Charges have been dropped against a man who had been accused of involvement in the murder of an Arlington Heights resident at the hands of the victim’s son.
Cook County prosecutors withdrew murder and other charges Monday against Azari Braden, 23, of Chicago, thus ending the nearly four-year legal proceedings against him and three other men who were charged in connection with the murder of George Nellessen in 2011.
The 55-year-old machinist was found blindfolded, beaten and stabbed in the basement of his home. His son, Matthew Nellessen, who was then 19, was convicted in the murder last year and is serving a life sentence.
Braden’s brother Armon Braden, 24, is serving a 22-year sentence in the case after pleading guilty to murder.
Marlon Green, also of Chicago, is serving an 18-year sentence for armed robbery after murder charges were dropped in exchange for his testimony against Matthew Nellessen.
Prosecutors declined to comment on why charges against Azari Braden were dropped.
Authorities said Matthew Nellessen and Green met in Cook County Jail weeks before the murder and developed a plot to rob Nellessen’s father, enlisting the Braden brothers to help.
Authorities have said Azari Braden drove the group from Chicago to the Nellessen residence and waited outside while Matthew Nellessen, Armon Braden and Green went inside. Using a BB pistol, Green and Matthew Nellessen tied up George Nellessen and obtained cash and his bank account information, authorities said.
Matthew Nellessen then hit his father in the head with a baseball bat several times and stabbed him in the neck with a kitchen knife, authorities said. His body was left in the basement for two days before a family friend found it and called police.
