The Texas woman who is accused of killing a romantic rival has been captured in Costa Rica, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.
Kaitlin Marie Armstrong, 34, is accused of fatally shooting Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson, 25, in Austin on May 11. Wilson, a Vermont native and world-class cyclist, was in Austin to compete in a cycling race.
Investigators say Wilson went out in Austin with Colin Strickland – who is a fellow professional cyclist and allegedly Armstrong’s on-again, off-again boyfriend. Moments after Strickland dropped Wilson off at the residence she was staying at, Armstrong’s SUV arrived at the home, according to surveillance video.
Police discovered Wilson unconscious and bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds after responding to a 911 call. First responders attempted to resuscitate Wilson, but she was pronounced dead at the crime scene.
On May 12, police questioned and released the yoga teacher.
“Armstrong was mistakenly released from custody on the misdemeanor warrant because her date of birth in our report management system did not match the date of birth on the warrant,” Austin Police Detective Richard Spitler said during a press conference on May 25.
A tipster informed authorities that Armstrong had recently obtained a handgun and that she became enraged over the love triangle.
“Months earlier, according to the tipster, she allegedly grew furious after learning that Strickland was involved in a romantic relationship with Wilson,” Fox News reported. “Police said one of two 9 mm handguns they recovered at Strickland’s home was ‘significant to the investigation.'”
The arrest affidavit from last month said Armstrong and Strickland were in a romantic relationship for about three years before the couple took a break. During that time, Strickland and Wilson reportedly began seeing each other.
Armstrong sold her Jeep Grand Cherokee to a CarMax for $12,200 on May 13.
The next day, Armstrong took a flight from Austin International Bergstrom Airport to Houston, then boarded a connecting Southwest flight to LaGuardia Airport in New York.
On May 17, Austin police issued a homicide warrant for her arrest in connection with Wilson’s murder.
Armstrong was last seen on May 18, at Newark International Airport in New Jersey.
Armstrong allegedly used a fraudulent passport to board a United Airlines flight to San Jose, Costa Rica.
On Wednesday, Armstrong was captured at a hostel on Santa Teresa Beach in Provincia de Puntarenas in Costa Rica. The U.S. Marshals Office of International Operations, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service worked with authorities in Costa Rica to apprehend the murder suspect.
Armstrong will be deported back to the United States. She has been charged with murder and unlawfully fleeing prosecution.
“The Marshals Service elevated the Kaitlin Armstrong investigation to major case status early in this investigation, which likely played a key role in her capture after a 43-day run,” U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Texas Susan Pamerleau said in a statement. “This is an example of combining the resources of local, state, federal and international authorities to apprehend a violent fugitive, bring an end to that run and hopefully a sense of closure to the victim’s family.”
Wilson was an elite mountain biking and gravel cyclist who had won several races this year. She recently resigned from her job at a bike company to pursue a career as a professional cyclist. Wilson was the favorite to win the Gravel Locos race in Hico before she was murdered.