No Bail For Suspected Serial Killer

Police in at least seven countries are now taking a close look at the story told by accused serial killer John Eric Armstrong, who is being held without bail following arraignments Friday on charges of killing five Detroit area prostitutes and trying to kill three others.

The suburban Detroit husband and father hung his head, trying to avoid TV cameras and fighting back tears, as a Detroit court magistrate entered not guilty pleas to four charges of murder and three more of assault with intent to kill. He was then taken to the courtroom in nearby Dearborn Heights and arraigned on a fifth murder charge. A judge there entered a "not guilty" plea entered on his behalf.

Outside the courthouse in Dearborn Heights, Armstrong whispered an answer when asked by reporters how he felt. "So bad," was the reply. Asked if he had anything to say, Armstrong replied: "Sorry."

The murders behind Friday's arraignments were all in the Detroit area within the past year, but the 26-year-old former Navy crewman is also being looked at as a suspect in at least 11 other slayings since 1992. Three are in the Seattle area, two are in Hawaii, two are in Hong Kong and there is one each in North Carolina, Virginia, Thailand and Singapore.

Detectives in Japan, Korea and Israel are also checking to see if there might be a link between prostitute slayings in those countries and Armstrong, who served for seven years aboard the USS Nimitz.

Armstrong's wife, who is reportedly pregnant with their second child, also served on the Nimitz. Armstrong himself received two Good Conduct medals while in the service. The Navy is now comparing places and dates of murders which might be linked to Armstrong to the ports of call of the USS Nimitz.

Police in Detroit say the first killing in the murder spree may have been a strangulation eight years ago in North Carolina. Investigators are scrutinizing Armstrong's statements carefully, to see if some of his claims may be exaggerated. "There are gaps in his timeline that we are concerned about," Detroit police commander Dennis Richardson told the Detroit Free Press. "However, nothing outside Michigan has been confirmed yet."

That same approach is being followed in Seattle, which has three murders that might be linked to Armstrong. "We are looking into it," says Seattle police spokesman Clem Benton. "We are trying to see if there's any validity to this guy's story."

Except for one man in Seattle, all of the victims on the long list of murders suspected as linked to Armstrong are women who were strangled.

Police say Armstrong, after his arrest Wednesday, said he hates prostitutes and wants psychological help. Detroit assistant police chief Marvin Winkler, in an interview with The Detroit News, says Armstrong "told us he either killed, or tried to kill, every prostitute he'd ever had sex with. He expressed remorse several times, nd was crying like a baby."

Wayne County assistant prosecutor Robert Agacinski says Armstrong, who lives in suburban Dearborn Heights, appears lucid although a psychological examination likely will follow his arraignment.

Detroit police say Armstrong has been cooperating with their investigation and has answered questions without a lawyer present. "I did ask if he was babbling or incoherent, but there was nothing apparent," says Agacinski. "Obviously, this is not normal behavior. I don't have any indication why he did it."

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