Life Sentence for Son and 40 Years for Mother in Brutal Naperville Murder and Robbery Case

A mother and her son have been sentenced to significant prison terms for the murder and armed robbery of a Naperville resident, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced. Candice Jones, 44, and her son Ernest Collins, 28, faced Judge Michael Reidy who handed down sentences of 40 and 70 years for murder, and 21 and 28 years for armed robbery, respectively, according to

official statements

. The duo, together with an accomplice, Cassandra Green, executed a plan to rob Michael Armendariz, which led to his tragic death.

On January 14, 2018, Armendariz vanished after responding to a Snapchat message from Green, later discovered to be a plot to lure him into a vehicle where Collins lay in wait. After the ambush, wherein Armendariz was fatally shot twice in the back of the head, they transported his body to Jones’ residence, concealed it in a garbage can, and then burglarized the victim’s apartment. Armendariz’s remains were found several months later sparking a comprehensive investigation that culminated in the arrest of Collins and Jones in early February 2019, whereas Green had already agreed to a guilty plea on one count of armed robbery with a firearm securing a 21-year sentence.

The case has drawn considerable attention for its heinous nature, with State’s Attorney Berlin commenting, “Ernest Collins, Candice Jones and Cassandra Green devised an evil, heartless plot to rob and kill Michael Armendariz,” indicating the deliberate and premeditated elements of the crime. “Michael never stood a chance, as he was ambushed and shot twice in the back of his head in a cold-blooded execution,” Berlin stated, as reported by

DuPage County’s news release

. The sentiments captured the gravity of the offense and the finality of its consequences for the Armendariz family.

In an outcome seeking justice for the irreparable loss, both Collins and Jones will serve their sentences concurrently, with Collins facing the prospect of spending the rest of his life behind bars. The prosecutors, police departments, and all those involved in the resolution of this case were duly thanked by Berlin.

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