#RememberThem: Wendy

During John Eric Armstrong's first murder trial in 2001, there weren't all that many family members of the victims in attendance. But for Wendy, the second person Armstrong was known to have killed in Detroit, there were two sisters watching every moment. Every day. Staring down Armstrong. Unafraid to represent their sister. Making sure justice would be had. Because Wendy meant everything to them.

Wendy (right) and her sister Bonnie. Image courtesy of Bonnie.

I've said it before on this blog, but for Wendy, it really bears repeating. So much of the time, these girls who are living lives at risk on the streets had very legit lives over the years. Loving, stable homes when they were growing up. Mom and Dad, siblings. A neighborhood with kids down the street to play with or whatever. But something along the way threw them off-course. Usually it's addiction, and they're out there primarily to feed the habit. Little girls don't aspire to become prostitutes when they grow up. But it's what happens. And when they're deep in it, they just can't really see out of it.

Wendy's sister Bonnie spoke to me for "The ‘Baby Doll’ Serial Killer" book. She had already spoken for a TV special or two on the Armstrong case at that point; she had probably spoken to other writers over the years. Probably felt like she was repeating herself over and over. But I was very thankful to hear it -- how valuable Wendy was, what a wonderful older sister she was when they were growing up, how heartbreaking it was to see her drift in and out of street life. To get clean for a while, but then later get back into it. 

I'll never forget one particular thing Bonnie told me. When you have a family member who's living this life, sometimes "you don't want to see them coming." In other words, you let them in, they sleep on your couch, then before you know it, they're gone again, and maybe they've even stolen from you. At any rate, they've disappointed you again, and you don't know how to help them. But with Wendy, Bonnie said, "we always wanted to see her coming." It didn't matter what happened. Wendy's family always wanted her.

In the research of this case, I've been privileged to learn what's behind the news headlines, the story that lies beneath the superficial facts. What really matters. Even decades after the headlines have passed.

John Eric Armstrong picked up Wendy on Warren Avenue in Detroit and took her to the side street shown above (in a modern photo). He pulled into the building at left, which was a funeral home and still exists under a different name. The parking lot where he likely parked is shown below.

Images by the author; see note below.

This post is part of a series on this blog that I am calling #RememberThem, a chance to honor the women who encountered the two Detroit serial killers I have researched, John Eric Armstrong and Benjamin ("Tony") Atkins. In this continuing series, with installments dropping every week or so, we first learn more about the women Armstrong was known to have killed in Detroit, plus two of his survivors, then we turn to the women who encountered Atkins. Click on the "Honoring the Victims" label on the left to see all of the parts in the series. Also see the #RememberThem series on YouTube.

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Above photos are copyrighted and specifically for use in "The 'Baby Doll' Serial Killer"; any other use prohibited without permission.

See more photos from the case at the gallery on the WildBlue Press website.