HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Superior Court on Monday upheld the first-degree murder conviction and mandatory life sentence of Justin Schuback, ensuring he will remain behind bars for the 2017 slaying of Old Forge pizzeria owner Robert Baron Sr.
The ruling is a final judicial affirmation for a case that sparked a six-year-long search and a determined family crusade for justice.
Robert Baron Sr., the proprietor of Ghigiarelli’s Restaurant at 511 S. Main St. in Old Forge, disappeared on January 26, 2017, and was quickly presumed dead. The investigation spanned years until it culminated in the discovery of Baron’s remains and Schuback’s arrest and subsequent conviction for a murder that occurred during a botched robbery.
Schuback was found guilty of first-degree murder, which carries an automatic life sentence without parole. He is currently incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution at Dallas. The Superior Court's decision maintains the jury's verdict, bringing a measure of finality to the case.