TX - Moriah Wilson, 25, Cyclist Fatally Shot Before Race, Austin, 2022 *arrest* #7

[arielilane]

@alcaprari23

Defense questioning Spitler about his experience as a police officer and homicide detective.

 

[SteveP]

Forget everything else. Her searches alone should remove any reasonable doubt if a juror is sitting on the fence in deliberations. JMO

 

[Seattle1]

Detective addresses Kaitlin Armstrong’s online searches in days, weeks after Wilson’s death

As the murder trial for Kaitlin Armstrong, accused of shooting and killing pro cyclist Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson in May 2020, continues, the lead homicide detective on the case resumes hi…

www.kxan.com

11/8/23

LIVE TRIAL BLOG - AM

AUSTIN (KXAN) — As the murder trial for Kaitlin Armstrong, accused of shooting and killing pro cyclist Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson on May 11, 2022, continues, the State began Wednesday with addressing video footage of the victim from hours before she was killed.

The owner of the restaurant across from Pool Burger began testimony Wednesday about surveillance video near Wilson and Strickland — Armstrong’s now-former boyfriend — as Wilson and Strickland spent the afternoon together on May 11.

Detective Richard Spitler took the stand Monday and was in the middle of his testimony, but the court did not continue with him Wednesday morning due to a scheduling conflict for Spitler. His testimony will resume from the point it left off at another time. So far he has addressed his work the night of Wilson’s murder as well as his questioning of Armstrong’s former boyfriend Colin Strickland the following morning.

CATCH UP: Colin Strickland’s testimony


During the course of his official interview with Strickland, Spitler determined Armstrong needed to be brought in for questioning. Spitler said that was due to the combination of learning the black Jeep with the bike rack at Strickland’s house belonged to Armstrong and the knowledge he gained during the interview from Strickland that there were guns inside the home.

Last week, the State displayed several surveillance videos that showed what prosecutors say is that Jeep near the murder scene in east Austin. One of the Defense’s main arguments during opening statements was the notion that none of that video captures Armstrong herself, just the car.

Lead homicide detective goes through electronic records tied to Armstrong, shows online searches for ‘Kaitlin Armstrong’​

As Spitler resumed his testimony Wednesday, he addressed ballistic, GPS, DNA and electronic evidence he said he used in his investigation into Armstrong.

“Armstrong’s DNA was actually found on Ms. Wilson’s bicycle that was taken from the apartment and put into the bushes,” Spitler said on the stand.

He said GPS data from Armstrong’s Jeep matches with surveillance video of a black SUV with a bike rack driving in the east Austin neighborhood Wilson was killed around the time of the murder.

The State presented a series of pieces of phone and email records tied to the case. Spitler said he issued “25-30” search warrants related to this type of information.

Below is a list of what Spitler said investigators found in those records:

• A recently deleted note from Armstrong’s notes mobile application with the address 1704 Maple Avenue. Wilson died at 1708 Maple Avenue.
• Google subscriber information from Armstrong’s records indicating the creation of a new email address in the days after Wilson’s murder. Below are the records find sent to that email.
  • Uber receipt from Armstrong’s home to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
  • A Southwest Airlines itinerary email with “Kaitlin Armstrong’s trip” written in the subject line.
  • An email about a prepared Visa card addressed to “Kaitlin”
  • Reservation for a flight from Newark to Costa Rica with the traveler information listed as “Christie Armstrong.” Armstrong’s sister’s full name is Christine.
  • VPN purchase
  • Skype purchase
  • From information listed in the Google subscriber “search folder,” records showed searches for English/Spanish translations, and searches for “Kaitlin Armstrong” that yielded news coverage results.

 

[arielilane]

@MillsHayesTV

There are multiple searches of rhinoplasty plastic surgery. We then see Meta business reports of Moriah, Kaitlin & Colin's instagram. On May 13, 2022 the instagram "kaitlinarmstrong" associated w/ Armstrong's email is deleted.


12:30 PM · Nov 8, 2023

 

[whitelilac]

Forget everything else. Her searches alone should remove reasonable doubt if a juror is sitting on the fence in deliberations. JMO

There isn't even a fence to sit on in this case.
imo

 

[arielilane]

@BriHollisNEWS

Spitler confirms with Defense that no one in area heard gunshots the night of the shooting, and that no one saw Kaitlin Armstrong in person at the scene that night.

 

[arielilane]

@MillsHayesTV

Cofer: No witness reported hearing any gunshots night of may 11, right?
Spitler: Correct C:

No residence in that area reported seeing kaitlin Armstrong at or around scene of murder? S: Correct

Spitler talks about contacting deceased family to learn more about victim.

 

[arielilane]

Since 5/11, Spitler says he has lead "about five" homicide investigations since 5/11/22. He says he almost always encounters mistakes that are made along the way.Defense asks about investigative techniques when there are no eyewitnesses. Spitler says he tries to canvas the area of the murder with other detectives.

Defense pulls up the previous map of the neighborhood. Asks if APD attempted to speak to residents in each and every home on Maple Ave. Spitler says "he does not believe so." Spitler agrees he did not personally speak to every resident. Spitler agrees there were no residents who heard the gunshots nor saw Armstrong at the scene of the murder.

Defense asking if Spitler reached out to people who knew Colin Strickland, Caitlin Cash and Mo Wilson. Spitler says he spoke to Wilson's roommate, friends and family. Defense asking for Spitler to open and review his supplemental investigative document

@alcaprari23

 

[Seattle1]

IMO, this is the best the defense has so we are going to hear this over and over:

Brianna Hollis
@BriHollisNEWS

Spitler confirms with Defense that no one in area heard gunshots the night of the shooting, and that no one saw Kaitlin Armstrong in person at the scene that night.
9:48 AM · Nov 8, 2023

 

[arielilane]

@alcaprari23

Defense is asking how, with no eyewitnesses to the murder, Spitler labeled Armstrong as a suspect. Spitler says he didn't, he listed her as a "possible suspect."

 

[JusCurious]

@alcaprari23

Defense is asking how, with no eyewitnesses to the murder, Spitler labeled Armstrong as a suspect. Spitler says he didn't, he listed her as a "possible suspect."

Defense grasping at straws... all they have

 

[SteveP]

@MillsHayesTV

Cofer: No witness reported hearing any gunshots night of may 11, right?
Spitler: Correct C:

No residence in that area reported seeing kaitlin Armstrong at or around scene of murder? S: Correct

Spitler talks about contacting deceased family to learn more about victim.

Well, there ya go. No one heard gunshots, so she must not have been shot that night. Never mind the audio doorbell that picked up the gunshots, and the video ring cams that caught KA's Jeep at the scene at just that time, and on and on. I would love to see how the jurors are reacting to his statements.

 

[arielilane]

@alcaprari23

Defense asking about Mo Wilson's ex, Gunner Shaw. Spitler confirms there was a history of domestic violence. Defense wonders why more attention wasn't paid to Shaw. Spitler says his alibi checked out and didn't match with timeline, but admits that he didn't know that information at the time he ruled him out.

 

[Seattle1]

Guess KA believed altering her nose and fingers would save her from prosecution. She guessed wrong:



Brianna Hollis
@BriHollisNEWS

More searches via electronic records obtained by Spitler:-"Post rhinoplasty photos"-"Can pineapples burn your fingerprints"
9:24 AM · Nov 8, 2023

 

[JerseyWasHome2]

IMO, this is the best the defense has so we are going to hear this over and over:

Brianna Hollis
@BriHollisNEWS

Spitler confirms with Defense that no one in area heard gunshots the night of the shooting, and that no one saw Kaitlin Armstrong in person at the scene that night.
9:48 AM · Nov 8, 2023

That, and that they didn't more thoroughly look into anyone else like Cash, potential competition among other cyclists, Colin's friends, etc.

 

[SteveP]

@alcaprari23

Defense asking about Mo Wilson's ex, Gunner Shaw. Spitler confirms there was a history of domestic violence. Defense wonders why more attention wasn't paid to Shaw. Spitler says his alibi checked out and didn't match with timeline, but admits that he didn't know that information at the time he ruled him out.

Yep, let's pin it on the guy that was 7000 miles away...

 

[arielilane]

@MillsHayesTV

Armstrong's defense attorney asks about Spitler looking into Gunnar Shaw (Mo's ex) and Allen Lim (her friend)Cofer: In an unsolved murder do you think it's important to exclude known associates and ex boyfriends?Spitler: No one was fully excluded

 

[arielilane]

@alcaprari23

Now defense asking about a 2nd interrogation with Colin Strickland. In this interview, Spitler asks Strickland if he knew anyone who might have wanted to hurt or Kill Wilson. Strickland didn't know anyone, but mentioned ex-boyfriends.Spitler says Strickland mentioned Gunner Shaw by name. Strickland mentioned that Shaw was not happy with Wilson's relationship with Strickland.

 

[arielilane]

@alcaprari23

Spitler says he spoke to Shaw and another ex, Allen Lim, in July 2022. He said he was working against his theory that "Armstrong committed this murder." Every single lead kept coming back to Spitler that Armstrong was the murderer.

 

[charminglane]

In case anyone was wondering--
I found out pineapples will not destroy fingerprints, but they might temporarily be less defined.
Thank you, Kai.