On May 11, 2022, gravel racer Anna Moriah "Mo" Wilson was found murdered in Austin, Texas — and her killer soon fled the country.
mo__wilson/InstagramProfessional cyclist Moriah Wilson at the Mid South race in 2022.
Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson was cycling her way to fame in the world’s competitive gravel and mountain bike racing world in early 2022. She was a lifelong athlete with a passion for both cycling and skiing and was expected to break records in cycling races across the United States.
But then, as Wilson was preparing for a competition in Texas, she was found murdered in a friend’s home in Austin on May 11, 2022.
Police initially suspected Colin Strickland, a fellow competitive cyclist and Wilson’s former romantic interest, especially since Strickland and Wilson had spent most of the day together. But after an interview, authorities quickly realized that they had a more complicated case on their hands.
According to Strickland, his on-again, off-again girlfriend Kaitlin Armstrong had taken issue with Wilson’s continued friendship with him. Evidence at the crime scene and from the Strickland-Armstrong residence implicated Armstrong in the crime, leading her to flee the country before police could arrest her. But she wouldn’t stay on the run forever.
This is the tragic story of Moriah Wilson’s short life and sudden death.
The Early Life Of Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson
Wilson FamilyA young Moriah “Mo” Wilson with a bike.
Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson was born on May 18, 1996, in Littleton, New Hampshire to her parents Eric and Karen Wilson. From an early age, Wilson was an impressive athlete. She even dreamed of going to the Olympics.
She attended Burke Mountain Academy, a private school in Vermont dedicated to teaching alpine skiers. Unfortunately, Wilson tore her ACL during her sophomore year at the academy and later at Dartmouth College, forcing her to rethink her original plans of skiing professionally.
The news was crushing, especially given her talent in the sport. While at Burke, she was ranked third nationally for her age group.
Wilson FamilyMoriah Wilson skiing during college.
Despite the setbacks, Wilson graduated from Dartmouth with a degree in engineering in 2019. She briefly worked as a demand planner for a bicycle manufacturer. But before long, she began exploring a new career path, one that she had been interested in since she was a child: cycling.
“When you love something so much to the point where you’re fully committed,” Wilson told a mentor, according to the Moriah Wilson Foundation, “you make the choice, and the risk sort of becomes irrelevant. Because even if you fail, it will have been worth it. The process and all that comes along with that is more important and valuable, in the end.”
Moriah Wilson’s Fruitful Career As A Cyclist
mo__wilson/InstagramMoriah Wilson during the Belgian Waffle Ride in 2021.
Moriah Wilson’s cycling career started making headlines in 2021. During the 53.2-mile “Lil Sugar” race at the Big Sugar Gravel in Bentonville, Arkansas, Wilson came in first place, putting her in the spotlight.
This win was followed by other wins at Gravel Hugger and Rock Cobbler. She also came in second place at the races at Leadville and Mid South.
After the Mid South race, Wilson wrote, “This race was the first time in my career (I can call it a career at this point) that I truly felt like I had a target on my back. Was I nervous? Heck yeah! But more than anything I was excited.”
One of Wilson’s most impressive wins was coming in first place at the Belgian Waffle Ride with a lead of more than 20 minutes.
Then, at the 2022 Sea Otter Classic, Wilson won the Fuego 80K race, meaning that she could compete in the rest of the Life Time Grand Prix series, a seven-race cycling competition with a grand prize of $250,000.
Moriah Wilson’s success in the cycling world launched her to athletic stardom. She quickly made friends with other top racers, including Colin Strickland, who had won several cycling competitions in the U.S. and abroad.
By May 2022, Wilson was set to compete in the Gravel Locos race in Hico, Texas. But shortly before the race, Wilson would be found murdered.
The Sudden Murder Of Moriah Wilson
In May 2022, Moriah Wilson went to stay with her friend Caitlin Cash in Austin, Texas, in preparation for her upcoming race. The two had met during a previous racing event, and they had become close friends.
On May 11, 2022, Wilson told Cash that she was going to spend the day hanging out with Colin Strickland, who happened to live in the area. The two — who had a brief romantic relationship and continued a platonic friendship afterward — went swimming together before eating a meal.
Travis County District Attorney’s OfficeFootage of Moriah Wilson and Colin Strickland eating together on the day of the murder.
Around 10 p.m. that same day, Cash returned home to find Wilson dead in her bathroom. She had been shot three times. Her prized racing bike was also missing — but later discovered nearby in the bushes.
Police at the scene collected evidence and camera footage from neighboring security cameras. Luckily, one neighbor’s footage showed a suspicious black Jeep patrolling the street outside of Cash’s home before the murder.
FOXSurveillance footage from a neighbor’s home showing a mysterious black SUV driving past Caitlin Cash’s home.
When Cash told police about Wilson’s whereabouts that day, they immediately reported to Strickland’s home to interview him.
When authorities arrived, they discovered the same black Jeep that was seen in the security footage parked in Strickland’s driveway.
Travis County District Attorney’s OfficePolice speaking to Colin Strickland about Moriah Wilson’s murder.
Strickland denied any involvement in the murder and told police that the black Jeep belonged to his on-again, off-again girlfriend Kaitlin Armstrong.
How The Relationship Between Moriah Wilson And Colin Strickland Turned Deadly
Personal PhotoKaitlin Armstrong, Colin Strickland’s on-again, off-again girlfriend.
Moriah Wilson and Colin Strickland began a brief romantic relationship in 2021 while Strickland was separated from his on-again, off-again girlfriend, a yoga instructor named Kaitlin Armstrong.
Wilson and Strickland eventually ended their romantic fling, but continued a professional and platonic friendship.
However, Armstrong doubted that Wilson only wanted friendship, and she soon sent messages to Wilson warning her to back off from Strickland.
Ultimately, neither Wilson nor Strickland wanted to break off the friendship. Though Armstrong began to closely monitor Strickland’s phone, Strickland told the police that he changed Wilson’s name in his phone to keep their continued communication secret from Armstrong.
On the day of the murder, Strickland lied to Armstrong about his whereabouts, texting her, “Hey! Are you out? I went to drop some flowers for Alison at her son’s house up north and my phone died. Heading home unless you have another food suggestion,” as a diversion, according to Daily Mail. It was later discovered that Armstrong had secretly followed Strickland and Wilson that day, so she knew they were spending time together.
Police were quick to interrogate Armstrong about Moriah Wilson’s murder, but she remained quiet and repeatedly said that she wanted to leave.
Travis County District Attorney’s OfficePolice interrogating Kaitlin Armstrong about the murder of Moriah Wilson.
Since Armstrong wasn’t officially a suspect yet, police had to let her go. But before long, authorities were able to connect a firearm found in the Strickland-Armstrong home to the shell casings left at the crime scene. According to Strickland, he purchased a gun for Armstrong shortly before the murder, after she complained of a frightening road rage incident.
With evidence and a clear motive for the crime, police issued a homicide warrant for Armstrong, but it was too late. She had already fled.
Kaitlin Armstrong’s Attempt To Evade Justice
On May 18, 2022, Kaitlin Armstrong boarded a flight from Newark, New Jersey after visiting her sister there — and stealing her passport. Armstrong flew to San José, Costa Rica. From there, she traveled to Santa Teresa Beach.
While in Costa Rica, Armstrong dyed her hair and underwent plastic surgery to disguise herself. She received a rhinoplasty, a brow lift, and lip fillers.
Armstrong tried to start a new life at a hostel called Don Jon’s, taking yoga classes and even trying to set up a yoga teaching business. While there, she fit in amongst the young yogis who frequently visited the area.
In order to track her down, the authorities had to use unusual methods. U.S. Marshals eventually devised a plan to post fake yoga teacher job ads online in Costa Rica in the hopes that Armstrong would take the bait.
Texas Western District CourtKaitlin Armstrong underwent plastic surgery in an attempt to start a new life in Costa Rica.
Luckily for them, the tactic worked, and a person believed to be Armstrong responded. U.S. Marshals were able to narrow down her probable location, and soon, undercover authorities were swarming the area. They eventually arrested Armstrong at Don Jon’s, 43 days after the manhunt began.
Back in the United States, the authorities discovered that Armstrong had followed Moriah Wilson and Colin Strickland the day of the murder. Not only did she keep tabs on them via social media, but she also stalked Wilson on the fitness app Strava. From this information, Armstrong likely discovered where Wilson was staying in Austin, allowing her to carry out the murder.
“She had downloaded and saved photos of Moriah on her phone,” Austin Police Detective Richard Spitler stated to A&E. “Based on the GPS data from Strava, she was able to see exactly where Moriah was staying by viewing her bike rides. She was stalking Moriah hours before the murder.”
All of the damning evidence against Kaitlin Armstrong was presented at her murder trial, and on November 16, 2023, the former yoga instructor was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 90 years in prison.
In 2024, the Wilson family sued Armstrong for the wrongful death of Moriah Wilson and won $15 million. But of course, this could never make up for the loss of their loved one. They have found ways to honor her, including starting the Moriah Wilson Foundation and its “Ride For Mo” annual event.
The cycling world has also felt the heartbreaking loss. Friends, colleagues, and rivals have paid their respects to Wilson and honored what would have assuredly been a long and successful cycling career.
“Mo consistently showed up as an incredible role model, not just for aspiring riders, but also for her fellow competitors, who I believe learned a lot from her and her legacy,” Kimo Seymour, the Life Time Grand Prix senior vice president, said before the 2024 competition. “As we approach this year’s event, we remember Mo, and her long beautiful braid, storming up the final climb and across the finish line, smiling from ear to ear.”
After reading about Moriah Wilson, dive into the story of Travis Alexander, the man murdered by his jealous ex, Jodi Arias. Then, read about Gary Plauché, the man who shot his son’s rapist on live television.
