Jana Armstrong, a 30-year-old mother from Toowoomba, Queensland, vanished on the evening of July 7, 2026. Her four-month-old baby boy was later found safe inside her home with her former partner, Dharminder Singh. Her white Hyundai Kona was discovered abandoned in the middle of the road, just 500 metres from her Gordon Avenue residence in the suburb of Newtown. Doors open, it appeared at first glance as if the young mother had simply walked away.

What followed was a rapid unraveling of a story that police allege was no voluntary disappearance, but a calculated and brutal domestic violence homicide. CCTV footage later captured her car being driven toward remote bushland near Ravensbourne National Park at midnight. Days later, pig hunters stumbled upon her body. Singh, 48, a taxi driver and father of the infant, now faces charges of murder (domestic violence offence), arson, and breach of bail.

What we know about the alleged domestic violence murder of Jana Armstrong

This case has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit Toowoomba community and reignited urgent conversations about domestic violence, protection orders, and the vulnerabilities faced by new mothers in Australia.

A Loving Mother and Devoted Sister

Missing Jana Armstrong: Newtown woman’s car found, welfare fears

Jana Armstrong (family and media photos)

Jana Armstrong was born and raised in Toowoomba. She attended local schools, played basketball for the Saints, and later coached until injuries forced her to step back. Described by those who knew her as warm, maternal, and resilient, Jana worked as a support worker, helping others in the community. She was on maternity leave, cherishing time with her newborn son, whom she was still breastfeeding.

Her family bonds were forged in tragedy. Jana and her siblings had already lost their mother, Robyn, to breast cancer seven years earlier and their father, Ron, to a heart attack five years after that. Jana became a pillar for her younger sister, Faith Isaacs. Just weeks before Jana’s death, Faith and her partner suffered the devastating loss of their own newborn daughter. Jana stepped in to help organize the funeral and provide emotional support.

The sisters spoke daily. They had brunch together on July 7—the last time Faith saw Jana alive. Jana was wearing a green-and-white striped Country Road shirt, jeans, and thongs, cradling her baby. CCTV from the cafe captured this ordinary, loving moment.

“She always wanted to be a mum,” family and friends recalled. No one who knew Jana believed she would abandon her infant son.

The “Disappearance” That Didn’t Add Up

Jana Armstrong: Qld community in mourning rallies for her baby following murder charge

Tributes at Jana’s home on Gordon Court / Avenue area in Newtown, Toowoomba

The next day, July 8, Jana’s car was found around 6am, roughly 500 metres from her home. Her baby was inside the house with Singh. A missing person report was filed, but alarm bells rang immediately for the family. Jana’s sister knew something was desperately wrong.

Police and State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers launched searches in nearby bushland, including Black Gully Reserve. Forensic teams examined her home. By Thursday and Friday, searches expanded to areas like Tabletop Drive and Preston.

Crucially, police released CCTV showing Jana’s Hyundai Kona being driven around Toowoomba’s outskirts on the evening of July 7 and into the early hours of July 8. This footage shattered the initial narrative of a voluntary walk-away.

Discovery in the Bushland

Best hikes and trails in Ravensbourne National Park

Dense bushland in Ravensbourne National Park area, similar to where Jana’s body was found

On Saturday, July 11, hope faded for the family. But it was two pig hunters whose dogs led them to a grim discovery late that evening in remote bushland off Esk Hampton Road near Ravensbourne National Park. Jana’s body was found; she was still in the clothes from the cafe CCTV. A crime scene was established.

Early Sunday morning, police arrested Singh at a unit in Harristown. He was charged and later appeared via video link in Toowoomba Magistrates Court. His lawyer stated that Singh asserts his innocence.

Jana Armstrong: Accused murderer Dharminder Singh fronts court after mother’s body found in bushland near Toowoomba

Dharminder Singh (court and media images)

Police allege Singh murdered Jana on the night of July 7 and later set fire to a vehicle. He was also charged with breaching bail conditions. Reports indicate a history of domestic issues, including a legal ban from being near Jana.

Rumors, Planning, and the Chilling Phone Evidence

As details emerge, rumors swirl of premeditation. The 500-metre “trap” — the car’s proximity to home yet its documented travels to Ravensbourne Forest — exposed the flaw in any “she walked away” theory.

Broader Context: Domestic Violence in Australia

Jana Armstrong’s death is a stark reminder of Australia’s ongoing crisis. Community response has been overwhelming. A GoFundMe for the family raised tens of thousands, with donations of baby goods pouring in. Tributes, flowers, and messages line her street.

A Life Cut Short, A Legacy of Love

Jana Armstrong will be laid to rest with her parents and grandmother. She leaves behind a son who will grow up knowing his mother through the stories of those who loved her.

As the legal process unfolds, the focus remains on justice for Jana and support for her child and grieving family. The “500-meter trap” was the thread that pulled apart the deception.