Texas Woman Convicted of Murder in Shooting Death of Rising Cyclist, Sentencing Pending
In a breakthrough development, a Texas jury has found Kaitlin Armstrong guilty of murder in the shooting death of Anna Moriah Wilson, a promising professional cyclist. The tragic incident, which took place in May 2022, led investigators on a 43-day international manhunt for the perpetrator. Armstrong, who faces a potential life sentence, will learn her fate in the upcoming sentencing phase of the trial.
Prosecutors presented evidence suggesting that Armstrong shot Wilson out of jealousy. It was revealed that Wilson had briefly dated Armstrong’s boyfriend a few months prior to the incident. On the day she was killed, Wilson had spent time swimming and having a meal with him. Jurors deliberated for about two hours following two weeks of testimony. The emotional courtroom erupted with hugs and tears from Wilson’s family and friends, including the friend who discovered her lifeless body on that fateful night.
Anna Moriah Wilson, also known as Mo, was a rising star in the professional gravel and mountain bike racing scene. Hailing from Vermont and a former alpine skier at Dartmouth, Wilson was visiting Austin in preparation for a race where she was considered a favorite to win. Investigators determined that Armstrong had tracked Wilson’s whereabouts and located her at the apartment where she was staying before shooting her three times.
Following the murder, Armstrong met briefly with the police before selling her vehicle and using her sister’s identity and passport to flee to Costa Rica. In an attempt to evade authorities, she spent over $6,000 on a nose job and altered her hairstyle and hair color. Eventually, she was apprehended at a beachside hostel. Armstrong’s defense attorneys argued for reasonable doubt, criticizing what they deemed an inadequate and sloppy investigation. They accused investigators of fixating on Armstrong as the suspect, exhibiting tunnel vision.
Armstrong’s legal team emphasized the lack of witnesses or video surveillance capturing the shooting. They also questioned why authorities did not look more closely at Colin Strickland, Armstrong’s boyfriend who had been with Wilson on the day of her death, as well as two other male individuals. However, investigators maintain that they swiftly eliminated Strickland and the others as suspects, with the evidence pointing solely to Armstrong. It was revealed that Armstrong tracked Wilson’s location through a fitness app, and digital maps leading to the garage apartment where the shooting occurred were found on Armstrong’s device.
Incriminatingly, Armstrong’s Jeep had been spotted near the apartment around the time of the shooting, and bullet casings found near Wilson’s body matched a gun owned by Armstrong. Additionally, two of Armstrong’s acquaintances testified that she had previously expressed a desire or willingness to harm Wilson. After selling her Jeep for $12,000, Armstrong attempted to establish herself as a yoga instructor in Costa Rica. However, federal authorities eventually apprehended her. Armstrong even made a desperate escape attempt during a doctor’s appointment outside of jail, resulting in a separate felony escape charge.
As this highly publicized trial progresses, the court will soon determine the appropriate sentencing for Kaitlin Armstrong. The conviction provides some solace to the grieving family and friends of Anna Moriah Wilson, who had a bright future ahead in the world of professional cycling. Stay tuned for further updates on this case that captivated the cycling community and drew international attention to the pursuit of justice in Texas.
