AUSTIN, Texas — A Texas jury on Thursday convicted a woman accused of murdering elite mountain biker Moriah “Moe” Wilson in a jealous rage last year.
The Travis County committee deliberated for about 2 1/2 hours before finding out Kaitlyn Armstrong, 35, was convicted of first-degree murder, which could land her in prison for up to 99 years.
Prosecutors opted against seeking the death penalty for the May 11, 2022 murder.
Wilson’s loved ones hugged after the verdict was read, and Armstrong’s younger sister Christy Armstrong openly wept.
Minutes after the guilty verdict was read, the court went straight to the sentencing phase as those closest to Wilson spoke about the victim and how her killing affected them.
“He lived every day like it was his last,” mother Karen Wilson told the court.
“She never wasted time. She knew her life would be short,” Wilson said.
Authorities say Armstrong shot Wilson, a 25-year-old mountain biker, three times shortly after the victim had dinner with the killer’s boyfriend, former pro cyclist Colin Strickland.
There were no witnesses to the murder, and prosecutors built their case with the help of modern, everyday gadgets that routinely track human movements.
Wilson was in Austin in May 2022 to race at Higo, southwest of Fort Worth. While she was in town, Strickland — who had a brief relationship with Wilson — texted her to meet up in the fall of 2021.
On the day of her murder, Wilson and Strickland swam at a local pool and later had dinner, prosecutors said. He also lied to Armstrong about his whereabouts, according to the police affidavit.
Strickland and Armstrong lived together and accessed her messages on a laptop at their home, prosecutors said.
The suspect tracked Wilson’s movements on the fitness app Strava and parked his car near the Austin apartment where the victim was staying, prosecutors said.
The DA also provided cellphone data, surveillance footage and GPS data showing Armstrong’s Jeep circling the scene of the murder shortly before Wilson was killed.
After the murder, Armstrong sold the Jeep and fled to Costa Rica, where he got plastic surgery on his nose and changed his hair color and cut, investigators said.
Authorities said Armstrong was trying to establish a new life as a yoga instructor in Costa Rica before his arrest on June 29 last year.
This is a growing story. Check back for updates.
Rebecca Glaser from Austin, Texas and David K. from New York City.
