St. Johns County resident David Armstrong has been sentenced to 42.5 years in prison for the murder of his wife. According to the State Attorney, Florida's 7th Circuit's Facebook post, Armstrong pleaded guilty to Second-Degree Murder (Firearm) and Criminal Mischief.
The case began on December 19, 2022, when Armstrong called 911 to report his wife was injured at their home. Deputies found her dead at the scene. A medical examiner determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, neck, and torso and ruled the death a homicide.
During the investigation, Armstrong gave conflicting statements. Evidence collected by detectives, including forensic DNA analysis and witness interviews, contradicted his claims. Armstrong was arrested on April 6, 2023.
State Attorney R.J. Larizza described the severity of the crime and credited the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office for their work on the case. Assistant State Attorney Sarah Thomas led the prosecution. Armstrong’s sentence was handed down by Judge Lee Smith.
