John Eric Armstrong

 

His Friends Called Him 'Opie':

John Eric Armstrong was a 300-pound, former U.S. Navy sailor, who was married with two children. He was known as being mild-mannered, and had an innocent child-like look, so much so, that while in the Navy he was nicknamed "Opie" by his mates.

Armstrong Arouses Suspicion:

Detroit investigators became suspicious of Armstrong after he contacted them in regards to a body he saw floating in the Rouge River. The body was that of 39-year-old, Wendy Joran, whose murder was similar to a string of murders of prostitutes which had recently occurred.

The Truth Comes Out:

Through DNA testing the investigators were able to link Armstrong to one of the murders, and upon his arrest, he confessed to killing other prostitutes and 12 other murders that he committed around the world, from 1993-1998, while in the Navy.

Convicted:

Armstrong later recanted his confessions, but was convicted for the killing of Joran in January 2000, and for the murder of 34-year-old Kelly Hood. He then plead guilty to killing Robbin Brown, 20, Rose Felt, 32, and Monica Johnson, 31, all Detroit prostitutes.

FBI Launches an International Investigation:

The FBI continued to try to connect him to similar unsolved murders in countries such as Thailand, and all other places Armstrong was based while in the Navy.

Plus 31 More..:

On July 4, 2001, Armstrong bargained down to a plea of second-degree murder, and as a result he was sentenced to 31 years of life in prison for the murders of Brown, Felt and Johnson. All together he received two life sentences plus 31 years as punishment for his killings.