Woman Found Guilty In The Execution-Style Murder of Naperville Resident

On the evening of January 14, 2018, Naperville resident Michael Armendariz was murdered execution-style, with two shots to the back of the head, in an SUV five miles from his apartment.

Friday, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced that a jury has found a former Chicago woman, 43-year-old Candace Jones, guilty in the murder.

The jury returned their guilty verdicts after approximately one and one half hours of deliberations following a four-day-long trial in front of Judge Michael Reidy. Additionally, the jury also found Jones guilty of Armed Robbery, a Class X Felony. Jones is one of three individuals charged with the murder, the others being 26-year-old Cassandra Green and 27-year-old Ernest Collings.

At approximately 9:11pm on the night of his murder, Armendariz received a Snapchat message from Collins, after which Armendariz left his apartment and got into Green’s black, 1999 Ford Explorer in the parking lot of the apartment complex. After approximately five minutes of driving, Collins emerged from hiding in the back of the Explorer and shot Armendariz twice in the back of the head.

The duo then went to Jones’ residence in Chicago, and placed Armendariz’s body in a garbage can which was later moved to the garage of the vacant house next door. Collins and Green took Armendariz’s apartment keys and burglarized his apartment the following day.

Armendariz’s body was discovered several months later and an investigation was undertaken by the Chicago and Naperville Police Departments. The investigation ultimately led to the apprehension of all three defendants.

“This evening, a jury found Candice Jones, the last of three defendants charged in the murder of Michael Armendariz, guilty of first-degree murder,” Berlin said. “Guilty verdicts, however, cannot bring Michael back to those who loved him. The diabolical plot devised by Candice Jones, Ernest Collins and Cassandra Green, and the execution of that plot, left a void in the lives of Michael’s surviving family and friends that will never be filled. I wish them strength as they continue their lives, having replaced Michael’s presence with just his memory.

Jones’ next court appearance is scheduled for December 18, 2023, for return of the Pre-sentence Report and filing of post-trial motions. She faces a penalty of seventy-five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). On September 29, 2023, a jury found Collins guilty of First-Degree Murder and Armed Robbery with a Firearm. His next court appearance is scheduled for November 29, 2023, for return of the Pre-sentence Report. He faces a sentence of up to natural life in the IDOC. On August 19, 2022, Green entered an agreed plea of guilty to one count of Armed Robbery with a Firearm in exchange for her cooperation. Her next appearance is scheduled for November 13, 2023, for status. Judge Reidy presided over the cases for all three defendants.