A shocking double life has been brutally exposed in the quiet city of Toowoomba after police arrested a local taxi driver for the mu*der of a young mother. The tragic discovery of Jana Armstrong’s body in a remote bushland has laid bare the complex and deceitful relationship she shared with her baby’s father, Dharminder Singh. As the community rallies around their orphaned four-month-old son, chilling details from family friends and neighbors reveal the dark secrets leading up to the horrific crime.
30-year-old Jana Armstrong’s body was found in remote bushland north of Toowoomba
Dharminder Singh faces court charged with m*rd*r of Toowoomba mum Jana Armstrong
This remote location sits roughly one hour north of Toowoomba, far from the life she was trying to build for her newborn.
The tragic discovery brought a heartbreaking end to an intense police search that began on July 8.
On that Wednesday, Ms. Armstrong was reported missing after her abandoned Hyundai Kona was found near her apartment on Gordon Avenue in the suburb of Newtown.
The shocking arrest of Singh occurred on Sunday morning at an apartment in Harristown.
He was subsequently remanded in custody during a brief, emotional appearance at the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday.
The courtroom was filled with Ms. Armstrong’s grieving family, including her sister Faith Isaacs and cousins Hannah and Lara Sweedman.
As the legal proceedings begin to unfold, the dark reality of Singh’s background and his manipulative relationship with the victim is coming to light.
Singh had built a long-standing presence in the local transportation sector as a contract driver.
For years, he operated a maxi-taxi for Black and White Cabs, often transporting wheelchair-dependent passengers around Toowoomba.
It was through this specific professional niche that he first crossed paths with Ms. Armstrong.
Ms. Armstrong worked dedicatedly as a disability support worker.
She had deep personal experience with disability, as her late mother, Robyn, had suffered from multiple sclerosis and relied on a wheelchair until her passing in 2019.
Because Singh frequently transported wheelchair clients, support workers like Ms. Armstrong would often sit in the front passenger seat of his taxi.
Over time, a personal relationship developed between the professional driver and the compassionate carer.
One local resident familiar with the situation explained the nature of their early connection:
“He used to get most of the wheelchair bookings and was never short of work.”
“Most of us had his personal mobile number to call when clients needed transport.”
“Many of the workers sat in the front of the cab, which is how Jana got to know him.”
Cre: ABC News
In the beginning, Ms. Armstrong believed Singh was a genuinely kind and caring man.
He actively tried to cultivate a warm, family-oriented reputation among the local support staff.
“At Christmas, he would give all the support workers a bottle of wine signed, ‘From the Singh family’,” the resident recalled.
When friends initially questioned her relationship with the older driver, Ms. Armstrong eagerly defended his character.
Cre: The Chonicle
One close friend recalled her exact words of defense:
“Oh no, he is very nice to me.”
However, the reality of Singh’s professional conduct was far more sinister than the friendly facade he presented.
He had actually ceased driving for Black and White Cabs six months prior to the mu*der.
This termination followed a series of formal complaints lodged by female passengers.
One regular customer described his unpleasant demeanor on the job:
“He was rude and arrogant.”
Mr. Greg Webb, the manager of Black and White Cabs, confirmed that Singh was no longer associated with the company’s Toowoomba branch.
While Singh’s professional reputation was crumbling, Ms. Armstrong’s personal life was about to be shattered by a massive betrayal.
Only weeks before her death, the 30-year-old mother made a devastating discovery about the father of her four-month-old baby, Deshal.
She discovered that Singh was already married to another female taxi driver and had two other children with her.
A family friend of nearly twenty years revealed a heartbreaking conversation with Ms. Armstrong just three days before she went missing.
Cre: The Chonicle
The meeting took place at the Grand Central shopping center in Toowoomba.
The friend recalled the painful encounter:
“She was holding the baby in his pram and had another carer with her.”
“She actually asked me if I knew Dharminder was married.”
“I had told her five weeks earlier that he was a bad egg.”
“I don’t even know what she saw in him.”
Despite the mounting tension and the exposure of his secret life, Singh reportedly continued to insert himself into Ms. Armstrong’s home.
Police allege that on the morning of Wednesday, July 8, Singh went to Ms. Armstrong’s Gordon Avenue apartment under the guise of caring for their infant son.
He then placed a call to emergency services, spinning a wild fabrication that Ms. Armstrong had been kidnapped.
One neighbor recalled seeing a calm Singh standing outside the apartment holding baby Deshal that morning.
When police arrived at the scene to investigate the abandoned Hyundai Kona, they found Singh waiting with the four-month-old child.
The shocking image of the accused k*ller holding the orphaned baby has deeply disturbed the community.
Following his arrest, the tragic fallout has extended to Singh’s legal wife, who also drives a taxi in Toowoomba.
The family friend, who relies on wheelchairs and taxis, spoke to Singh’s wife just hours after she attended his first court appearance.
“She was devastated; she was crying her eyes out,” the friend revealed.
“She is struggling because a lot of people don’t want to use her because of her association with him, but she still has to work to make an income.”
Ms Armstrong’s family. Cre: The Guardian
Back in court, Singh’s defense lawyer, Ramli Salehkon, insisted his client would fight the charges.
“My client is distressed and maintains his innocence,” Salehkon told the court.
“This matter will be defended.”
“My client has rights, I expect everyone to respect my client’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
In addition to the mu*der charge, court documents show Singh faces a charge of arson.
Police allege he willfully and unlawfully set fire to a motor vehicle on the day of Ms. Armstrong’s disappearance.
He also faces a third charge of breaching his bail conditions between June 27 and July 9.
Singh has been remanded in custody to appear in court again on October 1.
Meanwhile, the Toowoomba community has poured its heart out for Ms. Armstrong, describing her as an exceptionally beautiful person.
Her loved ones gathered at the Redbank Creek crime scene on Sunday to pay their respects.
“Jana was the kind of person who would give you the shirt off her back,” a close friend said.
Her sister, Faith Isaacs, along with her partner Michael, have taken full-time guardianship of baby Deshal.
This heavy responsibility comes at a time of unimaginable personal grief for the couple.
Faith and Michael had tragically lost their own newborn daughter, Lehara, just weeks prior.
In a deeply moving statement, Faith promised to honor her sister’s memory through the boy:
“Losing my beautiful sister in this way is something I will never be able to understand or put into words.”
“Beautiful Jana deserved so much more.”
“I promise you, Jana, your baby boy will always know exactly who his mummy was, how deeply you loved him, and how special you are.”
“Jana was looking after my daughter, and now I am looking after her son.”
“I will raise him exactly how she would have wanted.”
To support the family, Ms. Armstrong’s cousins have launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist with funeral costs and Deshal’s future.
By Monday afternoon, the campaign had already raised over $53,000 toward its $70,000 goal.
The overwhelming public response stands as a testament to the love the community held for Ms. Armstrong.
It also reflects the collective horror over a double life that ended in the ultimate tragedy.