Peoria jurors convict woman of murder, armed robbery

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) - Jurors in Peoria have convicted a 21-year-old woman of participating in a robbery that left a 63-year-old man dead.

The (Peoria) Journal Star reports that Samantha P. Gordon of Peoria cried Thursday when the verdicts were read to charges of first-degree murder and armed robbery in Peoria County court. A judge revoked her bond and scheduled sentencing for April 11. She could face decades behind bars.

Gordon and 27-year-old Michael R. Howard of Peoria were accused in the February 2017 death of Garrison Collins. Howard's case is scheduled to go to trial April 9.

Gordon's defense attorney argued that Gordon was at Collins' home as a prostitute and Howard came in and killed Collins. The attorney argued Gordon didn't plan a robbery and couldn't be held accountable.

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Information from: Journal Star, http://pjstar.com