An international manhunt is underway for a Texas woman accused of killing professional cyclist, Moriah Wilson.
Police have launched a manhunt for Kaitlin Marie Armstrong, an Austin-based yoga teacher and realtor who’s charged with first-degree murder in connection to Wilson’s death. Investigators said that Armstrong believed Wilson was having an affair with her boyfriend, Colin Strickland, as CrimeOnline previously reported.
Wilson was found unconscious and bleeding at a home in Austin, Texas, on May 11. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Court records revealed that Wilson went swimming earlier in the day with Strickland, who is also a professional cyclist. She texted him about their relationship before they went out that day, police said.
“If you just want to be friends then that’s cool, but I’d like to talk about it.”
Strickland reportedly told investigators that he dated Armstrong for about three years, but that during a brief break in their relationship last year, he began dating Wilson.
Armstrong and Strickland lived together, and on the day of the killing, Strickland reportedly lied to Armstrong to conceal that he had gone swimming with Wilson. He instead claimed that he dropped off flowers for someone and then his phone battery died.
Police learned from an anonymous friend that Armstrong said back in January that she believed Strickland was having an affair with Wilson. The friend described Armstrong’s demeanor, telling police that she “became furious and was shaking in anger” and that “Armstrong was so angry Armstrong wanted to kill Wilson.”
Around this time, Strickland allegedly purchased a 9 mm handgun for himself and another gun for Armstrong. It is not clear what prompted the purchase of the weapons.
Strickland is reportedly cooperating with investigators, as the search for Armstrong continues.
Family Denies Love Triangle Rumors
In a statement to KXAN, Wilson’s family said they wanted to provide clarifying information about the case.
“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,” the family wrote in the statement.
Investigators, however, said that after examining Wilson’s cellphone, they concluded that Wilson believed she “was still in a romantic relationship with Strickland even though he was currently dating Armstrong,” CrimeOnline reported.
Wilson’s family cast doubt on that assumption, saying that she had told them herself that she wasn’t dating anyone.
“We are absolutely devastated by the loss of our beautiful daughter and sister, Anna Moriah Wilson,” the family wrote.
“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. Her life was taken from her before she had the opportunity to achieve everything she dreamed of. Our family, and all those who loved her, will forever miss her.”
Anyone with information on Armstrong’s location is asked to contact the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102 or submit a tip using the USMS Tips app. You can also submit a tip to Capital Area Crime Stoppers at 1-800-893-8477.
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[Featured image: Moriah Wilson/Facebook]
*Additional reporting by KC Wildmoon*
