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

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FEB 2, 2024
[...]

... 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.

[...]

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.

[...]
 
APR 15, 2024
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.

[...]

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.

[...]

Nealon has not yet made a ruling.

Jury selection is scheduled to start May 6.

[...]
 
APR 27, 2024
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.

[...]

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.
 
MAY 6, 2024
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."

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.

The case, however, has holes and jurors should question if others really may be to blame, Schuback’s attorney, Bernie Brown, said.
 
MAY 7, 2024
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.

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.
 
MAY 7, 2024
[...]

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.

[...]
 
MAY 8, 2024
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.

[...]

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.

[...]

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.

[...]

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.

[...]
 
MAY 8, 2024
[...]

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.

[...]
 
MAY 8, 2024
[...]

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.

[...]
 
MAY 9, 2024
[...]

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.

[...]

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.

[...]

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

[...]

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. ...

[...]
 
MAY 9, 2024
[...]

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.

[...]
 
MAY 12, 2024
The trial, which began with jury selection and opening statements last Monday, is set to resume today and continue through the week.

Here are some of the key moments and background as week two begins. Prosecution testimony ran all week, and the defense has yet to begin presenting its case.

On Friday, prosecutors presented testimony and evidence to place the defendant at the scene of the crime, Ghigiarelli’s restaurant which Baron owned, as well as a wooded area near Pagnotti Park in Old Forge where Baron’s remains were found last year.
 
MAY 13, 2024
[...]

Schuback, replying to questions from Judge Terrence Nealon, said he will not testify to defend himself against charges he murdered Old Forge restaurant owner Robert Baron Sr. in 2017.

The prosecution rested at about 12:26 p.m. Defense attorney Bernie Brown said the defense will not call witnesses to make their case. Closing arguments are expected Tuesday.

[...]

On Monday, the district attorney's office called its last witness, FBI Special Agent Michael Sabric, to the stand. Sabric testified he helped analyze Schuback's cell phone records to try and map where Schuback's phone was the night Baron vanished.

In a series of maps presented to the jury, Sabric illustrated that Schuback's may have been at key locations that night and early morning. Those included Pagnotti Park, the streets where Baron's Hyundai was seen and later found and Baron's restaurant, Ghigiarelli's.

[...]
 
Jurors began deliberating Tuesday afternoon in the murder trial of Justin Schuback.

The 38-year-old from Old Forge is charged with robbing and killing Robert Baron, owner of Ghigiarelli’s restaurant.

The jury has been deliberating for hours and the fate of Justin Schuback is in their hands.

 
Five and 1/2 hours of deliberations so far.

MAY 14, 2024
Update: The jury has broke for the day at around 6 p.m. and will be back in the court room to continue deliberations tomorrow at 9 a.m.
[...]

The jury began deliberating around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday to decide on a verdict for Justin Schuback, 38, who is charged with killing Robert Baron Sr. in 2017.

[...]

After 2 p.m., the jury asked for a full report of cell phone records and photos from the testimony.

Around 5:30 p.m. this evening, the jury requested additional validation on what constitutes intent.

[...]
 
GUILTY!

MAY 15, 2024
Justin Schuback was found guilty of first-degree murder and burglary by a jury in Lackawanna County on Wednesday afternoon in the death of Old Forge businessman Robert Baron Sr. in 2017.

It was an emotionally charged scene inside the Lackawanna County courtroom. Cries of "burn in hell” and "garbage” came from the courtroom gallery as the county sheriff’s deputies led Justin Schuback away after the jury’s verdict was read.

[...]

Jurors, who deliberated for about 10 hours over two days, were asked to decide whether Schuback was guilty of first, second, or third-degree murder, as well as burglary and robbery.

At 2:13 p.m. on Wednesday they returned to the courtroom with a verdict, finding Schuback guilty of the most serious charge, as well as burglary and robbery.

[...]

Schuback’s first-degree murder conviction carries an automatic life sentence, but Judge Terrence Nealon will need to hand down separate sentences for the burglary and robbery charges. That will take place within 90 days, once a pre-sentence investigation report is complete.

[...]

Brown says over the next few weeks, the defense will decide whether or not they will appeal the verdict.
 
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There are only a few reasons a business or someone keeps a lot of cash on hand. Most all of them are not good. This of course doesn't mean he deserved to be murdered.
 
JUN 4, 2024
A wrongful death civil suit was filed May 24 in county court by Baron's daughter, Brittany Baron, acting as administrator of his estate without an attorney.

The suit asks for liens to be placed on two properties owned by Schuback to prevent them from being transferred or sold before the suit is adjudicated: His home at 3 Foundry St., Old Forge, and 1.09 acres of land on Miller Street in the borough.

JUL 10, 2024
According to Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell, on Wednesday Judge Terrence Nealon sentenced Schuback to life without parole for the murder of Robert Baron plus a consecutive sentence of 7 1/2 to 15 years in prison for robbery and burglary.

A waste of life. Scum. A thing.

Those barbs were hurled Wednesday at convicted killer Justin Schuback by the family of Old Forge businessman Robert Baron, whose murder seven years ago touched off an agonizing mystery.

Baron’s wife, brother and daughters spoke at length in Lackawanna County Judge Terrence Nealon’s courtroom, two months after a jury found Schuback guilty of that murder and moments before Nealon put Schuback in prison for the rest of the 38-year-old’s life.
 
JUN 4, 2024
A wrongful death civil suit was filed May 24 in county court by Baron's daughter, Brittany Baron, acting as administrator of his estate without an attorney.

The suit asks for liens to be placed on two properties owned by Schuback to prevent them from being transferred or sold before the suit is adjudicated: His home at 3 Foundry St., Old Forge, and 1.09 acres of land on Miller Street in the borough.

JUL 10, 2024
According to Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell, on Wednesday Judge Terrence Nealon sentenced Schuback to life without parole for the murder of Robert Baron plus a consecutive sentence of 7 1/2 to 15 years in prison for robbery and burglary.

A waste of life. Scum. A thing.

Those barbs were hurled Wednesday at convicted killer Justin Schuback by the family of Old Forge businessman Robert Baron, whose murder seven years ago touched off an
JUN 4, 2024
A wrongful death civil suit was filed May 24 in county court by Baron's daughter, Brittany Baron, acting as administrator of his estate without an attorney.

The suit asks for liens to be placed on two properties owned by Schuback to prevent them from being transferred or sold before the suit is adjudicated: His home at 3 Foundry St., Old Forge, and 1.09 acres of land on Miller Street in the borough.

JUL 10, 2024
According to Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell, on Wednesday Judge Terrence Nealon sentenced Schuback to life without parole for the murder of Robert Baron plus a consecutive sentence of 7 1/2 to 15 years in prison for robbery and burglary.

A waste of life. Scum. A thing.

Those barbs were hurled Wednesday at convicted killer Justin Schuback by the family of Old Forge businessman Robert Baron, whose murder seven years ago touched off an agonizing mystery.

Baron’s wife, brother and daughters spoke at length in Lackawanna County Judge Terrence Nealon’s courtroom, two months after a jury found Schuback guilty of that murder and moments before Nealon put Schuback in prison for the rest of the 38-year-old’s life.

agonizing mystery.

Baron’s wife, brother and daughters spoke at length in Lackawanna County Judge Terrence Nealon’s courtroom, two months after a jury found Schuback guilty of that murder and moments before Nealon put Schuback in prison for the rest of the 38-year-old’s life.
Was he represented by private attorneys or the public defender? Either of them might already have a lien on the properties. I wonder if there's any law saying a victims family's lien takes precedence over attorney fees?
 

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