Daughter continues seeking answers 2 years after 84-year-old father stabbed to death in Savannah

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Two years after an 84-year-old man was stabbed to death while collecting cans in Downtown Savannah, his daughter says she still has no answers about who killed her father or why.

Slaten Armstrong, a Deacon in the church, was stabbed near a dumpster at Kayton Homes in April 2024. Police have not made any arrests in the case.

“It’s been traumatizing and then depressing. It did a lot to me,” said Gail Armstrong, the victim’s daughter.

Gail Armstrong said she has sought counseling to cope with her father’s death. She said the case is no longer getting the attention it once did.

“I don’t even know who did it because he got out here at 9:16. He was dead by 9:26 that morning. And a lot of people say they didn’t see nothing. Some people may not have seen nothing. It was during spring break. But I just find it is just odd that nobody knows nothing. And somebody gots to know something because it’s at my door today but it could be at your door tomorrow.”

Gail Armstrong, Slaten's daughter

Communication with investigators dropped off

She said communication with investigators dropped off after the original detective left the case.

“I just need for people to do their job, especially the detectives. No one has reached out to me since Detective Deas left. I’m always doing the reaching out,” she said.

She said if he didnt let her know he was moving to the prosecutors office, she never would’ve known the detective on her fathers case had changed.

Her father did not live in Kayton Homes. He was collecting cans and scrap metal near the dumpster when he was stabbed that April morning.

“I feel like if he were a prominent figure in a neighborhood with a high name, there would have been a little more searching and looking and everything,” said Armstrong.

She says she hasn’t heard from the new detective assigned to her father’s case at all.

Promised security cameras

Gail Armstrong said promised security cameras in the neighborhood have never been installed, despite a grant to the city of Savannah to install cameras at critical areas. At that time, Kayton and Frazier Homes were expected to get four cameras at each complex.

“They still don’t have cameras. People have been killed since he got killed and nothing has changed,” she said.

Since our reporting, SPD reached out to clarify that 8 cameras have been installed from the grant, but did not say where.

Armstrong said her father was a well-known and caring member of the community who always stepped up to help others.

“That’s why I set the memorial here because this is where it happened at. And I want to kill whoever did it to constantly see his face. And I pray every night. Whoever did it, they get no sleep because they say the wicked should have no rest. And I pray he won’t get no rest.”

Gail Armstrong, Slaten's daughter

“If y’all love this man the way that y’all say that y’all love him, don’t let his murder go in vain. Let’s solve this for the family, the church, and the community,” she said.

Gail Armstrong continues urging anyone with information to come forward.

“We do need justice… just to give us closure. That’s all I ask,” she said.

The City of Savannah has not responded to our requests for additional information about the cameras at Kayton Homes and Frazier Homes.

Police have not provided an update on the status of this homicide investigation.

“I never thought in many years that an 84-year-old man would be murdered the way that he was murdered. Never thought that. And it’s just like everybody just went on about their business like everything is okay when it’s not okay,” said Armstrong.

You can submit an anonymous tip on the link here with any information. You can also send a tip here.

The SPD mobile app is another place you can submit information anonymously.