ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A man from St. Augustine was sentenced to 42.5 years in prison for beating his wife to death nearly three years ago, according to officials.
The Office of State Attorney R.J. Larizza said David Armstrong, 38, entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder and criminal mischief after a monthslong investigation revealed that, on Dec. 19, 2022, his wife died from blunt force trauma to the head, neck, and torso.
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Armstrong called 911 and reported that his wife had been dropped off at their St. Augustine home “badly injured,” but provided conflicting statements to investigators, the attorney’s office said. Armstrong also attempted to give the names of people who he claimed could verify his statements.
DNA evidence that was found on the victim later matched Armstrong’s, officials said. He was arrested in Georgia on April 6, 2023.
At the time of his arrest, he was on probation after being convicted on cruelty to children and false imprisonment charges.
“The defendant literally beat his wife to death,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said about the case. “This conviction and sentence are the result of hard work and dedication from the sheriff’s office and your state attorney’s office.”
Additional investigation was completed by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, while Assistant State Attorney Sarah Thomas prosecuted the case.