A man who was convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering a woman in Pasadena more than 35 years ago has been sentenced — for the second time — to spend the rest of his life in prison for the crime.
Ronald Anthony Jones, 54, was found guilty by a jury earlier this month in the brutal killing of 26-year-old Lois Haro in 1988.
Jones had previously been convicted of murder and other charges in 1991 and was sentenced to death, but a federal judge reversed the decision three decades later.
After being tried for the second time, Jones again was convicted in Haro’s death, and on Tuesday, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said he hoped this conviction and sentence would provide renewed closure to Haro’s loved ones.
On Oct. 18, 1988, Jones, who was 18 at the time, and his accomplice, George Marvin Trone, were at a Pasadena shopping mall when they spotted Haro and followed her to her parked car.
The two men held her at gunpoint and forced her into her car, raping her repeatedly before taking her to a remote area in Pasadena where they ultimately killed her, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said.
Haro, according to the Los Angeles Times, was shopping for baby gifts when she was kidnapped by the men.
Jones served 30 years in prison for Haro’s death, but his sentence was later tossed out due to issues with the jury selection process during his first trial, including the exclusion of potential jurors based on their race, ethnicity or other “protected characteristics.”
In 2023, Jones’ DNA was identified on the victim’s clothing and on evidence in the sexual assault kit, officials said.
He went to trial in Haro’s death once more and was found guilty of first-degree murder, four special circumstances and an enhancement for using a firearm during the crime. At the beginning of the trial, he admitted to the kidnapping, rape and robbery of the victim, but he denied being the one responsible for her killing.
Jones will join his accomplice, Trone, who is also serving a life sentence without parole in Haro’s killing. Trone pleaded guilty to robbing, kidnapping and killing Haro in 1991.
Tony Haro, Lois Haro’s widower, was in attendance during Jones’ second trial and had to relive many of the brutal details of her final moments. Speaking with the L.A. Times, Tony said he was relieved to see justice once more in his wife’s murder.
“[I] hope I never have go through this again in my lifetime,” he told the Times.
A man who was convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering a woman in Pasadena more than 35 years ago has been sentenced — for the second time — to spend the rest of his life in prison for the crime. Ronald Anthony Jones, 54, was found guilty by a jury earlier this month in the […]