Joliet Killer Captured In Oregon, 3 Murder Defendants Now: JPD

JOLIET — It's been three years and three months since 18-year-old Joliet teenager Jwaun Jones lost his life, gunned down by someone who fired a rifle into a car where he was a backseat passenger. On Thursday, Joliet police revealed that a third person has been taken into custody on first-degree murder charges in the slaying.

The new defendant is Aidan Marquez-Martinez, a 30-year-old Bolingbrook resident, who was hiding out in the state of Oregon, authorities revealed.

Jones was killed around 9:22 p.m. April 4, 2021, near Western Avenue and North Hickory Street.

This week, Marquez-Martinez finds himself back in the Joliet area, and he's staying in the Will County Jail facing charges of first-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon.

According to Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English, following an extensive investigation into Jones' killing, Marquez- Martinez was identified as a third suspect in the shooting.

Joliet Police Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Marquez-Martinez on Feb. 27, 2024.

On April 21, Marquez-Martinez was placed into custody in Portland, Oregon by U.S. Marshals Service Investigators. Finally, on Wednesday, Marquez-Martinez was extradited to the Joliet Police Department, where he was questioned and then taken to the Will County Jail.

"The Joliet Police Department wishes to thank our federal law enforcement partners for their assistance in this case," English said.

Who are the other first-degree murder defendants?

On April 7, 2021, 19-year-old Joliet resident Adrian Bibian was arrested, booked, and taken to the Will County Adult Detention Facility on first-degree murder charges. Paola Diaz, then 26, of Joliet, was also arrested on first-degree murder charges.

Joliet police noted that during the course of this investigation, detectives positively identified a vehicle that was used in the homicide. On April 5, 2021, at approximately 8:20 p.m., this suspect vehicle was stopped by detectives near East Jackson Street and Herkimer Street and the occupants of the vehicle were brought to the Joliet Police Department for questioning.

Further investigation revealed that the gun used in the homicide was found at Diaz's house on Oneida Street. Detectives later recovered this gun after receiving consent to search the residence and determined Bibian and Diaz were involved in the commission of this homicide.

After a review of the interviews and evidence of this case, the Will County State’s Attorney Office approved a murder charge for Bibian and Diaz.

Prior to the imposition of the SAFE-T-Act, Bibian and Diaz were let out of the Will County Jail, under the old Illinois cash bail system.

Both have remained free, residing in Joliet, during the past two years.

Diaz and Bibian are both in no hurry to take their cases to trial, so it remains unclear if and when they will stand trial at the Will County Courthouse. Will County Jail and court records list her first name as "Paula" while the Joliet police had her as "Paolo."