Accused murderer to front court after mother’s body found in bushland
Almost a week after Queensland mother Jana Armstrong disappeared, her accused killer will appear in court after allegedly dumping her body in bushland an hour from her home.
Dharminder Singh, 48, was arrested hours after the alarm was raised by pig hunters who came across the remains of 30-year-old Armstrong in bushland at Toowoomba, west of Brisbane.
The discovery was a devastating end to a four-day search by Armstrong’s family and friends to find the mother.
His sister, Faith Isaacs, is currently looking after Armstrong’s four-month-old son. Last month, Isaacs and her husband, Michael, lost their newborn baby. The family said Armstrong supported Isaacs through unimaginable heartbreak.
The online fundraiser set up to support the family details how Armstrong and her siblings lost their mother to breast cancer seven years ago. Two years later, they lost their father to a heart attack.
Police confirmed that pig hunters found Armstrong’s body in an area that had not previously been searched by authorities or the community.
Speaking to the media on Sunday, Detective Acting Inspector Brian Collins did not provide details about the cause of Armstrong’s death or what was found at the scene. He said it was not known whether a gun was used in the alleged murder or what injuries Armstrong may have suffered.
Asked if there were any attempts to hide Armstrong’s remains, Collins said the case was still under investigation.
Collins said the investigation could not prove or disprove whether Armstrong’s body was moved while the search was ongoing. He said a key part of the investigation is whether Armstrong’s car was used by the alleged killer to move his body.
“At this point we believe yes,” he said.
Armstrong’s family will attend court on Monday where they will see Singh in custody for allegedly dumping his mother’s body on steep and rugged terrain off the Esk-Hampton Road.
“There are no words to describe the heartbreak and devastation I feel,” Isaacs said. “Losing my beautiful sister like this is something I will never understand or put into words.
“My beautiful Jana deserved so much more. She was loved so deeply and will be missed beyond words.”
“I promise you Jana, your beautiful son will always know who his mother is, how deeply you love her, and how special she is.”
Isaacs told Nine News his sister, a disability support worker, cared about her son and loved him more than anything.
Collins said it was unknown where Armstrong’s baby was at the time of the incident. When asked how involved Singh was in the boy’s life, Collins said it was unclear.
He said there was no domestic violence order between Singh and Armstrong.
Armstrong is believed to have died between the time he was last seen on July 7 and the time his car was found on the morning of July 8, Collins said. Police said his white Hyundai Kona was found parked essentially in the middle of the road.
Armstrong’s cousins, Lara and Hannah Sweedman, spoke to the media on Sunday and said the family was devastated.
They explained that finding Armstrong’s remains could mean some kind of closure and that they could lay him to rest with his parents.
The duo explained that when Armstrong disappeared, the family felt deep down that he would never return home.
“We were together [Isaacs] He was miserable all morning. He’s just miserable. I don’t know how they’re going to move forward, but they will, they’re very strong,” Lara Sweedman said.
As Armstrong’s family, friends and the community searched for signs of the mother in bushland and remote areas, Singh remained under investigation and gave a statement to police before being released.
He was arrested early Sunday.
Footage of the arrest released by police showed officers raiding his Harristown property at 4 a.m. and finding Singh in an upstairs bed.
Officers told Singh they had a search warrant as he slowly stood up in the bedroom, which contained a single mattress with a sheet on it and a wooden chair with a toothbrush on it.
He is scheduled to appear in Toowoomba Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Police are appealing for anyone who was in the area between 10.30pm on July 7 and 1.30pm on July 8, particularly on the New England Highway and the Esk-Hampton Road, or who has a dashcam between Toowoomba and the Esk, to come forward.
Anyone who sees Armstrong’s white Hyundai Kona, with Queensland registration 273ZHQ, is asked to contact police.
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Cloe Read is the Brisbane Times’ crime and courts reporter.Connect with: X or email.
