Kaitlin Armstrong’s obsession with Colin Strickland’s affair drove her to commit murder.
Highlights
- Kaitlin Armstrong’s jealousy over Colin Strickland’s brief affair with Moriah Wilson led to a tragic murder in May 2022.
- Armstrong used a fitness app to track Wilson, obtained a firearm, and later fled to Costa Rica with a fake identity before being captured after 43 days.
- Armstrong is serving a 90-year prison sentence, while Wilson’s parents won a $15 million civil lawsuit, and the case even inspired a Lifetime movie.
Born November 21, 1987, in Livonia, Michigan, Kaitlin Armstrong carved out a path that would eventually lead to one of cycling’s most notorious crimes.
The Michigan native pursued her education at Schoolcraft College and Eastern Michigan University before reinventing herself as a yoga instructor and licensed realtor.
Armstrong’s life took a significant turn when she met professional cyclist Colin Strickland in 2019, leading to a relationship that would become increasingly complex and ultimately tragic.
Armstrong’s interests expanded beyond yoga into cycling after meeting Strickland.
The couple appeared to share a conventional life, moving in together during the COVID-19 pandemic and even starting a trailer restoration business.
Those who knew them described their relationship as normal, with Armstrong handling the business aspects while Strickland managed operations.
However, beneath the surface of their seemingly stable partnership lay deep-seated issues of jealousy and trust that would eventually spiral into violence.
Kaitlin Armstrong’s Deadly Jealousy Was Fueled by Colin Strickland’s Brief Affair with Moriah Wilson
The roots of the tragedy began in the fall of 2021 when Armstrong and Strickland briefly separated.
During this period, Strickland entered a short-lived romantic relationship with Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson, a rising star in the professional cycling world.
Though the relationship lasted only about a week, it planted seeds of jealousy that would grow into deadly consequences.
After reconciling with Armstrong, Strickland maintained a friendship with Wilson, a decision that created significant tension.
He took steps to hide their continued communication, even saving Wilson’s number under a pseudonym on his phone.
Armstrong’s jealousy intensified as she discovered evidence of their ongoing connection through their shared iPad, where she could access Strickland’s emails and social media messages.
The situation reached a breaking point on May 11, 2022.
That evening, while Wilson was staying at a friend’s house in Austin for an upcoming race, she went swimming with Strickland at Deep Eddy Pool, followed by dinner at Pool Burger café.
Strickland had told Armstrong he was running errands alone, claiming his phone had died.
Just minutes after Wilson returned home, surveillance cameras captured Armstrong’s black Jeep in the neighborhood. Wilson was later found dead, shot three times.
The aftermath revealed the extent of Armstrong’s premeditation.
She had used Strava, a fitness tracking app, to monitor Wilson’s movements.
The murder weapon was one of two firearms Strickland had purchased for them in January 2022, around the time Armstrong learned of his previous relationship with Wilson.
Friends later testified that Armstrong had explicitly stated her murderous intentions, saying she would kill any woman Strickland dated seriously.
Following the murder, Armstrong displayed an elaborate escape.
She sold her Jeep for $12,000, used her sister’s passport to flee to Costa Rica, and underwent $6,000 worth of plastic surgery to alter her appearance.
She adopted the alias “Allison Page” and attempted to build a new life as a yoga instructor.
However, her freedom was short-lived. U.S. Marshals cleverly used her passion for yoga against her, creating a fake job posting that ultimately led to her capture after 43 days on the run.
Today, Armstrong resides in the Dr. Lane Murray Unit in Texas, serving a 90-year prison sentence following her conviction for first-degree murder in November 2023.
The case has sparked further legal action, with Wilson’s parents winning a $15 million civil lawsuit against Armstrong in June 2024.
The tragic story has even inspired a Lifetime movie, “Yoga Teacher Killer: The Kaitlin Armstrong Story,” ensuring that this cautionary tale of jealousy and obsession will not be forgotten.
Additional Information
- Before her arrest, Armstrong was arrested for an unrelated incident involving an unpaid Botox treatment at an Austin spa. This outstanding misdemeanor theft warrant actually led to her first encounter with police during the murder investigation.
- During her attempted escape from custody in October 2023, she had carefully planned the attempt for months, even faking a leg injury so she wouldn’t have to wear leg restraints during medical appointments. She was caught after a 10-minute chase.
- According to a December 2023 legal filing requesting a new trial, Armstrong’s attorneys claimed she was pregnant at the time of her arrest. The filing also revealed personal details about her childhood, stating she had an alcoholic mother and was abandoned by her father.
