RONALD LEE WEISS | Bashed A 16yo Girls’ Skull In With A Tire Iron, Killing Her, Because He Lost A Couple Of Games Of Pool To Her | Sentenced To Death | Lot of 2 ALS

Ron Weiss. Lot of 2 ALS. #10 (4.125 x 9.5). Pmk: (1) September 25, 2007 and (2) November 8, 2007. SEALED. Content unknown. Pristine.

Sixteen-year-old Barbara Ellen Bruzda (hereinafter referred to as “Barbie”) was last seen alive on October 23, 1978. Hikers found her body on March 20, 1979, in a remote area of Indiana County. Barbie died of massive skull fractures. It was determined that the manner of death was homicide. Ronald Lee Weiss (hereinafter referred to as “Ronny”) was arrested on February 20, 1997, and charged with criminal homicide. His jury trial began on July 7, 1997, and he was found guilty of the charge on July 9, 1997. The same jury determined that he be sentenced to death.

The evidence at trial established that on October 23, 1978 Barbie was seen playing pool with Ronny at her family's tavern (Joe’s Place). Ronny left the tavern between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm and Barbie left shortly after that. Barbie and Ronny arrived together at a party at Henry Hobart's house between 7:00 pm and 7:30 pm later that same evening. The couple appeared comfortable together and then left the party for approximately an hour.

When they returned to the party, Barbie’s appearance was messed and she appeared to be upset. Later, Barbie and Ronny left the party again, and they did not return. Before he left the party, Ronny borrowed a jack and a tire iron from Mr. Hobart. Barbie was never again seen alive and five months later, on March 20, 1979, the body of Barbie, wrapped in a distinctive red and white homemade quilt, was found near a road in a remote area of Indiana County.

The former wife of Ronny, Sharon Pearson, testified against him at trial. Ms. Pearson testified that in October of 1978, she and Ronny shared a car, a four-door Buick. The day after Barbie disappeared, Ms. Pearson went to the car, and found blood smeared on the back of the front seats, the interior roof spattered with blood and blood smudged on the back seat. Ms. Pearson also testified that a distinctive homemade quilt was missing from the back seat of the car. Finally, Ms. Pearson testified that the quilt in which Barbie’’s body had been found was the same quilt that had been kept in the back of the car used by Ronny on the night that Barbie disappeared.

Isadore Mihalakis, a forensic pathologist, testified that Barbie died of massive skull fractures with associated brain injury, with the manner of her death being homicide. Dr. Mihalakis testified that the injuries inflicted on Barbie were done with an object such as a pry bar, pipe, or tire iron, and that Barbie was hit at least twice, and possibly three times with the device.

Kerm Wright, a witness, testified that Ronny confessed to him in 1985 that he had killed Barbie. Samuel Tribuiani, a witness, testified that in 1993 Ronny confessed to him that he had killed a young girl some years before.

Ronny testified on his own behalf and denied any involvement in the death of Barbie.   However, the jury credited the Commonwealth’s evidence and found Ronny guilty of first-degree murder. After a penalty hearing, the jury found the aggravating circumstance that Ronny had a significant history of felony convictions involving the use or threat of violence, found no mitigating circumstances, and sentenced him to death. Ronny is scheduled to die by lethal injection on Oct. 22, 2023.

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