A mother in Florida, Josefina Cardona-Cardona, was arrested for attempting to hire a hit man to murder witnesses in her son’s murder trial. Her son, Manuel Marcos Cardona, was arrested in 2022 for fatally stabbing a man at a birthday party when he was 14 years old. Cardona was charged as an adult when he turned 15 and later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, receiving a 15-year prison sentence. Following her son’s arrest, Josefina Cardona-Cardona met with undercover officers multiple times in an effort to solicit the murder of two witnesses in her son’s case.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office announced Josefina Cardona-Cardona’s arrest and stated that she agreed to pay an undercover agent to carry out the crime. She now faces two counts of Solicitation to Commit Murder and is potentially subject to deportation as she is in the state illegally. The arrest occurred after an investigation by officials revealed Josefina’s intentions to harm the witnesses in her son’s case. The family had attempted to flee Florida following the fatal stabbing, but they were stopped by law enforcement officers.
Manuel Marcos Cardona’s arrest stemmed from an altercation at a 5-year-old’s birthday party in Palm Beach County, where he fatally stabbed a 19-year-old man. During the altercation, Cardona stabbed the victim multiple times while his parents also got involved by beating the victim. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital but was pronounced deceased the next day. Following the incident, Cardona and his family tried to flee the state but were apprehended by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
The tragic events surrounding Manuel Marcos Cardona’s murder case and his mother’s actions to hire a hit man for witnesses demonstrate the seriousness of the situation. The authorities’ thorough investigation and subsequent arrest of Josefina Cardona-Cardona highlight their commitment to upholding justice and protecting witnesses in criminal cases. The family’s attempt to evade law enforcement after the fatal stabbing further adds complexity to the case and showcases the determination of authorities to ensure accountability for the crimes committed.
Newsweek, as a publication committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the pursuit of common ground, aims to shed light on such stories and encourage discussions on important societal issues. The case of Josefina Cardona-Cardona’s arrest for soliciting the murder of witnesses in her son’s trial underscores the complexities and challenges faced in the criminal justice system. By reporting on such incidents, Newsweek strives to inform the public and promote awareness of the implications of criminal activity and the importance of upholding the law and protecting witnesses in legal proceedings.
