Anna Moriah "Mo" Wilson, born into a family of athletes in rural northern Vermont, discovered her passion for biking early on, dedicating herself to mastering the Kingdom Trails in East Burke. Tragically, her promising career in competitive gravel and mountain biking was cut short when she was found dead in East Austin on May 11, 2022, after traveling from San Francisco for a race near Waco, Texas.
The investigation took a shocking turn when Kaitlin Marie Armstrong, a 34-year-old yoga instructor and realtor from Austin, was arrested for Wilson's murder. The complex backstory revealed an intricate love triangle involving Armstrong, professional cyclist Colin Strickland, and Wilson. Strickland, initially romantically involved with Wilson during a separation from Armstrong, later rekindled his relationship with Armstrong, maintaining a professional connection with Wilson.
Armstrong's discovery of Strickland's past involvement with Wilson triggered a series of events that led to Wilson's murder. Surveillance footage implicated Armstrong, who arrived at Wilson's home shortly after she returned from an outing with Strickland. After the crime, Armstrong sold her vehicle, fled the country, and managed to evade authorities for six weeks in Costa Rica, altering her appearance in an attempt to avoid capture.
Authorities apprehended Armstrong on Santa Teresa Beach, noting significant changes to her appearance and evidence of plastic surgery under a different name. Despite pleading not guilty to the murder charge during her arraignment in July 2022, Armstrong faced a speedy trial scheduled for October 2023, with a substantial bail of $3.5 million.
Colin Strickland's involvement in the case added complexity. While not accused of any crime, Strickland's romantic connection with Wilson during his separation from Armstrong deeply affected his career. Strickland went to great lengths to conceal his relationship with Wilson, deleting messages and saving her number under a different name.
The police, after reviewing Wilson's phone, discovered evidence of her romantic involvement with Strickland while he was still committed to Armstrong. Strickland initially denied knowing Wilson but later confessed, admitting to intentionally hiding their communications from Armstrong.
The defense team for Armstrong claimed that the police "concocted a misogynistic and fictitious story," seeking prompt hearings on motions to quash evidence. Despite the legal battle, Armstrong faced the possibility of a life sentence, while Strickland grappled with the consequences of his involvement in a case that left the cycling community and beyond in shock and sadness.
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