AJ Armstrong verdict: Houston man, 23, found guilty in 2016 death of parents after three trials

The wife of convicted murderer AJ Armstrong wept openly in court on Wednesday as her child’s father was sentenced to life in prison for the 2016 murder of his two parents.

The son of former NFL player Antonio Armstrong was found guilty of murdering his parents as a 16-year-old in 2016. He will be given the option of parole after 40 years.

Antonio Armstrong Jr. – AJ – heard the verdict on Wednesday after two earlier mistrials. The Houston jury deliberated for about 10 hours after hearing more than 40 hours of testimony from 31 witnesses spanning 11 days during the capital murder trial.

Because he was a minor at the time of the murders, he did not face the death penalty.

During the seven-year span between the murders and today’s sentencing, Armstrong married Kate Ober, his high school girlfriend with whom he shares a son. She was comforted by her husband’s lawyers in court when Armstrong was led away after conviction.

After three trials, AJ Armstrong was convicted Wednesday of the 2016 murder of his parents

Armstrong was living in the Houston family home with his parents and younger sister at the time of the murders. His older half-brother lived nearby

Armstrong Sr. was a former linebacker for the Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers.

Defense attorney Rick Detoto said of his client, “He is devastated. He is one of the strongest young men I have ever known. His family is amazing, and they’re clearly devastated at the moment.”

“This is a difficult time for them, but they will unite and they will help AJ and his young son and his wife through this.”

AJ was charged with shooting both of his 42 parents seven years ago. In 2016, Dawn and Antonio Sr. each shot in the head, with pillows over their faces, as they slept in their Texas home.

Armstrong was arrested hours later. He was in his freshman year of high school at the time of the arrest.

In several trials since his arrest, prosecutors have tried to prove that AJ was practicing and planning to kill his parents.

Investigators said the then-teenager admitted to experimenting with muffling a gun with blankets and pillows.

A search of the family home also revealed that AJ had both a crack pipe and a pillow with bullet holes in his room.

Armstrong is now 23 and has worn a GPS ankle monitor throughout his adult life. He has been out on bail since 2017.

Between his second and third trials, Armstrong married his son’s mother, his high school girlfriend, Kate Ober.

AJ Armstrong was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 40 years

Armstrong Sr. was a former linebacker for the Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers in the NFL

AJ’s lawyers say they are playing to appeal the verdict

Ober testified on behalf of Armstrong at his first trial.

Detectives have insisted for years that AJ is the only person who could have killed his parents.

The young man’s lawyers have tried to question that, even at one point trying to shift the blame to Armstrong’s older half-brother, Josh, as a potential suspect.

The state responded with text messages between Antonio Sr., Dawn, and Josh as evidence that prosecutors showed Josh was a loving son who had a normal relationship with his parents.

Josh was also not living with the family at the time of the murders.

AJ’s lawyers say they are playing to appeal the verdict.

On Tuesday, AJ also filed a federal lawsuit against the Houston Police Department, alleging that his officers allegedly planted evidence in an attempt to move forward with a false conviction.