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Woman wanted in the murder of star cyclist Moriah Wilson was dating another professional cyclist and was jealous over their friendship, docs say

May 23, 2022, 03:44 IST
Insider
Officials are looking for Kaitlin Armstrong, who has been charged in the murder of Moriah Wilson.US Marshals Service
  • Star off-road cyclist Moriah "Mo" Wilson was killed last week in Austin, Texas, police said.
  • Officials are searching for Kaitlin Armstrong, who has been charged with first-degree murder.
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Officials are searching for a woman wanted in the murder of Anna Moriah "Mo" Wilson, a 25-year-old star cyclist who police said was killed on May 11 in Austin, Texas, while visiting the state to compete in a race.

Kaitlin Marie Armstrong, a 35-year-old from Austin, has been charged with first-degree murder and a warrant has been issued for her arrest. US Marshals on Friday said they are seeking information from the public concerning her whereabouts.

Armstrong, a yoga teacher, real estate agent, and amateur cyclist, was connected to Wilson through Colin Strickland, a professional cyclist sponsored by Red Bull, according to an affidavit compiled by the Austin Police Department.

In a statement to a reporter with local ABC affiliate KVUE, Strickland said he was in a relationship with Armstrong but the two briefly broke up in the fall, a time during which he had a weeklong romantic relationship with Wilson. Strickland said after he reconciled with Armstrong, he and Wilson remained friends and had a platonic relationship.

Wilson's family said in a statement to Insider that they were "devastated" by her death.

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"There are no words that can express the pain and suffering we are experiencing due to this senseless, tragic loss. Moriah was a talented, kind, and caring young woman," the statement said.

Wilson's brother, Matt Wilson, told Insider that "she was a special person, and my best friend."

The family also addressed speculation surrounding the case by adding "she was not in a romantic relationship with anyone" at the time of her death.

Wilson was a champion gravel racer, described by the cycling magazine VeloNews as "the winningest woman in the American off-road scene." She won a series of races earlier this year and was in Texas from San Francisco to compete in a May 14 race, according to an interview with VeloNews days before her death.

Wilson arrived in Austin on May 10 and was staying with a friend, according to the affidavit. On May 11, she left her friend's house to go swimming with Strickland. The two grabbed food afterward and Strickland dropped her back off at her friend's house around 8:36 p.m., the affidavit said.

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Surveillance video obtained by police showed an SUV pull up and stop next to the house moments later. Police identified the vehicle as Armstrong's, the affidavit said.

Wilson's friend returned home and called the police around 9:56 p.m. after finding her bleeding and unconscious. She had multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Strickland told police Wilson and Armstrong had interacted before, according to the affidavit. He said in January Armstrong called Wilson to tell her she was dating Strickland. An anonymous caller also called Austin police with a tip and said Armstrong expressed in January she was so angry she "wanted to kill Wilson," the affidavit said.

Strickland also told police he bought two handguns for he and Armstrong around early January. The affidavit said ballistic testing showed there was "significant" potential one was the weapon used to shoot Wilson.

Strickland said in a statement he was reeling from Wilson's death.

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"There is no way to adequately express the regret and torture I feel about my proximity to this horrible crime," he said.

Strickland is cooperating with investigators and is not suspected of wrongdoing, police said. He said he had not spoken to Armstrong since May 13.

Armstrong was questioned by police on May 12, the day after Wilson's death. She did not give an explanation when presented with video footage of her car at the crime scene, the affidavit said, and eventually requested to leave.

Armstrong was charged on Thursday with first-degree murder in Wilson's death.

The Austin Police Department could not provide additional updates to the case on Saturday evening. The US Marshals did not respond to Insider's request for comment.

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