Former TikTok personality Ali Abulaban, better known online as “JinnKid,” has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 50 years to life for firearm enhancements, after being convicted of murdering his estranged wife, Ana Abulaban, and her friend, Rayburn Barron, inside a luxury San Diego apartment in 2021. The sentencing brings a close to one of the most widely followed social media murder cases in recent years. (CBS 8)
Viral Fame Ended in a Tragic Double Homicide
Abulaban rose to internet fame through comedic videos and celebrity impersonations, particularly his impressions of Tony Montana from Scarface, earning nearly one million followers across social media. Prosecutors said that behind the viral success was a turbulent and abusive relationship marked by jealousy and domestic violence.
Evidence presented during trial showed that after secretly monitoring his estranged wife using spyware installed on their daughter’s iPad, Abulaban confronted Ana and Barron at the couple’s high-rise apartment in San Diego’s East Village on October 21, 2021. Prosecutors said he opened fire, killing both victims before later admitting to the shootings. (ABC 10 News San Diego KGTV)
Jury Rejected Defense Arguments
Throughout the trial, Abulaban acknowledged that he killed both victims but argued that his actions were driven by overwhelming emotion and a deteriorating mental state fueled by cocaine use and the collapse of his marriage. Prosecutors countered that the murders were deliberate, pointing to evidence that Abulaban tracked Ana’s movements, armed himself beforehand, and intentionally confronted the victims.
After deliberating, a San Diego jury found him guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and determined that the killings were premeditated. Jurors also found true the special-circumstance allegation of multiple murders, making him eligible for a sentence of life without the possibility of parole. (ABC 10 News San Diego KGTV)
Emotional Sentencing Hearing
The sentencing hearing included emotional statements from both victims’ families. Ana Abulaban’s relatives described years of abuse and the devastating impact of her death, while members of Rayburn Barron’s family spoke about the lasting loss caused by the killings.
During sentencing, Judge Jeffrey Fraser told Abulaban that he would spend the remainder of his life behind bars, stating that he would “die in prison.” Abulaban apologized to both families but also expressed that he believed a life sentence without parole was unfair. The judge ultimately imposed two consecutive life sentences without parole, along with additional time for firearm enhancements. (CBS 8)
A High-Profile Reminder of Domestic Violence Risks
The case has continued to draw widespread attention because of Abulaban’s once-prominent online presence and the tragic circumstances surrounding the murders. Domestic violence advocates have cited the case as another example of how controlling behavior, surveillance, and escalating abuse can end in deadly violence.
With the sentencing now complete, Ali Abulaban will remain in California state prison for the rest of his life, while the families of Ana Abulaban and Rayburn Barron continue seeking healing after a case that shocked millions of followers both online and beyond. (ABC 10 News San Diego KGTV)
