Kaitlin Armstrong’s New Life Post-Moriah Wilson Murder and Surgery Transformation
Kaitlin Armstrong was convicted of killing fellow cyclist Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson in May 2022. Prosecutors said jealousy over Wilson’s friendship with Armstrong’s on-again, off-again partner Colin Strickland motivated the killing. Armstrong was found guilty of first-degree murder in November 2023 and received a 90-year prison term.
Background and relationships
Armstrong was born on Nov. 21, 1987, in the Midwest. She had a finance background and became a certified yoga instructor in Indonesia.
She met Colin Strickland in 2019. The couple moved in together during the COVID-19 pandemic. They bought a house and started a trailer restoration business.
The murder and initial investigation
On May 11, 2022, Wilson was found shot to death at her Austin home. She had been shot three times.
Investigators say Armstrong monitored Wilson’s activity on the Strava app. Police found Armstrong’s Jeep near Wilson’s neighborhood the same night.
Soon after, shell casings at the scene matched a firearm registered under Armstrong’s name. Authorities recovered the gun during a search of the couple’s property.
Flight to Costa Rica and surgery transformation
After police questioned her, Armstrong left the United States. She flew to Costa Rica on May 14, 2022, using her sister’s passport, investigators say.
In Costa Rica she dramatically altered her appearance. Reports indicate she spent about $6,000 on cosmetic work including lip fillers, a rhinoplasty, and a brow lift.
The phrase Surgery Transformation has been used to describe those changes. Authorities say she also cut and dyed her hair to avoid detection.
Arrest, extradition, and charges
U.S. Marshals located Armstrong in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, in late June 2022. They set up a fake yoga-instructor job posting to lure her.
She was arrested on June 29, 2022, and later extradited to the United States. She was charged with first-degree murder and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
Trial, conviction, and sentence
Armstrong pleaded not guilty and went to trial on Nov. 1, 2023. Prosecutors presented DNA evidence and other material linking her to the scene.
The jury convicted her of first-degree murder on Nov. 16, 2023. The next day she received a 90-year prison sentence.
She is serving time at the Dr. Lane Murray Unit, a Texas prison for women in Gatesville.
Evidence and allegations
Prosecutors said Armstrong tracked Wilson through social media and the Strava GPS feature. They also cited receipts for her Costa Rica procedures.
A friend testified that Armstrong once said she would kill anyone who seriously dated Strickland. Prosecutors presented that testimony at trial.
Escape attempt from custody
On Oct. 11, 2023, Armstrong tried to flee while escorted to a medical appointment. She ran from corrections officers with her hands cuffed.
Officers apprehended her after a roughly 10-minute pursuit. An affidavit later said she had trained for the attempt and faked a leg injury.
Civil suit and media portrayals
Wilson’s parents filed a wrongful-death lawsuit in May 2024. They sought compensation for funeral, burial, and emotional damages.
On June 17, 2024, a judge ordered Armstrong to pay $15 million to Wilson’s parents. The order also barred Armstrong from profiting from her daughter’s death.
The case inspired a 2024 Lifetime film and a Netflix documentary. The Netflix project premiered on April 3, 2024.
Where things stand
Armstrong remains incarcerated and is serving a long prison term. Media projects continue to examine the case and its aftermath.
The phrase Kaitlin Armstrong’s New Life Post-Moriah Wilson Murder has circulated online. It describes public interest in Armstrong’s actions after the killing.
