Jealous Girlfriend Murders Rival, Escapes to Costa Rica for Plastic Surgery
Yoga teacher Kaitlin Armstrong gained notoriety for the murder of rising professional cyclist Anna Moriah "Mo" Wilson. This tragic case, which involved jealousy, an international manhunt, and an attempted jail escape, ended with Armstrong receiving a 90-year prison sentence. So, who is Kaitlin Armstrong?
A Love Triangle Turns Deadly
Armstrong's relationship with fellow cyclist Colin Strickland was central to the events that led to Wilson's murder. The couple had been dating on and off since 2019, bonding over their shared passion for cycling. However, their relationship had a rocky period in late 2021 when they briefly split, during which Strickland had a short-lived romance with Wilson.
Strickland later reconciled with Armstrong, but he and Wilson remained in contact. Armstrong allegedly tracked their interactions, including monitoring Wilson's location through a fitness app.
The Murder of Moriah Wilson
On May 11, 2022, Wilson arrived in Austin, Texas, to prepare for a major cycling race. That evening, she met Strickland for a swim and a meal, after which he dropped her off at the apartment where she was staying. Minutes later, surveillance footage captured Armstrong's Jeep near Wilson's residence.
Later that night, Wilson was found dead, shot multiple times inside the apartment bathroom. Investigators later matched the shell casings at the scene to a firearm owned by Armstrong, which had been purchased by Strickland months earlier.
The Manhunt: From Texas to Costa Rica
Shortly after Wilson's murder, Armstrong was questioned by police but released due to a clerical error on an unrelated warrant. Within days, she sold her Jeep and fled the country using her sister's passport. Authorities tracked her journey from Texas to New York and eventually to Costa Rica, where she underwent plastic surgery and attempted to reinvent herself as a yoga instructor.
U.S. Marshals used Armstrong's love of yoga to their advantage, posting an ad for a yoga instructor, which eventually led them to her hideout. She was arrested in June 2022 at a hostel in Santa Teresa.
The Trial and Conviction
Armstrong's trial began in November 2023. Prosecutors presented evidence, including surveillance footage, forensic analysis, and witness testimony. The jury deliberated for less than two hours before convicting her of first-degree murder.
She was sentenced to 90 years in prison, a ruling that included testimony from Wilson's family about the devastating impact of their loss.
A Failed Escape and Final Justice
Weeks before her trial, Armstrong attempted to escape from jail. While being escorted to a medical appointment, she ran from officers, attempting to scale a fence before being recaptured within minutes.
Despite her attempts to evade justice, Armstrong now faces the consequences of her actions behind bars. Meanwhile, Wilson's legacy continues to live on through tributes from the cycling community.
References: What Did Kaitlin Armstrong Do? How the Yoga Teacher Turned Killer Tried to Outrun the Police with Plastic Surgery | How was fugitive Kaitlin Armstrong caught? She answered U.S. Marshals' ad for a yoga instructor | Prosecutors: Kaitlin Armstrong tracked victim on app before murder
