SCRANTON, Pa. – Jurors in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, entered deliberations Tuesday afternoon in the murder trial involving Old Forge resident Justin Schuback. Schuback faces charges of murder, robbery, and burglary for the alleged killing of borough business owner, Robert Baron Sr., seven years ago.
The panel of twelve jurors, consisting of six men and six women, commenced their deliberations at 12:33 p.m. following a week of testimony surrounding the events leading up to Robert Baron Sr.’s death and disappearance in January 2017.
During the trial, prosecutors from the Lackawanna County district attorney’s office presented evidence from two dozen witnesses in an attempt to convince the jury that Schuback, 38, committed the murder during an after-hours robbery at Baron’s restaurant, Ghigiarelli’s.
One of the key moments during deliberation came at 2:20 p.m. when the panel queried about obtaining cell phone records that aided in the discovery of Baron’s remains last year and ultimately led to Schuback’s arrest for the murder.
District Attorney Mark Powell, in his closing arguments, reiterated his belief that Schuback was the perpetrator, pointing directly at him and asking the jury, “Who does the evidence point to?” However, defense attorney Bernard Brown countered by arguing that the evidence was not conclusive and raised doubts about Schuback being the sole suspect in the case.
Brown and co-counsel Jordan Leonard suggested the possibility of others being involved in the crime, questioning the prosecution’s theory that Schuback acted alone given certain circumstances surrounding the case.
Despite the prosecution’s strong assertions, Brown emphasized inconsistencies in the evidence presented, challenging the jury to critically assess the facts and reach a verdict based on the truth of the matter.
As deliberations continued, the jury must weigh the evidence and testimonies presented throughout the trial to determine Schuback’s culpability in the murder of Robert Baron Sr. The verdict will provide closure to the family of the victim and decide the fate of the accused in this long-awaited trial.