Oct 15, 2024

Kansas teen enters plea deal in marijuana sale killing

Posted Oct 15, 2024 1:00 AM

JOHNSON COUNTY  — A 16-year-old pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and other charges in connection to a deadly shooting at Olathe’s Black Bob Park in 2022.

The Johnson County District Attorney’s Office says Jacobi Epting, who was 14 at the time of the crime, pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery and attempted aggravated robbery.

A court filing says Epting and other teens took masks and a gun with them when they went to Black Bob Park to buy drugs from Cardino.

The document also said one of the teenagers told investigators she believed the other teenagers planned to steal the marijuana from Cardino.

Olathe police responded to Black Bob Park on May after someone heard gunfire. Officers found Cardino’s body. He’d been shot multiple times.

The teenagers went to the park to buy marijuana, according to the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office.

On Jan. 3, 2023, Epting was waived to adult status and charged with first-degree murder in the death of Marco Cardino

The two other teenagers were 13 at the time of Cardino’s death. They are each serving sentences in a juvenile correctional facility. Each teenager will remain in custody until they reach the age of 22 and a half. If either teenager fails to comply with the terms of their sentence, each would serve a 12-year sentence in prison.

Sentencing is set for December 27.