In a swift decision, a Texas jury found Kaitlin Armstrong guilty of the murder of professional cyclist Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson. The conviction came after a brief two-hour deliberation on Thursday. Wilson, 25, was fatally shot twice in the head and once through the heart, an act prosecutors attributed to Armstrong’s jealousy over Wilson’s date with Colin Strickland, Armstrong’s intermittent partner.
Armstrong, 37, allegedly committed the murder shortly after Strickland, 36, dropped Wilson off at a friend’s apartment in Austin, Texas. Wilson was in the area for a cycling race. Defense attorney Rick Cofer, representing Armstrong, refrained from commenting due to an ongoing gag order.
The trial, presided over by State District Judge Brenda Kennedy, has now moved to the sentencing phase. Neither the defense nor the prosecution offered opening statements, but the state plans to present victim impact statements from Wilson’s family and friend Caitlin Cash, who discovered Wilson’s body at the crime scene.
Travis County prosecutor Rickey Jones highlighted Armstrong’s actions on the night of the murder, emphasizing her sole motive and presence near the crime scene. The prosecution and defense both called Strickland to testify. Prosecutors sought to establish a jealousy motive, while the defense depicted Strickland as deceitful, noting his lies about his activities on the murder night.
Armstrong allegedly used the Strava app to track Wilson and had access to Strickland’s Apple and Gmail accounts. Strickland, who had an intimate relationship with Wilson during a break with Armstrong, had even altered Wilson’s name on his phone.
In closing arguments, Cofer suggested Strickland played a role in the events, pointing to his secretive behavior regarding his relationship with Wilson. Friends of Armstrong testified that she had expressed jealousy towards Wilson and had even spoken about harming her, though they initially did not take her threats seriously.
Prosecutors painted a picture of Armstrong fleeing to Costa Rica, undergoing plastic surgery, and using her sister’s passport. They highlighted Armstrong’s attempts to evade capture, including researching ways to alter fingerprints and her attempted jailbreak while awaiting trial.
The defense argued that the state’s forensic evidence was insufficient to conclusively prove Armstrong’s guilt. They claimed that Armstrong’s DNA could have been transferred to Wilson’s bike without her physical presence, citing that Wilson rode on Strickland’s motorcycle, potentially causing the transfer.
The verdict marks a significant development in a case that has captured national attention, intertwining elements of jealousy, a high-profile love triangle, and a dramatic international manhunt. Armstrong’s sentencing, set for December, will conclude this tragic and complex case.