marks day four in the courtroom for the trial of Old Forge resident Justin Schuback, accused of robbing and killing the owner of a Lackawanna Coun…

www.pahomepage.com

[...]

Perez testified that on one evening, both he and Schuback consumed a Suboxone pill, typically used to curb narcotic cravings, and spent the night discussing various topics.

During the conversation, Schuback confessed to being responsible for Robert Baron’s death, implicating himself in a robbery and disclosing that he used a metal object as a weapon.

He did not specify the object’s role in the murder, but mentioned that the crime scene was messy and expressed concern about forensic detection of blood stains.

Schuback also revealed that he hid Baron Sr.’s body in a baseball field near his property.

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