John Eric Armstrong

“Baby doll”

(name on license plate)

Opie”

(nickname in the Navy)

Image

 

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.