Marshals continue search for Kaitlin Armstrong
Callahan Walsh, co-host of 'In Pursuit with John Walsh,' breaks down the details of Moriah Wilson's murder.
Captured fugitive Kaitlin Armstrong is awaiting trial after she was accused of fatally shooting cyclist Moriah "Mo" Wilson on May 11 and fleeing the country with a passport that was not hers.
The U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force found and arrested Armstrong after she spent 43 days on the run in Costa Rica on June 30.
The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) offered a $21,000 reward for information leading to Armstrong's whereabouts.
Wanted poster for alleged murder suspect Kaitlin Armstrong (US Marshal Service)
Here's a timeline of events surrounding Armstrong's disappearance:
October 2021
Wilson meets Austin professional cyclist Colin Strickland, 35, who was in a long-term relationship with Armstrong at the time of Wilson's killing.
Strickland and Armstrong were apparently taking a break when the 35-year-old met Wilson, according to a statement he released on May 20.
Wilson returns to her home in San Francisco about a month later. She and Strickland maintain a friendly relationship thereafter and occasionally see each other at cycling events, according to Strickland.
Moriah 'Mo' Wilson (The Wilson Family)
December 2021
Strickland purchases two firearms between December 2021 and January 2022, including one for Armstrong, according to an affidavit.
January 2022
Armstrong apparently finds out about Wilson's fling with Strickland and is "shaking with anger." Armstrong allegedly says she wants to kill Wilson, the affidavit states, citing a tipster who called police on May 14.
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May 2022
Wilson travels to Austin for a UNBOUND, a gravel bike event in Hico, Texas.
May 11
Strickland picks up Wilson on his motorcycle to go swimming at an Austin water hole and then get food. He drops her off later that night at an East Austin residence on the 1700 block of Maple Avenue, where she was staying with a friend for the race, according to the affidavit.
A minute after she returns to the residence, a black SUV with a large bike rack can be seen parked near the Maple Avenue home on security camera footage obtained by police.
U.S. Marshals are searching for Kaitlin Marie Armstrong, who is wanted for the May 11 murder of Moriah "Mo" Wilson. (US Marshals)
Later that evening, police respond to a 911 from the Maple Avenue residence. The caller, Wilson's friend, says Wilson is "bleeding and unconscious" at the location.
Police discover Wilson suffering from "multiple gunshot wounds" upon arrival. Investigators determine that the 25-year-old was shot inside the residence.
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May 12
Marshals arrive at Strickland's address, where Armstrong was living, and observe a 2012 black Jeep Cherokee with a large bike rack "that appeared to be the same vehicle observed on surveillance footage" from May 11.
Strickland tells police that the Jeep belongs to Armstrong.
Officers also discover two 9mm guns in Strickland's home, the affidavit states.
Detectives apprehend Armstrong on an outstanding class B warrant for her arrest. Authorities interview the 34-year-old but mistakenly release her from custody on the misdemeanor warrant because her date of birth in the department’s report management system does not match the date of birth on the warrant, according to Austin Police Department Homicide Det. Richard Spitler.
May 13
Armstrong sells her black Jeep Grand Cherokee, the same vehicle allegedly spotted at the scene of the crime, the U.S. Marshals Service says. Armstrong allegedly sells the vehicle to a south Austin CarMax for $12,200.
May 14
Surveillance video shows Armstrong at an airport after she fled Texas. (US Marshals)
The anonymous tipster calls police with information about Armstrong becoming angry after hearing about Strickland's brief relationship with Wilson.
Armstrong is spotted at the Austin International Bergstrom Airport around 12:30 p.m. She boards Flight #WN2262 from ABIA to Houston Hobby Airport and then boards a connecting Southwest Airlines Flight #WN30 to New York LaGuardia Airport, according to the USMS.
May 17
The Austin Police Department (APD) issues a warrant for Armstrong's arrest.
May 18
Armstrong is spotted being dropped off at New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport. No outbound flights were reserved in Armstrong's name, according to USMS.
May 20
Strickland releases a statement apologizing for his "proximity to this horrible crime" and explaining details that suggest the crime was related to domestic matters and a possible love triangle scenario, according to KVUE reporter Tony Plohetski.
"I am so sorry, and I simply can not make sense of this unfathomable tragedy," Strickland says in the statement. "Although it will be a matter of no small consolation to anyone else who cared for Mo, I want you to know that I have fully cooperated with investigators ever since I learned the terrible news, and I will continue to do so until some form of justice is served."
May 22
Wilson's family releases a statement saying they are "absolutely devastated" by their sister’s and daughter’s untimely death.
Moriah Wilson (right) and her family. (The Wilson family)
"There are no words that can express the pain and suffering we are experiencing due to this senseless, tragic loss," the statement says. "While we will not elaborate about the ongoing investigation, we do feel it’s important to clarify that at the time of her death, those closest to her clearly understood, directly from Moriah, that she was not in a romantic relationship with anyone."
Wilson's family describes her as "a talented, kind, and caring young woman" whose life was taken before she could "achieve everything she dreamed of."
May 24
Armstrong's father, Mike Armstrong, appears in an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America."
"We love you, Katie, and we are going to figure this out," Mike says. "I know her. I know how she thinks, and I know what she believes, and I know that she would just not do something like this."
"I know that she did not do this," he adds. "There are a lot of unanswered questions."
May 25
Investigators slap Armstrong with a federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
READ THE FEDERAL WARRANT HERE:
June 6
The U.S. Marshals Service announces a $5,000 reward for information leading to Kaitlin Armstrong's capture. Marshals also announce the reclassification of the investigation as a "major case," which allocates more resources toward the endeavor.
June 23
The U.S. Marshals Service announces an additional $16,000 in reward money, with another $1,000 from the Capital Area Crime Stoppers and $15,000 from an anonymous donor. The total reward amount being offered is now $21,000.
June 30
U.S. Marshals capture Asmrtong on a remote beach in Costa Rica, 43 days after Austin police obtained a murder warrant in Wilson's death.
July 2
Armstrong's bail is set at $3.5 million.
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Armstrong apparently used a passport that was not hers when she flew to Costa Rica, where she settled into a hostel in Santa Teresa Beach in Provincia de Puntarenas, authorities said.
A GoFundMe called the "Moriah ‘Mo’ Wilson Fund" created by her family says "Moriah inspired many, lived fully, and loved fiercely." The fundraiser aims to garner donations "to help fund community organizations that help youth find self-confidence, strength, and joy through biking, skiing, and other activities that Moriah was passionate about."
