ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — A man in St. Augustine will serve over 40 years in prison after being found guilty of murdering his wife.

David Armstrong entered a guilty plea agreement for second-degree murder and criminal mischief in a hearing on Thursday.

Armstrong has been sentenced to 42.5 years in prison.

On December 19, 2022, deputies from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office were called to Armstrong’s residence following his false report to 911 operators. He fabricated a story claiming his wife had been left bruised and unclothed in their yard by an African-American man. Upon arrival, officers discovered the woman deceased.

A report from the medical examiner’s office revealed that the victim had died from blunt force trauma of the head, neck and torso. 

According to police, her injuries were consistent with previous allegations she had made, in which she mentioned that Armstrong threatened her by saying he would “smash her skull with a cinder block.”

“The defendant mercilessly beat his wife to death,” stated State Attorney R.J. Larizza regarding the incident. “This conviction and sentence reflect the persistent effort and commitment of the sheriff’s office and our state attorney’s office. We collaborate daily, and on every case, to shield you and your loved ones.”