NAPERVILLE, Ill. (TCN) — A judge sentenced a 44-year-old woman and her 28-year-old son to prison for their roles in the kidnapping and execution-style murder of a 20-year-old man who went missing in 2018.
The DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office announced Nov. 14 that Ernest Collins was sentenced to 70 years for first-degree murder and 28 for armed robbery, while Candice Jones received 40 years for murder and 21 years for armed robbery in connection with the death of Michael Armendariz. A jury convicted Collins in September 2023, while Jones was found guilty in October 2023. Collins’ girlfriend, Cassandra Green, pleaded guilty in 2022 to armed robbery with a firearm.
According to the state’s attorney, Naperville Police received a call on Jan. 18, 2018, about Armendariz and how he had not been seen since Jan. 14, 2018. Investigators concluded Green sent Armendariz a Snapchat message on Jan. 14, and minutes later, he left his apartment and got into Green’s SUV. She reportedly drove them away from the building, and minutes later, Collins “emerged from hiding in the back” of the SUV and shot Armendariz in the back of the head. They reportedly drove to Jones’ home in Chicago, placed Armendariz’s body in a trash can, and left it in Jones’ garage. The garbage can, however, got transferred to a vacant home next to Jones.
On Jan. 15, 2018, Collins and Green took Armendariz’s keys and ransacked his apartment.
Officials located the victim’s body several months later. Naperville Police arrested Green and Collins on Feb. 4, 2019, and Jones was arrested two days later.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said, “Working together, Ernest Collins, Candice Jones, and Cassandra Green devised an evil, heartless plot to rob and kill Michael Armendariz. Once this scheme was put into motion, Michael never stood a chance, as he was ambushed and shot twice in the back of his head in a cold-blooded execution. While Mr. Collins and Ms. Jones will more than likely spend the rest of their lives behind bars, Michael is never coming back.”
Berlin continued, “Guilty verdicts and long prison sentences cannot fill the emptiness Michael’s family and friends have already endured and will continue to suffer for the rest of their lives. Perhaps knowing that those responsible for Michael’s murder will be held accountable will offer some measure of justice in Michael’s name. Their tragic loss has undoubtedly impacted their lives and perhaps when they find themselves in difficult times, they will be able to draw upon happy memories of Michael for the strength they need to continue without the love and support he once provided.”
MORE:
