Next witness: Detective Richard Spitler, APD.Alex note: The letter "T" broke on my keyboard. It is making typing extremely hard. You have no idea how often you type the letter T until you can no longer press it with ease.
Spitler says he handled about 125 aggravated assault cases for APD. He later became homicide detective. He is one of 16 detectives.
Spitler was notified of the murder on 5/11 and a potential witness, Caitlin Cash. Spitler interviewed Cash. He wanted to know her whereabouts and if any guns were owned by her or victim. Wanted to know background about victim. Spitler says Cash was upset during the interview.
Spitler released Cash and went to crime scene. He met with other detectives there. Spitler walked through crime scene and is describing his recollection of his investigative technique. No signs of forced entry or disturbance.
Colin Strickland was considered the last known person to see Mo Wilson. Spitler says he could have been a person of interest or a witness with good information. He noticed the black Jeep seen on surveillance in the driveway of Strickland and Armstrong's home.
Spitler says he attempted to call Strickland but he didn't answer. He didn't leave a voicemail. He decided to stop by his house, instead. APD's intel team was surveilling Strickland at home and notified him that he was moving about a lot, and Spitler feared Strickland could be getting ready to flee.
10 minute recess.
Back.Spitler recollecting meeting with Colin the morning after the murder. We have seen this interaction from a different detectives body cam.He says Colin was surprised with the news. He asked him more about his night with Mo before asking him to come to APD.
Colin was calm, cooperative, willing to help out, Spitler says. During the course of the interview with Colin, Spitler says he determined he needed to speak to Armstrong. He alerted the tactical team and fellow detectives. He says it was very important to speak to her.
Spitler said it was also important to file for a search warrant. When learning about Armstrong/Strickland/Wilson relationship, Spitler says he began to consider a possible motive. "It was clear there was some element of jealousy there," Spitler says.
During APD interview, Spitler asked Colin if KA was a jealous person. He got clued in about possible jealousy when learning that Colin had switched Mo's name in his phonebook.
Spitler says the plan was to arrest Armstrong and bring her in for questioning. She had an active warrant already out for her arrest for a separate matter: A Class D Misdemeanor.Armstrong was at her home at the time, but Spitler did not speak to her. A different detective did.Spitler says Armstrong was released; APD drove her home.
Spitler left to get some rest following his interview with Strickland. The next day, he learned about the results of the search warrant: Two firearms were seized, important, Spitler says, because he recognized they were 9mm, just like shell casings found at the scene.
On 5/13, Spitler contacted and introduced himself to Wilson's family and asked if they knew of anyone who might have wanted to harm Mo. He asked for passcodes to her phone. At this point, Spitler is still looking for possible suspects.
Spitler explains why its important to get access to Mo's cellphone. Wanted location data, shopping habits, missed calls, text messages. He was able to access her phone by the end of the day.Spitler attempted to collect video from the scene.On 5/14, APD was getting ready to publish a press release. Spitler notified the Wilson family.
Spitler says he went back to the crime scene and encountered Cash's Landlord Harris. He conducted an interview.Spitler also received information from anonymous callers.Spitler's team was combing through Wilson's phone and found her last text that evening to a podcaster who coincidentally also has the last name Strickland. That's weird.
Spitler explains the video he uncovered over the course of several days. A motorcycle leaving near the scene of the murder. A similar motorcycle close to where Strickland lived. Around 5/17, Spitler says he issued a warrant for Armstrong's arrest.Around 5/18 & 5/19, other civilians came forward with information about the murder.
Spitler discussing combing through the Strava app and how he used it in his investigation. He was able to see Armstrong used it several times on May 10 & May 11 to geo-locate Mo Wilson.
Court has been adjourned for the day. There is no court tomorrow. Personal reasons, I'm told. Also no court on Friday for Veterans Day. We are back Wednesday at 9am.Thanks all for following along. I'll be back on Wednesday bright and early. You can also catch my analysis of today's trial tonight with Elizabeth Vargas, Chris Cuomo and Ashleigh Banfield on
@NewsNation.
