John Eric Armstrong
“Baby doll”
(name on license plate)
“Opie”
(nickname in the Navy)
Information researched and summarized by:
Sally Bosher, Ashly Carr, Jennifer Ciccone, Jennifer Cline
Allison Comerford, Baheejah Blevins, Joe Carmichael
Charles Coombe, Gwendellynn Davis, and Breck McCallister
Department of Psychology
Radford University
Radford, VA 24142-6946
Date
Age
Life Event
11- 23-73
0
Armstrong was born in New Bern, North Carolina
1975
2
Armstrong fell out of a window and broke his leg while under his father’s supervision
1978
5
Younger brother died of SIDS when two months old
1979
Armstrong attempted to kill himself by riding his bike across a populated street. This suicide attempt was due to the grief of wanting to be with his younger brother
1979
His biological father, John left after the loss of his younger brother, Michael
His father was very abusive and neglectful toward him and his mother
His biological father sexually abused him as a child
1988
15
Spent one month in a mental hospital after locking himself in a bathroom because a girl from his high school was pressuring him to have sex
1989
16
Visited a psychologist to receive treatment for his brother’s death
06-1991
17
Allegedly killed first victim in North Carolina, however, he is not considered a suspect for that murder.
1992
18
Lost his high school sweetheart, Kelly, to a guy that lavished her with gifts, which greatly traumatized him. He was devastated by the breakup and claims to have lost his girlfriend to an enemy. He said he started killing prostitutes by associating the gift giving with prostitution.
1992
18
Graduated from New Bern High School as an unmemorable student with no discipline problems
Enjoyed baseball, fishing, and earned decent grades throughout his high school years
Joined the Navy in Raleigh, North Carolina
19
Stationed on the U.S.S. Nimitz where he traveled around the world, including Asia and the Middle East
1993-1998
19-24
Took a class aboard the ship about warding off prostitutes
1997
23
Ship was based in Bremerton, WA until 1997
1993-1998
19-24
He was known as “Opie” by his shipmates because of his red hair and freckles
Not a discipline problem while in the Navy
Received 5 medals and 4 ribbons for good conduct and good service during his time in the Navy
According to his bunkmate, Armstrong was moody, suffered from bad headaches, and would often throw temper tantrums
1993-1998
--
Claims to have killed 11 prostitutes from 1993 to 1998; 3 in Seattle, 2 in Hawaii, 2 in Hong Kong and one each in North Carolina, Virginia, Thailand and Singapore
1995
22
Police believe he may be linked to a prostitute, Linette Hillig slain in Norfolk, VA at this date. However, no physical evidence was obtained
05-96
23
While the USS Nimitz was in port at Pearl Harbor, he claims to have killed two people but police were unable to match his claims with unsolved crimes
03-05-1998
24
Killed Linette Ann Hillig (34) a prostitute in Newport News, VA
09-25-1998
24
Married Katie Rednoske whom he met on the USS Nimitz
02 -04-99
25
1st child born
12-99
26
Received an honorable discharge from the Navy. He says that he left Navy because he didn’t think that it would provide him with enough education.
Killed Monica Johnson (31), a prostitute in Detroit. He had sex with her, choked her, and left her to die.
1999
After getting out of military applied to VA State Police but was not accepted. Started taking classes at Schoolcraft college.
01-02-00
Armstrong was questioned after he “found” Wendy Jordan’s body in the river. He told police he was feeling nauseous and pulled over to get sick in the river and saw her body. A few weeks later a DNA test found a match between Armstrong and the victim but prosecutors waited for a full DNA lab report before issuing an arrest warrant. In that interval three bodies were found in the Detroit rail yard.
04-02-00
Attempted to murder a woman. Tried to strangle Wilheminia Drane (42) after she got in his jeep, she sprayed him with mace and got away
04-07-00
26
Attempted to murder a man. Offers Devon Marcus, a transvestite, $40 for sex before trying to choke him. Marcus escapes and later helps ID Armstrong for police
04-10-00
Investigators find the bodies of three strangled prostitutes in a railroad yard in southwest Detroit
04-12-00
Arrested for the murder of Wendy Jordan. Told police at time of arrest that his wife was pregnant with 2nd child and that they were having marital problems
March 2001
27
After a two-week trial, Armstrong was convicted of first-degree murder for the death of Wendy Jordan.
06-13-01
Believed to be linked to 11 other slayings since 1992, including three in Seattle, two in Hawaii, two in Hong Kong and one each in Virginia, North Carolina, Thailand, and Singapore
06-18-01
27
Plead guilty to the deaths of Robbin Brown, 20; Rose Marie Felt, 32; and Monica Johnson, 31. Also plead guilty to one assault charge and no contest to another assault charge. A third assault and unarmed robbery case was dismissed as part of a plea bargain. Ultimately, he was sentenced to life in prison for the death of Kelly Jean Hood, 34. All of these bodies were found in Detroit, MI.
General Information
Sex
Male
Race
White
Number of victims
Convicted for 5 murders: Wendy Jordan, Robbin Brown, Rose Marie Felt, Monica Johnson, Kelly Jean Hood
3 attempted murders: Wilheminia Drane, Devon Marcus, and another (unknown)
He claimed to have killed at least 11 people
Country where killing occurred
United States, possible Thailand and Singapore
States where killing occurred
Michigan, Illinois, possibly Virginia, North Carolina, and Hawaii
Childhood Information
Date of birth
November 23, 1973
Location
New Bern, North Carolina
Birth order
First
Number of siblings
1 younger brother who later died
XYY?
No
Raised by
Mother, his father abandoned the family shortly after the death of his younger brother
Birth category
Oldest (but was essentially the only child)
Parent’s marital status
Divorced, both remarried
Family event
He was traumatized by the death of an infant brother who died of SIDS. This single event greatly affected his mental status as he got older
Age of family event
5
Problems in school?
No discipline or academic problems
Teased while in school?
Yes, Armstrong told authorities he was the fat kid with an inferiority complex, bullied and teased mercilessly
Physically attractive?
No, he was husky and weighed about 300lbs
Physical defect?
None
Speech defect?
None
Head injury?
No
Physically abused?
No
Psychologically abused?
Yes
Sexually abused?
He was sexually abused as a child by his biological father
Father’s occupation
Unknown
Age of first sexual experience
11-15
Age when first had
intercourse
Unknown
Mother’s Occupation
Teacher’s assistant
Father abused drugs/alcohol
No
Mother abused drugs/alcohol
No
Cognitive Ability
Highest grade in school
Graduated from high school in New Bern, North Carolina
Highest degree
High School Diploma
Grades in school
Good
IQ
Unknown
Work History
Served in the military?
Yes
Branch
Navy
Type of discharge
Honorable
Saw combat duty
No
Killed enemy during service?
No
Applied for job as a cop?
Yes (Virginia State Police)
Worked in law enforcement?
No
Fired from jobs?
Unknown
Types of jobs worked
US Navy Sailor, security guard, cashier, refueler, and a barbershop supervisor
Employment status during series
Employed as a refueler for Detroit Metro Airport, Target, and a security guard for Novi
Relationships
Sexual preference
Heterosexual
Marital status
Married
Number of children
One son and wife pregnant at his arrest
Lives with his children
Yes
Living with
Spouse and her parents and their children
Triad
Animal torture
No
Fire setting
No
Bed wetting
No
Killer Psychological Information
Abused drugs?
No
Abused alcohol?
No
Been to a psychologist?
Yes, in high school
Time in forensic hospital?
Spent one month in a mental hospital after locking himself in a bathroom because a girl from his high school was pressuring him to have sex
Diagnosis
None
Killer Criminal History
Committed previous crimes?
No
Spend time in jail?
No
Spend time in prison?
No
Killed prior to series? Age?
Yes, 17
Serial Killing
Number of victims
5
Victim type
Prostitutes
Killer age at start of series
20
Gender of victims
Women
Race of victims
Various
Age of victims
Various
Method of killing
Strangled, claimed to have killed one man with a pipe
Type of serial killer
Organized thrill
How close did killer live?
Drove to crime
Killing occurred in home of
victim?
No
Killing occurred in home of
killer?
No
Weapon
No particular weapon
Behavior During Crimes
Rape?
Yes
Tortured victims?
No
Stalked victims?
No
Overkill?
No
Quick & efficient?
Yes
Used blindfold?
No
Bound the victims?
No
After Death Behavior
Sex with the body?
No
Mutilated body?
No
Ate part of the body?
No
Drank victim’s blood?
No
Posed the body?
No
Took totem – body part
No
Took totem – personal item
No
Robbed victim or location
No
Disposal of Body
Left at scene, no attempt to hide
No
Left at scene, hidden
No
Left at scene, buried
No
Moved, no attempt to hide
Yes
Moved, buried
No
Cut-op and disposed of
No
Moved, to home
No
Sentencing
Date killer arrested
April 12, 2000
Date convicted
June 18, 2001
Sentence
Life
Killer executed?
No
Name and state of prison
Earnest C. Brooks Correctional Facility/ West Shoreline Correctional Facility, Muskegon Heights, Michigan
Killer committed suicide?
No
Killer killed in prison?
No
Date of death
N/A
References
(2000). Former sailor suspected of being serial murder. Seattle Post-Intelligencer Staff and News Services. Retrieved October 11, 2004 from Skywaves Internet Commerce: www.seattlepi.newsource.com/local/slay141.html.
(2000). Killing spree blamed on childhood trauma by Hackney, Niemiec, Swickward & Kresnak. Retrieved April 14, 2000 from Detroit Free Press: www.freep.com/news/locway/slay14_20000414.htm.
(2000). Police investigate form sailor's claim of killing three here. Seattle Post Intelligencer Staff and News Services. Retrieved October 29, 2004 from Skywaves Internet Commerce: www.seattlepi.newsource.com/local/sail15.html.
(2000). The mystery of the ex-sailor’s confession of a global killing spree. The Associated Press State & Local Wire. Retrieved October 20, 2004 from Lexis Nexis Database: http://www.lexisnexis.com/universe.
(2000). Transvestite’s escape let to arrest of accused serial killer. The Associated Press
State & Local Wire. Retrieved October 20, 2004, from Lexis Nexis Database: http://www.lexisnexis.com/universe.
Cohen, & Hansen (2000). Troubled past haunts confessed serial killer. Detroit News.
Retrieved from the World Wide Web on October 11, 2004:
http://www.detnews.com/2000/metro/0004/27/a01-44885.htm.
Gribben, Mark (2004). Crime Library. Courtroom Television Network LLC. Retrieved
October 20, 2004 from the World Wide Web: http://www.crimelibrary.com.
Hansen, R. (2000). Serial killing suspect tells tale of sadness and abuse. The Detroit
News. Retrieved April 7, 2001, from the World Wide Web:
http://ptg.djnr.com/ccroot/asp/publib/story.asp.
Hansen, R., Cohen, J., & Zagaroli, L. (2000). Suspect cast as Jekyll and Hyde. Retrieved
October 12, 2004, from The Detroit News: http://detnews.com.
Porterfield, Elaine (2000). Ex-Sailor not linked to any Seattle deaths. Seattle Post
Intelligencer.
Pots, L. (2001). Testimony continues in accused serial killer’s trial. The Associated
Press Newswires. Retrieved April 7, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://ptg.djnr.com.