A Toowoomba taxi driver is accused of murdering the mother of his four-month-old son, whom police found him holding after an alleged false report of her kidnapping. Dharminder Singh, 48, faces charges in the domestic violence death of 30-year-old Jana Armstrong.
A search for Armstrong began July 8 after her car was found abandoned near her home. Her remains were discovered Saturday evening in dense bushland an hour north of Toowoomba. Singh was arrested Sunday morning and appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday, where he was remanded in custody.
A friend of Armstrong's revealed that she had recently discovered Singh was married and had two other children. The friend, who wished to remain anonymous, said she spoke to Armstrong three days before she disappeared. "She actually asked me if I knew that Dharminder was married," the friend stated, adding that she had warned Armstrong about him five weeks prior.
Police allege Singh went to Armstrong's home to care for their infant son, Deshal, and then called emergency services claiming she had been kidnapped. A neighbor reported seeing Singh holding the baby outside the unit on Wednesday morning. When police responded to the report of the abandoned vehicle, Singh was present with the child.
Deshal is now in the care of Armstrong's sister, Faith Isaacs, and her partner Michael Isaacs. The couple recently lost their own infant daughter at birth.
Singh, who emigrated from India, moved to Toowoomba from Brisbane several years ago. He had previously worked as a contractor for Black and White Cabs but left the company six months ago after receiving complaints from female passengers. Greg Webb, manager of the company's Toowoomba arm, confirmed Singh was no longer driving for them.
Friends described Armstrong as an "incredibly beautiful" person who would "give you the shirt off her back." She met Singh when using his maxi taxi as a support care worker. "He would give all the support workers a bottle of wine at Christmas and sign it, 'From the Singh family'," a local acquaintance said.
Singh's lawyer told the court his client was "distressed" and "asserts his innocence," stating the matter would be defended. Singh also faces charges of arson and breaching bail conditions.
A GoFundMe campaign launched by Armstrong's cousins has raised over $53,000 towards supporting the Isaacs family, who are now Deshal's guardians, and funeral expenses. Faith Isaacs has vowed to raise her nephew in a way that honors his mother's memory.