A DuPage County jury convicted Candice Jones, a 43-year-old Chicago resident, on charges of murder and armed robbery yesterday, October 28, as reported by the Chicago Tribune . Prosecutors claim Jones orchestrated the murder of Naperville man Michael Armendariz, leading to the arrest and conviction of herself, her son, and his girlfriend.
Prosecutors, reportedly stated that Jones ordered her son, Ernest Collins, and his girlfriend, Cassandra Green, to commit the murder. She also allegedly assisted in hiding Armendariz's body. Jones and Collins were arrested in 2019, a year after Armendariz went missing. After agreeing to cooperate, Green pled guilty to armed robbery, as per the Daily Herald.
Green's Snapchat message lured Armendariz into her SUV, where Collins lay in wait. After the fatal shooting, Collins and Green transported Armendariz's body to Jones's house. The investigation into Armendariz's disappearance revealed the trio's premeditated plans and the grim efforts to cover their tracks.
"The diabolical plot devised by Candice Jones, Ernest Collins, and Cassandra Green, and the execution of that plot, has left a void in the lives of Michael's surviving family and friends that will never be filled", State's Attorney Robert Berlin commented on the impact of the crime according to the Chicago Tribune.
Details provided by Green in 2019, indicated that she, Collins and Jones had multiple attempts to rob Armendariz. The trio's intent was sparked by pictures of Armendariz with money and drugs on social media the Chicago Tribune reported.
With Jones facing up to 75 years in prison for her next court appearance on December 18, justice is being addressed. Collins awaits his next trial date on November 29 and is facing life in prison. Green, who made a plea deal, is sentenced to 21 years in jail and has a court date on November 13 according to the Daily Herald.
