Ex-Chicago Woman Found Guilty In 2018 Slaying Of Naperville Man

NAPERVILLE, IL — A former Chicago resident was found guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of a Naperville resident in 2018, the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office announced on Saturday. The jury deliberated for just 90 minutes after a four-day-long trial.

A jury declared Candice Jones, 43, guilty of killing Michael Armendariz, becoming the third person to be charged with the murder of the local man, officials said over the weekend.

On Jan. 18, 2018, Naperville police officers were called to Whispering Hills Drive regarding Armendariz, who had been reported missing and who was last seen at approximately 9:30 p.m., Jan. 14, 2018.

Following an investigation, authorities learned Jones and her two co-defendants, Cassandra Green, 26, formerly of Rockford, and her son, Ernest Collins, 27, also formerly of Rockford, had hatched a scheme to rob Armendariz with a gun, police said.

The investigation found that Armendariz received a Snapchat message from Green at approximately 9:11 p.m. on Jan. 14, 2018. Shortly after receiving the message, Armendariz left his apartment and got into a black, 1999 Ford Explorer driven by Green, that was in the parking lot of his apartment complex. Green then drove out of the parking lot with Armendariz in the vehicle, authorities said.

About five minutes later, Collins emerged from hiding in the back of the Explorer and shot Armendariz twice in the back of the head. The two then traveled to Jones’ residence in Chicago, prosecutors said, and, with Jones’ help, placed Armendariz’s body in a garbage can and then put the garbage can in Jones’ garage.

Police determined that at some point, the garbage can was moved to the garage of the vacant house next to Jones’ home. The following day, police said that Collins and Green took Armendariz’s apartment keys and burglarized his apartment.

Armendariz’s body was discovered several months later, in July 2018, and an investigation was launched by the Chicago and Naperville Police Departments.

The investigation ultimately led to the apprehension of all three suspects, prosecutors said. Jones was taken into custody on Feb. 6, 2019, in Chicago, while Collins and Green were taken into custody two days earlier in Rockford.

Jones, who was also found guilty of armed robbery, had been in the DuPage County Jail awaiting trial. She faces up to 75 years in prison on the charges. She is scheduled to appear in court again on Dec. 18.

On Sept. 29, a jury found Collins guilty of first-degree murder and armed robbery with a firearm. His next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 29. He faces a sentence of up to natural life in prison.

On Aug. 19, 2022, Green entered an agreed plea of guilty to one count of armed robbery with a firearm in exchange for her cooperation.