The secret that taxi driver kept from the new mum he's accused of killing - before cops found him holding their four-month-old son

By KARLEIGH SMITH - SENIOR REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 16:10, 13 July 2026 | Updated: 16:10, 13 July 2026 A young mother whose body was found in bushland had recently discovered the father of her newborn baby was married with two other children, a family friend has revealed. Toowoomba taxi driver Dharminder Singh, 48, is accused of the domestic violence murder of 30-year-old Jana Armstrong, mother of their four-month-old son Deshal.  A search was launched for Ms Armstrong, when she was reported missing on July 8 after her Hyundai Kona was found abandoned near her Gordon Avenue unit in the suburb of Newtown. Pig hunters found her remains on Saturday evening in dense bushland down a steep slope off Esk Hampton Road, Redbank Creek, an hour north of Toowoomba. Singh was arrested on Sunday morning, and faced Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday, where he was remanded in custody and will reappear in October.  A friend who has known Ms Armstrong and her family for almost 20 years, and who was also a frequent passenger in Singh's maxi taxi, said the new mum had recently found out he was married to another woman - who is also a taxi driver.  'I saw Jana, three days before she disappeared, at Grand Central [shopping centre],' said the friend who requested anonymity. 'She was with bubby in a pram and another carer. She actually asked me if I knew that Dharminder was married. 'I had told her five weeks before that that he was bad news.' 30-year-old Jana Armstrong's body was found in remote bushland north of Toowoomba Dharminder Singh, 48, was charged with her murder and has been remanded in custody Singh was arrested on Sunday morning in a Harristown apartment The friend, who uses a wheelchair and relies on taxis, said he spoke to Singh's wife on Monday when she picked him up just hours after attending Singh's court appearance. 'She was devastated; she was in tears,' the friend said.  'She is a mess because a lot of people don't want to use her because she's associated with him, but she has to keep working because she's got to bring in an income.' Police allege Singh went to Ms Armstong's home to care for their newborn son, and called triple zero to claim she had been kidnapped. A neighbour said he was seen standing outside the unit holding Deshal on Wednesday morning. Police confirmed that when they attended the call-out over Jana's abandoned vehicle, Singh was there with the four-month-old child. Little Deshal is now being cared for b Ms Armstrong's sister Faith and her partner Michael Isaacs, who lost their own baby daughter, Lehara, at birth just weeks ago. Four-month-old Deshal is now in the care of his aunt, Ms Armstrong's sister Faith Isaacs Faith pictured with her husband Michael, their son, and recently deceased daughter Lehara Ms Armstrong's loved ones gathered at the crime scene north of Toowoomba on Sunday Daily Mail understands Singh moved to Toowoomba from Brisbane several years ago after emigrating from India. He had been working as a contractor for Black and White Cabs using his own vehicle, but left the company six months ago after complaints from female passengers. 'He was rude and abrupt,' said one regular client. Black and White Cabs manager Greg Webb told the Daily Mail that Singh was not currently a driver for the company's Toowoomba arm, Garden City Cabs, and had not been for six months. 'He is associated with the taxi industry,' said Mr Webb. When asked whether Singh's wife still drove for the company, Mr Webb said he 'could not comment'. A passenger described Singh's wife as a kind person who recently transported a shopper at Grand Central for free after they'd lost their wallet.   Ms Isaacs shared a recent picture of her sister with her young nephew Police launched a frantic search for Jana after her car was found abandoned on Wednesday The search ended in heartbreak, when her remains were found on Saturday evening Singh frequently transported wheelchair users in his large vehicle, meaning the support workers of those clients would often travel in the front passenger seat. Friends said this is how he met Ms Armstrong - a support worker whose mother Robyn used a wheelchair until her death in 2019 from multiple sclerosis.  'He would get the majority of the wheelchair-bound clients and was never short of work,' said another Toowoomba local with knowledge of the situation. 'Most of us had his personal mobile number to call when a client needed transportation. 'Many workers sit in the front seat of the taxi, which is how Jana came to know him... 'He would give all the support workers a bottle of wine at Christmas and sign it, "From the Singh family".' Ms Armstrong had told friends she initially believed Singh was 'a lovely person'. 'She said, "Oh no, he is lovely to me",' her friend said. Ms Armstrong met Singh while using his maxi taxi as a support care worker She was described as a lovely person who would 'give you the shirt off her back' They described Ms Armstrong as an 'incredibly beautiful' person who would 'give you the shirt off her back'. The friend added: 'I don't even know what she saw in him.' Singh faced Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday morning, and his lawyer told the court his client was 'distressed' and 'asserts his innocence'. 'This matter will be defended,' his lawyer Ramli Salehkon said. 'My client has rights, I ask that people respect my client's family and his loved ones in this difficult time.'  Singh has also been charged with one count of arson with police alleging he 'wilfully and unlawfully set fire to a motor vehicle, namely a motor car' on July 8 at Toowoomba, according to court documents. He also faces a third charge of breaching a condition of bail between June 27 and July 9.  Ms Armstrong's family - including Ms Isaacs clutching the four-month-old, and cousins Hannah and Lara Sweedman - were present at the court. Ms Isaacs (right) has promised to raise Jana's baby 'how she would want me to' The Sweedman sisters have launched a GoFundMe in Ms Armstrong's honour, with money raised going towards supporting Mr and Ms Isaacs, who are now Deshal's full-time guardians, along with contributing to funeral expenses.  On Monday afternoon, $53,000 of a $70,000 target had been raised. Ms Isaacs told 7News: '[Jana is] taking care of my daughter and I'm now taking care of her son and I'll raise him just the way she would have wanted me to.' On Sunday, she said: 'Losing my beautiful sister this way is something I will never be able to understand or put into words. 'My beautiful Jana deserved so much more. She was so deeply loved... I promise you, Jana, your beautiful baby boy will always know exactly who his mummy was, how deeply you loved him and just how incredibly special you were.'  Singh was remanded in custody to return to court on October 1.