JOHN ERIC ARMSTRONG

Born November 23, 1973 Husband and father of two kids Graduated from New Bern High School as an unmemorable student with no discipline problems Former USS Nimitz sailor Worked as a ship’s serviceman on the USS Nimitz from 1993 through 1999, where he received two good conduct medals His 2-month-old brother Michael died from a sudden infant death syndrome. At the age of 5, Armstrong rode his bike into speeding traffic "He said he wanted to be with his baby brother" Father was abusive BACKGROUND

John Eric Armstrong was not in trouble with the law in his earlier years. TROUBLE WITH THE LAW IN EARLIER LIFE?

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 (5 total) 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. Second Degree Murder: is a murder that is not premeditated or planned in advance CRIMES THAT HE WAS CONVICTED OF

DNA testing He confessed Past history with his father (abuse) Fingerprints EVIDENCE

Charged with 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. Second Degree Murder: is a murder that is not premeditated or planned in advance All together he received two life sentences plus 31 years as punishment for his killings. WHAT WAS HIS SENTENCE?

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 11 other murders that he committed around the world, from , while in the Navy THE TRUTH COMES OUT

"He said he wanted to be with his baby brother" (his brother died at age 5 QUOTES

“Baby doll” (name on license plate) “Opie” (nickname in the Navy) NICKNAMES

Once a woman enters into prostitution, often as a result of difficulties in childhood or her teen years and often coerced by relatives or pimps, it is very difficult for her to exit this lifestyle. This is where the labeling theory enters the picture. Once labeled as promiscuous or as a sex worker by the police or peers, the road to a normal way of life for these women is often virtually impossible to navigate successfully. The labeling theory may apply especially in the case of transgendered prostitutes who are doubly stigmatized both by their gender differences and their prostitution, where they experience a “a host of issues ranging from sexual identity conflict, shame, and isolation. There is little literature on point regarding labeling theory and prostitution; however, there is a great deal of literature available regarding labeling and drug use. A more deviant self-label at baseline predicted greater drug use at research follow-up, giving direct support to the labeling concept of resulting deviance. Once self labeled, it is extremely difficult for the labeled person to shed his or her stigma. In addition, self-label and drug use was found to be cyclical, indicating that once adolescents categorize themselves as drug users after that behavior has occurred, they are likely to stay stuck in that mindset and to limit their associations to cohorts who engage in like criminal behavior. LABELING THEORY

Drug use goes hand-in-hand with prostitution, whether the drug use occurs prior to prostitution and drug users drift into prostitution, or it is used antiseptically post prostitution to numb feelings of self loathing or rage. It appears that self labeling whether as a drug user or as a prostitute is a self- perpetuating and vicious cycle. According to the conflict theory, those practicing certain behaviors are “labeled” by those in power. Once labeled, it is extremely difficult to avoid internalizing that label and escaping it. Among Black women who are prostitutes, they face the double bind of the cultural stereotypes of Black women as hypersexual and “animalistic.” CONTINUED

John Eric Armstrong should be punished and detained from society and used as an example of crime deterrence because of what he did. Killing prostitutes is not right at all. These women are trying to make a living just like me and you. Killing all of those people and getting out of jail for what you did would and should not be normal at all. Imagine the guilt he would face the next time he sees a woman. Maybe he wouldn’t think of anything of it, but this man should get the fullest sentence and should never be able to see the outside world again. DETERRENCE