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Written by: A. Smith
Published May 16, 2025 @ 11:20 AM ET
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – A Georgia man serving a life sentence for the 1996 killing of his wife has been granted parole nearly three decades after the high-profile case involving infidelity, drug use, and financial problems.
The Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles confirmed the release of Lewis Albert Joyner, who was convicted in Fulton County of murdering his wife, Ruby Joyner. His parole is scheduled to take effect May 15.
Joyner was also convicted in 1997 in Fayette County on separate charges of cocaine and marijuana possession, receiving two 15-year sentences. Although he became eligible for parole in February 2010, he was denied multiple times before being granted tentative release in May 2024. That decision was finalized this month.
As part of his parole conditions, Joyner must pay $30 monthly to Georgia’s crime victim compensation fund, complete a domestic violence program, and undergo substance abuse evaluations at his own expense.
Joyner and his wife had relocated from New York to Peachtree City in 1994 and ran a moving and storage company. Originally from South Carolina, Ruby became close friends with Halima Jones, a local educator.
On Nov. 15, 1995, Ruby and Jones went shopping together and were later reported missing. Six days later, Jones’ minivan was discovered abandoned at Hartsfield International Airport in Atlanta. Inside were the bodies of both women. Jones had been shot in the head, while Ruby had been strangled and beaten. Authorities found no murder weapon or forensic evidence in the vehicle.
Shortly after their disappearance, Joyner traveled to New York. A search of his property led to the discovery of a large quantity of cocaine, raising suspicions of drug trafficking. Investigators also uncovered evidence that Joyner had been having an affair with Jones.
A key development came when a friend of Joyner told investigators that Joyner had confessed to the killings. Joyner allegedly claimed Ruby shot Jones after discovering the affair, and that he killed Ruby in self-defense. However, physical evidence, such as Joyner’s eyeglasses and shell casings found in the vehicle, did not support that version of events.
Joyner was later found in New York and arrested following a police standoff. He was charged with murder, drug possession, and resisting arrest.
At trial, prosecutors argued that Joyner’s motive was linked to financial issues and his relationship with Jones. They said he planned to kill Ruby, but accidentally shot Jones first before beating Ruby to death. Joyner maintained he had acted in self-defense.
The jury found Joyner guilty of murdering his wife but acquitted him in the death of Jones due to a lack of evidence. He was sentenced to life in prison.
Joyner’s release brings an end to nearly 30 years behind bars in a case that once drew widespread attention across the state.