The strange conspiracy theory claiming Russell Armstrong was murdered

Armstrong’s mother, John Ann Hotchkiss, spoke to Us Weekly saying “We want a murder investigation,” …. “We will do whatever is necessary to proceed.”

Russell and wife Taylor Armstrong were separated at the time and it had just come out that Russell had brutally beat his wife leading many to believe the anguish led to his suicide. Russell was discovered hanging from an electrical cord tied to an exposed beam in a private L.A. home Aug. 15.

In my opinion the strangest part of the story suggesting murder is that his close business partner, Alan Schram committed suicide a mere 24 hours after Armstrong died.

Alan Schram managed a hedge fund in LA, thus he likely had a number of enemies.

According to the website bio:

Alan Schram

“Alan Schram is the managing partner of Wellcap Partners, a hedge fund based in Los Angeles. He founded Wellcap Partners in 2000 and has been managing investment portfolios for private and institutional investors since 1997… Mr. Schram served as an officer in the Israeli Air Force and is a veteran of the Gulf War. Graduated from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, Executive Management Program.”

According to Business Insider:

So it’s no surprise that Armstrong’s family thinks he may have been involved  “with the wrong people” and crossed one of these shady characters who wanted revenge.

But it’s also not hard to see why Armstrong may have committed suicide. The media’s coverage of him as a wife-beater had to be brutal. Not to mention there were new allegations that Russell was hiding a gay lifestyle recently discovered by his wife. He was also being sued by multiple investors. But although his grieving mom acknowledged that Russell was “feeling a little overwhelmed because of finances” she insisted he was never suicidal.

UsWeekly quotes Armstrong’s mom: “Russell was personable and warm and had a giving heart more than anyone I have ever known,” she said. “He cared about people, and loved his children almost to a fault. Knowing him as a person and how he valued life, I don’t think he would do this,” she said.

“The general consensus of everyone we know who loved and knew Russell,” she explained, is that “he was murdered and there was a set up.”

And the chilling coroners report only adds to speculation.

House where Armstrong’s body was found

Coroner Kristy McCracken claimed that Armstrong was found hanging in the northwest corner of his bedroom of the one-story Mullholland Drive home he was living in with a friend. The orange extension cord he used was wrapped three times around a wooden beam and looped twice around his neck.

He was wearing a black T-shirt, black briefs and black socks, his lower legs were resting against a bench. (Seems like it would be tough to hang yourself if your legs are resting on a bench–it also points to a 3rd option not being considered accidental auto-erotic asphyxiation).

Adding to the mystery toxicology screens came back negative for drugs and alcohol.

View the coroner report

This is certainly a tough situation. It does not seem cut and dry, but it does seem like it warrants further investigation before it is written off as a suicide.

Here is the chilling 911 call after Russell’s body was found.