TX - Moriah Wilson, 25, Cyclist Fatally Shot Before Race, Austin, 2022 *arrest* #8

[carolmaria]

Next witness: APD Officer Niels. He was the one who arrested Armstrong on May 12, 2022 on an arrest warrant. He was instructed to bring her in for questioning. He says that she seemed indifferent when he interacted with her.


Niels says it is common to arrest people for outstanding warrants, but it's not typically his role to explain to them what the warrant is for.Niels placed Armstrong in handcuffs behind her back, detained and brought to APD HQ. Niels says she was calm in the backseat and they had "small talk." She wasn't freaking out and wasn't having an emotional breakdown.


Niels says his primary focus is fugitive investigation, but helps out the homicide unit. He recalls taking her into the interview room in handcuffs. Defense questioning her about APD's process and why it took two police officers to bring her in. Defense insinuating that APD was imposing on Armstrong and frightened her going into the interview.


"She did not seem scared. [She seemed] calm," Niels says.Niels says he escorted Armstrong out of APD HQ after the interview. He did not place her in handcuffs this time. Niels says when they made contact, they told her she was free to leave, but there was a search warrant being executed at her house. Upon arrival, at least 4-5 officers were executing the search warrant.

Niels says he was wearing a body cam when he made the arrest and brought her back home. No further questions.


State's turn.


State asks Officer Niels to take a good look at Armstrong in the courtroom. "Does she look indifferent to you?" ADA Jones asks. "She looks the same as she did [the day of her arrest]," Niels responds. Truthfully, Armstrong's demeanor at the defense table hasn't changed once in the 2.5 weeks we've been here. She appears stone-cold, unresponsive and emotionless.No further questions. Witness dismissed.

https://twitter.com/alcaprari23

Have noticed two 2 II Two expressions of KA in photos. Either Insta-ready broad smile, or that stone-cold look—resting face sometimes with a slight smirk or duper’s delight added on. All MOO.

 

[arielilane]

@alcaprari23

Defense asks about DNA collection, emphasizing that DNA cannot say when or how it got to it's location, only that it exists.Quartaro says he reviewed all the documents for this case, which was vast. Looked at DNA profiles. Can't recall seeing swab samples from a Jeep.


11:35 AM · Nov 15, 2023

 

[SteveP]

@alcaprari23

Defense asks about DNA collection, emphasizing that DNA cannot say when or how it got to it's location, only that it exists.Quartaro says he reviewed all the documents for this case, which was vast. Looked at DNA profiles. Can't recall seeing swab samples from a Jeep.


11:35 AM · Nov 15, 2023

Oh ffs, are we hoping to imply that someone else was driving the Jeep that evening?? Yeah, ummmm no.

 

[Howl]

<sarcasm>
I know for me -- I'm totally chill when random police show up at my house to arrest, handcuff and take me downtown for interrogation without telling me why, but I know it's important to put the police at ease!

Officer, how's your day going?
Good, and you?
YOGAAAAAA!

Honestly, it's just nuts. This is as telling to me as any of the other evidence being presented.

However, in very short order, it's 100% up to the jury.

 

[arielilane]

@alcaprari23

Quartaro says he did not recognize any serious flaws in the testing procedures for this case.Quartaro reviewed the results of the testing on the Sig Sauer 9mm pistol. Reminds the jury there was one other DNA profile that was unknown on the pistol in addition to trace DNA left behind by Strickland and Armstrong.Quartaro reminds the jury that the swab was taken on the trigger, trigger guard, safety, magazine, etc. and that all of those samples were taken using one swab. Quartaro confirms that one swab will not be able to differentiate which of those locations the DNA was pulled from.


11:39 AM · Nov 15, 2023

 

[arielilane]

@alcaprari23

"There is additional genetic DNA there that is not consistent with any of the samples that we have," Quartaro says about the unknown third DNA profile found on the gun.The samples that they have and were asked to compare to were Armstrong, Strickland, Wilson and Cash.


11:40 AM · Nov 15, 2023

 

[Walela]

Yes! Guess nothing was found in dumpster(s)?

Did LE have the data showing she stopped at a dumpster before the dumpster was emptied?

 

[SteveP]

Did LE have the data showing she stopped at a dumpster before the dumpster was emptied?

No, they only got that info much later, when they analyzed the Jeep's infotainment system, IIRC.

 

[Walela]

I hope the defense isn't putting this witness on just to show the jury that Armstrong's fingerprints weren't found anywhere at the crime scene. In which case, I can only assume the State will have two follow-up questions during their cross-examination:
1) If someone committed a crime wearing gloves, would their fingerprints be found at the scene/on the evidence?
2) If fingerprints are unique to every individual and can be used by police to identify someone, it is plausible that a fugitive assuming a different identity might inquire about the various ways their fingerprints could be erased?

And question number 3...how many "points" do you need to have a usable fingerprint.

 

[arielilane]

@alcaprari23

There was a Y chromosome present on the bicycle handlebars, indicating male DNA, but there was not enough of it to create a full profile, Quartaro says.On the bike seat, there was also DNA of three individuals, including one unknown. The other two were Armstrong and Wilson.


11:42 AM · Nov 15, 2023


About the unknown samples: Can't say if it's one/the same person or multiple unknown people. All Quartaro knows is that it doesn't match any of the four known profiles that were analyzed.


11:46 AM · Nov 15, 2023

 

[arielilane]

@alcaprari23

Quartaro discussing transfer DNA and how someone doesn't have to necessarily touch something in order for their DNA to be on it. Someone else can act as the intermediary. Blood, saliva, semen and skin are the main sources of DNA, Quartaro says.


11:49 AM · Nov 15, 2023

 

[Seattle1]

I don't believe she actually had any appointments...those were just her excuses to CS as to where she had been that evening.

I saw one subpoena issued by the defense for this place requesting their schedule including walk-in appointments on May 11 for the hour 6:30pm - 7:30pm. Big wow - doesn't impact KA's murder schedule. (Not on Defense Witness List).

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[JusCurious]

I saw one subpoena issued by the defense for this place requesting their schedule including walk-in appointments on May 11 for the hour 6:30pm - 7:30pm. Big wow - doesn't impact KA's murder schedule. (Not on Defense Witness List).

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I'm wondering what spa services are available where she is going...?

 

[Walela]

@JessicaTaylorTX

Prosecution asks if crime scene is asked to lift any latent prints they see. LaGrone says she believes so but hasn’t received crime scene training so doesn’t know for certain.


10:52 AM · Nov 15, 2023

Why oh why do they keep asking questions of people that they absolutely know doesn't have the answer to. IMO it just emphasizes the lack of meaningful exculpatory evidence.

 

[jash]

The defense's DNA expert seems to just be saying the exact same thing the prosecution's witness said. Not sure this was money well spent by the D.

 

[arielilane]

@JessicaTaylorTX

Quartaro says he can’t indicate whether Armstrong’s DNA was there via transfer or not. He says DNA only says who was there.


11:54 AM · Nov 15, 2023

 

[arielilane]

@MillsHayesTV

Quartaro says you can not touch something and your DNA can show up through transfer DNA. I assume this is the defense argument for why Kaitlin Armstrong's DNA was found on Moriah Wilson's bike.


11:52 AM · Nov 15, 2023


Defense shows Quartaro a picture of Strickland and Wilson on a motorcycle night of murder. Quartaro says helmet would contain a lot of DNA.

11:56 AM · Nov 15, 2023

 

[arielilane]

@alcaprari23

Quartaro says its impossible to say if Armstrong's DNA found on the bicycle is trace or transfer DNA.Defense asking if motorcycle could be a good source for DNA. Quartaro agrees.Defense offering hypothetic situations for Quartaro to explain to jury how transfer DNA works.


11:57 AM · Nov 15, 2023

 

[Seattle1]

When I first heard about this story I had expected that there was a lot more cruel behavior coming from CS. He of course has a role in this tragedy, but I was surprised to learn he was much more straightforward with her than I had assumed.

There was obvious interest in Mo, but at surface level communications were all above board, even the night they met he could have easily gone inside, none of that happened.

He needed to break it off with KA but it seems like she was also insistent on never letting that happen. KA drove herself to a really dark place by obsessively intruding on and monitoring his life and communications. She likely even had created many fantasies in her own head about what’s going on by not seeing the evidence she wanted to see, like obvious romance in texts, photos, etc.

Terrible tragedy. Mo’s peace, contentment and beauty about life was something KA could never find herself.

Sadly, from interviews by women in the cycling world -- they all had a fling with CS. I think of CS like a dog marking his territory and that was all it was.

KA had already set herself apart from the bike women -- she met CS on a dating app. This took more effort on both of their parts -- and not that this made for a successful partnership -- romantic or otherwise. KA was tragic that made tragedy her life. MOO

 

[arielilane]

"Threw everything you've got and see if it sticks" moo