Plea Deal Gets Markham Man 18-Year Sentence For Joliet Murder

JOLIET, IL — A Markham man pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree murder in exchange for an 18-year prison sentence.

Ruben Wayne Washington, 35, took his plea deal Friday morning.

Washington gunned down 31-year-old Antonio Tyler in a North Nicholson Street apartment nearly three years ago.

During his bond hearing in May 2013, Washington insisted he had "no idea what's going on.”

His attorney urged him to keep quiet in court and not speak about the case when he was returned to the Will County jail.

"The woods are full of snitches that are trying to get you to say something while you're in custody that can come back and haunt you," warned public defender Kurt Leinweber.