In the fall of 2013, the quiet community of Tabernacle, New Jersey, became the backdrop for a grim discovery that would unravel a story of kidnapping and murder. On October 7, 2013, the body of 47-year-old Lisa Armstrong, a female resident of Trenton, was found by a surveying crew in a wooded area off Route 206. An investigation by the New Jersey State Police quickly determined that she had been the victim of a homicide, having been shot multiple times in the head. Evidence suggested that she was killed at the same location where her body was discovered, likely within 24 hours of being found.
The investigation into Armstrong's death led authorities to two individuals from Trenton: Terrance J. Patterson, then 37, and Lorain Hawkins. It was revealed that Armstrong had been taken from her home by the pair. The motive behind the abduction and subsequent murder was to conceal a robbery.
Patterson was apprehended on October 12, 2013, and faced charges of murder, felony murder, and kidnapping. Hawkins, who was identified as Armstrong's Narcotics Anonymous sponsor, was also charged with the same offenses.
The legal proceedings brought a measure of justice for Lisa Armstrong's family. Terrance J. Patterson was ultimately convicted for his role in the crime and received a life sentence in prison without the possibility of parole. He was also handed an additional 30 years for kidnapping and 20 years for robbery. Lorain Hawkins, the second suspect, passed away from cancer shortly after her arrest and before her case could be fully adjudicated. The tragic events cut short the life of Lisa Armstrong, who was remembered by her family as a helpful and loved individual.
