A Chicago woman is currently on trial in DuPage County, charged with the murder of a 20-year-old Naperville man that her son robbed and shot.
Candice Jones, 43, was charged under the accountability standard in the death of Michael Armendariz. Her son, Ernest Collins, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the case in September of this year.
The murder of Armendariz
Authorities say that on January 18, 2018, Naperville police were alerted that Armendariz was missing, and was last seen four days earlier, according to a news release by the DuPage County State’s Attorney.
During Collins’ trial, prosecutors said that Armendariz had received a Snapchat message from Cassandra Green, 26, one of Collins’ co-defendants, at 9:11 p.m on January 14, 2018. Shortly afterward, Armendariz left his apartment in a black, 1999 Ford Explorer allegedly driven by Green.
Collins emerged from hiding in the back of the car about five minutes later, prosecutors said, and shot Armendariz twice in the back of the head.
Authorities say Collins and Green then drove to Jones’ home in Chicago, where she allegedly helped the two put Armendariz’s body into a garbage can in her garage. The trash can was later moved to the garage of the vacant house next to Jones’ home. The body was discovered months later.
Collins and Green took Armendariz’s apartment keys and burglarized his home after the murder, authorities said.
Green pleaded guilty in March 2022 to armed robbery with a firearm. As a result of the deal, other charges of murder, kidnapping and concealment were dropped. She received a sentence of 21 years. She’s expected to testify against Jones, after already having testified against Collins.
Jones has been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, armed robbery, and concealment of a homicidal death.
Trial for Jones begins
Opening statements for the trial began this week. According to a report by the Daily Herald, DuPage County Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Paup told the jury that Green would testify that she, Collins, and Jones had all been planning to rob Armendariz as they had seen a picture he posted on Facebook which was showing money and drugs.
He claimed that Jones had ordered lockpicking tools to help with the robbery, letting her son practice using them on her doors. He also stated that Green would be testifying that Jones had helped orchestrate the plans and threatened to kill her and her family if she told anyone about the murder.
The Daily Herald reports that Jones’ attorney Alzetta Bozeman said Jones shouldn’t be found responsible for the murder, saying that “she did some bad things, but it didn’t amount to aiding or abetting in a murder or an armed robbery.” Bozeman also told the jury that the evidence would show it was Green who ordered the lockpicking tools to be used in the break-in.
The trial resumes Wednesday.
Photo courtesy: DuPage County State’s Attorney
If you have a story idea, send us a tip.
