Illinois neighbor arrested in Pinoy couple's brutal killing

CHICAGO, Illinois – A 24-year-old African-American has been arrested for the brutal death of an elderly Filipino couple. Omarrian T. Jones, of Rockford, was arrested on July 16 after a chase by the Rockford police. Jones is accused of killing Reynato "Ray" Cardino, 77, a retired mechanic who worked part-time assembling bikes at Wal-Mart, and Leticia "Letty" Cardino, 75, a retired building inspector. The couple was found by their son Reyle, 51, when he visited his parents' suburban Pleasant View Avenue home on July 8. He told police he caught Jones inside his parents' home at around 7 p.m. (Chicago time). The suspect also assaulted the son and left him injured. "His face was all bloody, all he did was call out my name and say call 911, we just got robbed," said Walter Pacula, the Cardino's neighbor in an interview with WXER Rockford TV. Pacula said the elderly couple was warm and treated everyone like their grandchildren. "They'd help the neighborhood out, whatever you wanted, they'd help you out," he added. Not the first time Eight days after the incident, police officers and the Law Enforcement Aviation Coalition helicopter tracked down Jones on 23rd Avenue. Jones has been charged with two counts of first degree murder for the death of the Cardino couple. According to the criminal complaint filed in Winnebago County Court, Jones struck the Cardino couple "about the head and body with a blunt object, knowing such act created a strong probability of death." Deputy State’s Attorney Marilyn Hite-Ross of the Winnebago County said the standard sentence for murder is 20 to 60 years in prison, but defendants found guilty of murders involving an aggravating factor — such as the victims being over the age of 60 — can face harsher punishments, including life imprisonment or the death penalty. The suspect's mother, Helen, 44, was also arrested on charges of obstruction of justice for allegedly destroying evidence in the case. Her arrest came hours after her son was taken into police custody. In a media interview, Helen maintained her son's innocence: "My son walked through the door. There was no blood, no injuries." In previous years, Jones has been jailed on drug charges, theft, and trespassing involving an automobile. - GMANews.TV