Suspect in gruesome Hawaii Loa Ridge murder extradited back to Honolulu to face charges

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The 23-year-old suspect accused of killing a Hawaii Loa Ridge man and encasing his body in concrete is back in Honolulu after being extradited from California.

Juan Tejedor Baron arrived in the islands on Friday afternoon and was taken to the Honolulu Police Department’s cellblock. He’ll remain in custody as he awaits trial on murder and identity theft charges.

In court documents last month, police said Baron confessed to fatally choking 73-year-old Gary Ruby after the victim told him he was HIV positive after the two had sex. Ruby’s family disputes that he had HIV.

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Baron told police he then dragged the victim’s body to a bathtub in the victim’s home, used a kitchen knife in an attempt to stage a suicide and then encased the body in concrete.

He then allegedly covered the bathtub with coffee grounds in an apparent attempt to hide the smell.

Police were called to the Hawaii Loa Ridge home for a welfare check after the victim’s brother told police he hadn’t heard from him in three weeks.

At that time, Baron reported that he’d bought the property from Ruby five years ago.

He subsequently jumped on a plane for California, where police say he was arrested as he allegedly tried to get to Mexico on a Greyhound bus.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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