Josefina Cardona-Cardona : “Florida Woman Accused of Hiring Hitman to Kill Witnesses”

In a shocking turn of events, Josefina Cardona-Cardona, a 43-year-old resident of Lake Worth Beach, was arrested this week for allegedly soliciting a hitman to kill two individuals she believed were responsible for her son’s imprisonment. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office reported that Cardona-Cardona offered $4,000 for each kill and provided detailed instructions on how she wanted the targets to be eliminated.

The targets, according to Cardona-Cardona, were linked to her son’s arrest and subsequent conviction for murder. Her son, Manuel Marcos Cardona, was sentenced to 15 years in prison earlier this year after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in connection with a fatal stabbing incident.

Undercover Operation Leads to Arrest

The arrest of Cardona-Cardona came about as a result of a confidential informant who alerted authorities to a potential murder-for-hire plot. The informant engaged in a controlled phone call with Cardona-Cardona, who was using the alias “Maria,” and arranged a meeting with an undercover agent.

During the meeting, Cardona-Cardona allegedly provided details of the intended targets and locations frequented by them. She even handed over a gold chain valued at $100 as collateral for the hit. Subsequently, she was taken into custody by law enforcement.

Legal Proceedings and Bail Set

During a court hearing, Circuit Judge Donald Hafele assigned Cardona-Cardona a public defender and set her bail at $550,000. Additionally, she was ordered to have no contact with the victims and to surrender any weapons in her possession.

The Palm Beach County Public Defender’s Office, as a policy, refrained from commenting on ongoing cases.

Revenge Plot Unraveled

Investigators revealed that Cardona-Cardona’s motive for seeking revenge against the targets stemmed from her son’s involvement in a fatal stabbing incident. The incident, which took place during a birthday party, led to her son’s arrest and subsequent conviction.

The judge presiding over her son’s case reprimanded Cardona-Cardona for disrupting the court proceedings with her outbursts. The incident highlighted the emotional toll the situation had taken on the family.

This disturbing case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of seeking vengeance through illegal means. The impact of crime and violence reverberates through communities and families, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him atjwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at@JuliusWhigham. Help support our work:Subscribe today.