Killer Of Joliet Mom Will Never Get Out Of Prison: Judge Carlson

JOLIET, IL — On Monday, Will County Judge Dave Carlson announced that 48-year-old convicted Joliet murderer Jermaine Mandley will spend the rest of his days behind the walls of the Illinois Department of Corrections at one of their prisons.

Back in August, a Will County jury needed less than 30 minutes to reach a unanimous guilty verdict in the Joliet first-degree murder and child endangerment trial for Mandley, a Bolingbrook barber accused of unloading his pistol into the body of his girlfriend Maya Smith, while her 2-year-old child was strapped in a car seat on Jan. 7, in the city of Joliet.

Mandley was found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of child endangerment. The sentencing range was 45 years to life in prison.

“Jermaine Mandley is evil incarnate," Will County State's Attorney Jim Glasgow announced in Monday's press statement. "He ruthlessly fired at least 7 shots at Maya Smith with her infant daughter just inches away. The sadistic executioner was caught on video saying, ‘killed that bitch’ and ‘she dead – call that bitch now.’ He has repeatedly demonstrated throughout his extensive criminal history an utter lack of respect for the sanctity of human life.

“The daughter of Maya Smith now faces a life sentence without her mother. Although Mandley’s life sentence can never bring Maya back, he is exorcised from civilized society for the remainder of his satanic life," Glasgow pointed out.

Six months before Smith was killed, Channahon police investigated prior allegations that Mandley had battered the young mother. In that case, Maya Smith opted not to pursue criminal charges against Mandley and Channahon police dropped the case.

On Joliet's west side near Oakland Avenue, Smith's lifeless body was discovered inside of her silver SUV shortly after midnight on Jan. 8. Joliet police immediately identified Mandley as their prime suspect, and he was captured trying to flee to Indiana, near the Horseshoe Casino, a few days later.

Mandley and Smith had had a dating relationship, and Mandley's marriage with his wife Chelsea Mandley was on the rocks at the time of the 24-year-old mother's slaying inside her vehicle, according to August's jury trial testimony.