Offender Record · OFF-2026-008
John Eric Armstrong (photo from the Radford University biography)
John Eric Armstrong
Also known as Opie, Baby Doll
Sex
Male
Race
White
Height
6'2"
Weight
300 lbs
Hair
red
Born
1973
Custody
Incarcerated
States
TH, NC, WA, HI, VA, SG, CN, MI
Distinguishing featuresTiger tattoo on arm; youthful, baby-faced appearance per Radford document and multiple news sources
Custody
Incarcerated at G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility · #362407
Custody record at the facility
Serving life sentences without possibility of parole since April 3, 2001 (first conviction) and June 18, 2001 (guilty pleas).
This record documents arrests, charges and convictions reported by courts, law enforcement agencies and news organizations. Every statement is tied to a cited source with an archived copy. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt; a person charged is presumed innocent unless convicted. Solve the Case does not allege that this person committed any offense beyond what the cited records state, and this record is not a suggestion that the person is connected to any unsolved case. How records are built, corrected and removed.
Summary of the record
John Eric Armstrong was convicted of murdering five female sex workers in the Detroit, Michigan area between 1999 and 2000 by strangulation. He was arrested April 12, 2000, found guilty of first-degree murder in March 2001, and pleaded guilty to four additional murders on June 18, 2001. He confessed to attempting to murder two additional individuals in April 2000. Armstrong remains incarcerated at G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility serving life sentences.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date Dec 03, 1999, Detroit, Michigan
Second-degree murder
Wayne County Circuit Court, Detroit Police · Wayne County Circuit Court · Arrested Apr 12, 2000 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 31-70 years concurrent
Monica Johnson, 31, a sex worker, was found beaten on December 3, 1999 and died the same day. Armstrong confessed to picking her up in Jeep with 'Baby Doll' license plate, having sex with her, choking/strangling her, and leaving her to die.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Armstrong, John Eric; John Eric Armstrong; John Eric Armstrong; John Eric Armstrong
Offense date Dec 03, 1999, Detroit, Michigan
First-degree murder
Wayne County Circuit Court, Detroit Police · Wayne County Circuit Court · Arrested Apr 12, 2000 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life without parole
Kelly Jean Hood, 34, a sex worker and mother of three, killed December 1999/early 2000 in Detroit. Found in railroad yard April 10, 2000 along with two other victims. Armstrong confessed to strangling her after sex and posed body.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Armstrong, John Eric; John Eric Armstrong; John Eric Armstrong; John Eric Armstrong
Offense date Jan 02, 2000, Dearborn Heights, Michigan
First-degree murder
Wayne County Circuit Court, Detroit Police · Wayne County Circuit Court · Arrested Apr 12, 2000 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life without parole
Wendy Jordan, 39, a sex worker with arrest record for soliciting, was found strangled in Rouge River January 2, 2000. Armstrong reported finding her body but DNA and fiber evidence from his Jeep matched the victim. Armstrong confessed to strangling her during sexual encounter and throwing her from bridge.
SourcesJohn Eric Armstrong; John Eric Armstrong: The Model Sailor; Man is charged with 5 murders; Murder And Necrophilia: Detroit Serial Killer John Eric Armstrong; Serial killer who lived in Dearborn Heights featured on new docuseries
Offense date Apr 02, 2000, Detroit, Michigan
Assault with intent to murder
Detroit Police · Arrested Apr 12, 2000 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Term discharged as part of plea bargain
Wilhelminia Drane, 42, accepted ride from Armstrong April 2, 2000. He attempted to strangle her using her scarf around her neck but she fought back, knocked off his glasses, sprayed him with Mace, and escaped. The charge was later dismissed after Drane refused to testify due to cameras in courtroom.
SourcesJohn Eric Armstrong; John Eric Armstrong: The Model Sailor; John Eric Armstrong; Radford University serial killer biography: Armstrong, John Eric
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
CN
Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, China
approx. 1993 – 1998 · Port of call for USS Nimitz; Armstrong confessed to killing two prostitutes here
HI
Honolulu, Hawaii
approx. 1993 – 1998 · Port of call for USS Nimitz; Armstrong confessed to killing two prostitutes here
MI
Dearborn Heights, Michigan
1999 – Apr 2000 · Moved here after Navy discharge with wife Katie Rednoske and child; worked at Detroit Metro Airport as refueler and at Target store and Novi security
Detroit, Michigan
Dec 1999 – Apr 2000 · Worked as refueler at Detroit Metropolitan Airport; targeted sex workers on Michigan Avenue in southwest Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Apr 12, 2000 – Apr 12, 2000 · Arrested near Michigan Avenue, southwest Detroit, an area frequented by prostitutes
Jackson, Michigan
Apr 12, 2000 – present · G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility, inmate #362407; serving multiple life sentences without possibility of parole
NC
New Bern, North Carolina
1973 – 1992
Raleigh, North Carolina
1992 – 1992 · Enlisted in Navy · navy
SG
Singapore
approx. 1993 – 1998 · Port of call for USS Nimitz; Armstrong confessed to killing one prostitute here
TH
Thailand
approx. 1993 – 1998 · Port of call for USS Nimitz; Armstrong confessed to killing one prostitute here
VA
Newport News, Virginia
1998 – Mar 1998 · Homeport of USS Nimitz; Armstrong reportedly strangled Linette Hillig (34) and drove over her body with Jeep; found March 5, 1998 behind bingo parlor
WA
Bremerton, Washington
Nov 1992 – Apr 1999 · USS Nimitz aircraft carrier, stationed at Naval Station Bremerton; served as ships serviceman and barbershop supervisor; advanced to Third Class Petty Officer · navy
Seattle, Washington
approx. 1993 – 1998 · Port of call for USS Nimitz; Armstrong confessed to killing three prostitutes here
Known Vehicles
Vehicles and approximate dates of ownership or use, as reported in the cited records. A photo next to a vehicle is the vehicle itself as published.
1998 bluish-gray or black Jeep Wrangler – Soft zip-on top; license plate 'Baby Doll'
1998 – 2000
Armstrong obtained this vehicle in spring 1998 to help Katie take out a loan. Used to solicit and murder sex workers. Survivors identified tiger tattoo on his arm visible in this vehicle. DNA and fiber evidence from victims found in Jeep.
Timeline
Nov 23, 1973
John Eric Armstrong born in New Bern, North Carolina.
1975
Armstrong fell out a window and broke his leg while under his father's supervision.
1978
Armstrong's younger brother Michael died of SIDS at two months old.
1979
Armstrong attempted suicide by riding bicycle across populated street due to grief over brother's death.
1979
Armstrong's biological father abandoned the family after Michael's death.
1988
Armstrong spent one month in a mental hospital after locking himself in a bathroom due to pressure from a high school girl.
Apr 1992
Armstrong enlisted in the U.S. Navy in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Nov 1992
Armstrong assigned to USS Nimitz aircraft carrier after boot camp, serving as ships serviceman.
Sep 25, 1998
Armstrong married Katie Rednoske, whom he met aboard USS Nimitz.
Feb 1999
Armstrong's first child born.
Apr 1999
Armstrong received honorable discharge from Navy as Third Class Petty Officer.
Dec 03, 1999
Armstrong killed Monica Johnson, 31, a sex worker in Detroit.
Jan 02, 2000
Armstrong killed Wendy Jordan, 39, a sex worker; body found in Rouge River.
Apr 02, 2000
Armstrong attempted to murder Wilhelminia Drane, 42; she escaped after spraying him with Mace.
Apr 07, 2000
Armstrong attempted to murder Devon Marcus, a transgender sex worker; Marcus escaped and later identified Armstrong to police.
Apr 10, 2000
Police found three strangled prostitutes in railroad yard in southwest Detroit: Robbin Brown, Rose Marie Felt, and Kelly Jean Hood.
Apr 12, 2000
Armstrong arrested on Michigan Avenue near Lonyo, southwest Detroit, after DNA evidence matched Wendy Jordan's body.
Mar 08, 2001
Armstrong found guilty of first-degree murder in death of Wendy Jordan after two-week trial.
Apr 03, 2001
Armstrong sentenced to life imprisonment without possibility of parole for Wendy Jordan murder.
Jun 18, 2001
Armstrong pleaded guilty to murders of Kelly Jean Hood, Robbin Brown, Rose Marie Felt, and Monica Johnson; pleaded no contest to one assault charge; received additional life sentences.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
Other · Radford University, Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Armstrong, John Eric“Compiled biographical and criminal timeline information for John Eric Armstrong from multiple sources including court records and law enforcement releases.”
News report · Murderpedia ·
John Eric Armstrong“Armstrong charged with five counts of first-degree murder and four counts of assault with intent to murder; one assault charge dismissed after Wilhemina Drane refused to testify.”
Other government record · Wikipedia ·
G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility“John Eric Armstrong, Register Number 362407/2084912M, serving a life sentence at G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility in Jackson, Michigan.”
News report · Wikipedia ·
John Eric Armstrong“Born November 23, 1973 in New Bern, North Carolina; convicted of killing five female sex workers in Detroit, Michigan in 2000; confessed to additional murders between 1992 and 1997.”
News report · Grokipedia ·
John Eric Armstrong“On June 18, 2001, he pleaded guilty to the remaining four murders and one assault with intent to commit great bodily harm, receiving concurrent terms of 31 to 70 years for second-degree convictions.”
News report · Arab American News ·
Serial killer who lived in Dearborn Heights featured on new docuseries“On Jan. 2, 2000, Dearborn Heights police were called to the Rouge River after Armstrong claimed he discovered a partially clothed body of Wendy Jordan, 39.”
News report · Oxygen ·
Murder And Necrophilia: Detroit Serial Killer John Eric Armstrong“Armstrong pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for other killings and received an additional 31 years in prison. Today Armstrong, 49, continues to serve five sentences for first- and second-degree murder at the Cotton Correctional Facility.”
News report · Crime Library ·
John Eric Armstrong: The Model Sailor“In a two-week trial in March 2001, John Eric Armstrong, 27, was convicted of first-degree murder for the death of Detroit prostitute Wendy Jordan and sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole.”
News report · Seattle Times ·
Man is charged with 5 murders“John Eric Armstrong, 26, was charged with five murders and is suspected in at least 11 other slayings since 1992 in Seattle, Hawaii, Hong Kong, North Carolina, Virginia, Thailand and Singapore.”
News report · UPI Archives ·
Police check serial killer sailor's story“Armstrong served on board the USS Nimitz from November 1992 to April 1999 when he was discharged as a third-class petty officer.”
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