How U.S. Marshals captured pro cyclist Moriah “Mo” Wilson’s killer

When Moriah “Mo” Wilson, a promising younger gravel bicycle owner is murdered, her suspected killer disappears, sparking a global manhunt.

Moriah Wilson is shot in her good friend’s condominium

On Might 11, 2022, in Austin, Texas, elite gravel racer Moriah “Mo” Wilson was discovered lifeless on the ground of her good friend’s toilet.

Wilson was on the town for the 150-mile Gravel Locos race and staying together with her good friend Caitlin Money. Money found Wilson’s physique round 10 p.m., known as 911 and tried to carry out CPR, however it was too late.

Police arrive on scene

Shell casings had been discovered inside Money’s condominium, and Money instructed authorities that Wilson had been with fellow bicycle owner Colin Strickland that night. Money received a notification from her digital door lock that Wilson had arrived again on the condominium and unlocked the door at 8:36 p.m. 

Wilson’s bike present in bushes

Police found Wilson’s bike within the bushes close to Money’s condominium. 

A essential clue

The night time of Wilson’s homicide, investigators obtained footage from a neighboring safety digital camera that confirmed a black Jeep SUV drive by only one minute after Wilson was dropped off at Money’s condominium.

Final particular person seen with Mo Wilson

Colin Strickland and Wilson went for a swim after which to Pool Burger the place they’re seen collectively within the restaurant’s safety video. Safety digital camera footage additionally captured them using Strickland’s bike again to Money’s condominium.

Colin Strickland is questioned by police

On Might 12, 2022, the morning after Wilson’s homicide, police arrived at Strickland’s dwelling. They knowledgeable him that Wilson died, and the case was a murder investigation. In addition they noticed a black Jeep SUV in Colin’s driveway that matched the one seen on safety footage the night time earlier than. Investigators had run the license plate and found it was registered to a girl named Kaitlin Armstrong.

Strickland agreed to go to the police station to be interviewed and did not appear to carry again when telling them concerning the time he spent with Wilson the day prior. He additionally instructed them about his relationship Armstrong, his live-in girlfriend.

Colin Strickland opens up about his and Wilson’s previous

After Wilson’s demise, Strickland took to social media and wrote that about six months earlier than her homicide, throughout a brief break up with Armstrong, he did have a “transient romantic relationship” with Wilson that “spanned every week or so.” He mentioned that it ended, and their relationship had changed into a “platonic {and professional} one.”

Strickland was dominated out as a suspect, and it was later found that he was on the cellphone when Wilson was murdered.

Kaitlin Armstrong introduced in for questioning

On Might 12, 2022, police arrested Armstrong on an outdated excellent warrant for failing to pay for a Botox therapy and used the chance to inquire about Wilson’s demise. Investigators say she remained stoic in the course of the questioning. When instructed her car was seen close to Money’s condominium, she mentioned “I wish to depart.” She responded in a similar way to different questions.

However Armstrong was launched as a result of the birthdate on the arrest warrant was mistaken.

Kaitlin Armstrong disappears

On Might 14, 2022 Armstrong fled Austin.

The Lone Star Fugitive Job Power, which included officers from the Austin Police Division and U.S. Deputy Marshals, was tasked with discovering her.

Kaitlin Armstrong seen on Austin airport safety digital camera

Armstrong is seen in safety footage from Austin-Bergstrom Worldwide Airport. She first headed to her sister’s place in upstate New York after which headed to Costa Rica. The U.S. Marshals found that Armstrong used her sister’s passport. Christie Armstrong emphasised to authorities that she had not given her sister the passport. Christie Armstrong has by no means been charged with something associated to this case.

Kaitlin Armstrong lands in Costa Rica

Deputy U.S. Marshals Emir Perez and Damien Fernandez adopted Armstrong to San José, however there was no signal of her within the metropolis. 

The search proved more and more troublesome, till the Marshals received a lead that will inform them about Armstrong’s new look — she had minimize her hair quick, dyed it brown, and was even going by a unique title. In addition they discovered that she seemingly fled to a tiny, one-street city known as Santa Teresa. Greater than a month had handed since Armstrong fled, and Perez and Fernandez had been working out of choices. They selected one final tactic. They posted an advert in search of a yoga teacher on an area Fb web page.

After a number of days, nobody had responded to the inquiry, so Perez and Fernandez had been prepared to go dwelling. However then, they received a chunk.

Kaitlin Armstrong is caught

Somebody who recognized themselves as a yoga teacher replied to the Fb inquiry and agreed to satisfy. At this level, the Deputy Marshals additionally had a good suggestion of what hostel Armstrong was staying at in Santa Teresa and had assist from the native Tourism Police surveilling that hostel.

Perez observed a bandage on Armstrong’s nostril, and that her lips had been swollen, however he wasn’t satisfied till he received an in depth take a look at her eyes. He knew these eyes matched Armstrong’s image and was assured they’d the best lady.

Perez instructed the remainder of the crew on the bottom it was her and native police moved in to make the arrest.

Perez went contained in the hostel alone and approached Armstrong on the entrance desk the place she was working. He pretended to be a vacationer, talking Spanish, to not scare her off.

Kaitlin Armstrong’s cosmetic surgery confirmed

A receipt for beauty surgical procedure was discovered on the hostel the place Armstrong was captured. The date on the receipt confirmed that when the Deputy Marshals had been first in Santa Teresa in search of Armstrong, she was in San José getting surgical procedure.

This, along with her new look, added to the issue find Armstrong when the Deputy Marshals first arrived in Santa Teresa. 

Kaitlin Armstrong extradited to the U.S.

The Deputy Marshals took Armstrong again to Texas the place she was charged with Wilson’s homicide and held in jail. 

Kaitlin Armstrong escapes once more

Three weeks earlier than Armstrong’s trial was set to start, she was escorted by authorities to a health care provider’s appointment the place she escaped custody and ran away. Armstrong was caught shortly after.

Responsible of first-degree homicide

On Nov. 16, 2023, after a two-week trial, a jury discovered Armstrong responsible of first-degree homicide. She was sentenced to 90 years behind bars the subsequent day.

Moriah’s Ascent

Wilson wished to provide again to the biking group and discover which means within the sport that went past outcomes.

To honor Moriah, the Wilson household created the Moriah Wilson Basis that promotes wholesome residing and group constructing.

In Kingdom Trails in northern Vermont, a spot that was sacred to Wilson, a path was inbuilt her honor known as Moriah’s Ascent.

Extra from CBS Information