Jamal 'JT' Thomas, the subject of episode three of Netflix's true crime documentary series Worst Neighbor Ever, is currently serving a prison sentence of 28.8 years to life for the first-degree murder of his neighbor, Miles Armstead. The conviction occurred in July 2024, and sentencing followed in April 2025.
The Crime and Conviction
Thomas, who lived in Eastmont Hills, California, developed a friendship with Miles Armstead after Armstead and his wife Melina moved into the neighborhood. However, after Thomas and his family were evicted from their home, he began squatting in the garage of his former residence and launched a campaign of harassment against the Armsteads. He threw rocks and bricks through their windows, threatened to kill Miles, and banged on their doors at all hours, forcing Miles to stay awake at night with a baseball bat to protect his family.
The Armsteads eventually moved to an apartment for safety. But when Miles returned to the old neighborhood on an errand, Thomas shot him dead. In July 2024, Thomas was found guilty of first-degree murder. In April 2025, he was sentenced to 28.8 years to life in prison. As of mid-2026, he remains incarcerated, having served just over a year of his sentence.
Impact on the Victim's Family
Melina Armstead, who was heavily pregnant at the time of her husband's death, recalled the moment she learned of the tragedy. In the documentary, she said through tears: 'I was sitting at my desk, working, and never in my life have I felt a feeling the way I had felt. It was like for a quick moment he was there, then I felt him, so close. And [then] he felt, like, so far. And then I just started balling, crying.' She described a panic that led her to repeatedly call Miles, who always answered but did not that day. When she drove to their former home, she saw a coroner's van, police tape, and her husband's car, confirming the worst.
Documentary Details
Worst Neighbor Ever is a four-part true crime series on Netflix that recounts four separate stories of neighbors whose actions terrorized innocent residents. Episode three, titled 'Fear Thy Neighbor,' focuses on the Armstead case and includes a distressing 911 call from the incident.
