On May 11, 2022, an assailant in Austin, Texas, shot cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson three times in her friend’s home. The victim was actively preparing for an upcoming gravel race. As the investigation began, the police identified Kaitlin Armstrong as the prime suspect.
An autopsy determined that Wilson’s death was a homicide, citing three gunshot wounds—two in the head and one in the chest. Police named Armstrong a person of interest after video surveillance revealed her black Jeep Grand Cherokee arriving at the Austin residence moments before the killing.
On June 29, 2022, Kaitlin Armstrong was arrested and the case finally went to trial. The prosecutors presented several pieces of evidence that proved Armstrong to be the person behind Wilson’s death. On November 16, 2023, the court found Armstrong guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced her to 90 years in prison, with eligibility for parole after 30 years. But why did she kill Wilson? Let’s dive deeper and get to know about Kaitlin Armstrong’s motives.
Kaitlin Armstrong’s motive to murder Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson, explained
As soon as the investigation began, authorities started to form an idea of why Kaitlin Armstrong killed Anna Moriah Wilson. The police believed that romantic jealousy sparked by Wilson’s casual encounter with her former boyfriend and pro cyclist, Colin Strickland, led to the murder. Armstrong was in a relationship with Colin Strickland, but in fall 2021, they briefly separated. During that time, Strickland met Wilson and started a brief romantic relationship with her. Even though Armstrong and Strickland resumed their relationship, Strickland continued spending time with Wilson.
As the investigation progressed, police examined Wilson’s phone and uncovered the closeness between Wilson and Strickland. Reports also suggest that upon learning about the relationship, Kaitlin Armstrong strongly expressed a desire to kill Wilson. During the trial, one of Armstrong’s friends also admitted that she did talk about killing Wilson. Later, she revealed that she called the police as soon as she learned about Wilson’s murder.
On November 16, 2023, the jury deliberated for over three and a half hours and found Kaitlin Armstrong guilty. She was sentenced to 90 years in prison and also fined $10,000.
