GUILTY TX - Moriah Wilson, 25, Cyclist Fatally Shot Before Race, Austin, 2022 *arrest* #9

DNA Solves
DNA Solves
DNA Solves

New Posts

Status
Not open for further replies.
arielilane said:
@alcaprari23

"I respect the verdict of the jury," Christine says when ADA Jones asks if she recognizes that Kaitlin Armstrong murdered Mo Wilson. Jones: "Did you give your sister your passport?



5:56 PM · Nov 16, 2023
Click to expand...
rsbm, bbm and quoting tweet:

First thought I had- the Ramsey ransom note letter: "we respect your business, but not the country that it serves."

Yup, much respect. imo
 
I can have empathy with the shock this is for KA's family. I think there is a good chance they never saw any signs that she would be capable of such a thing.
The truth is, we don't always know what demons are lurking in our loved ones. Even when faced with all of the evidence and realizing that she is guilty they still want to believe that she is redeemable.
As a parent, I can have empathy with both families that have been victimized and suffered. At least KA's family can still see their child. She wasn't stolen from them like she brutally stole Mo from her loved ones.
 
So, do we think the jury will deliberate her sentence as long as they deliberated her guilt? I expect they will give her the maximum sentence, and not take a great deal of time in deciding. I don't see them having another lunch at the courthouse, but they might be there long enough for one more coffee break. JMO
 

16 NOV 2023 -- LIVE TRIAL BLOG -cont (Defense):​


“My heart is broken for the Wilson family,” Christine Armstrong says
Christine held an “I love you” sign towards her sister as she approached the stand, which Armstrong reciprocated without smiling.
Christine said that her sister had almost been like a parent to her.
“She’s just such a special person. She’s always been such a special person,” she said. “I’ve always looked up to you. I’ve always looked up to her. I just love her so much and I hate that she’s been painted in this light. She’s not a bad person. She’s a really good person, she’s always cared for other people and if you ask anyone who knows her, they would say the same thing.”
Andrea Blanco16 November 2023 23:00

Dr Judith Knotts, who works in the chaplaincy program at the Travis County Jail, described Armstrong as kind and empathetic
She said that Armstrong has been focusing on yoga and meditation while imprisoned.
Andrea Blanco16 November 2023 22:56
24 minutes ago

Kaitlin Armstrong’s father gives statement​

“It’s a very difficult time. It’s been a tragic time,” Mike Armstrong tells the court.
“But I also want to say that it’s far worse for the Wilson family. I can’t imagine what they are going through. I’ve always known that it’s horrible what we are going through, but I know what they are going through is worse.”
Andrea Blanco16 November 2023 22:43

www.independent.co.uk

Kaitlin Armstrong sentenced to 90 years for murder of cyclist Mo Wilson

Jurors returned guilty verdict against Kaitlin Armstrong on Thursday for shooting death of star cyclist Moriah ‘Mo’ Wilson
www.independent.co.uk www.independent.co.uk
 
whitelilac said:
The jury decides the sentence, not the judge? Is that a Texas thing?

Given the verdict took 2 hrs and 15 minutes including lunch, I expect the sentencing not to be exactly in KA's favor either.
Click to expand...
In TX, the default is for the Judge to decide but the defendant also has a right to request the jury decide their punishment.
 
Seattle1 said:
In TX, the default is for the Judge to decide but the defendant also has a right to request the jury decide their punishment.
Click to expand...
In this case, I think her choices are six of one and a half-dozen of the other. I think either the jurors or the judge would likely hand down the same sentence, and it will be the maximum. JMO
 
@arielilane Thanks for posting all the info!

“Describing Kaitlin's interest in yoga, Mike (Armstrong) says she has always cared about health, well-being and other people's health and well-being. Says she eats a lot of vegan food and is very healthy. Says Kaitlin was athletic, ran track and played volleyball. Said she wanted to be a veterinarian.”

Was anyone else thinking that perhaps Mike Armstrong should have had someone look over his speech first? Opening with how much Kaitlin cares about other people’s health and well-being may not have been the best choice of words. Followed by she is so gentle she is a vegan, she would not dare hurt any animals by eating them, granted supposition on my part. I would agree to his analysis of her track skills as she has just recently demonstrated for everyone. And finally this kind soul only wanted to take care of animals by becoming a vet. Let’s all exhale a collective ahhhhhh isn’t she special, in Dana Carvey’s SNL church lady voice if possible please.

As to being a yoga teacher not sure she was very good at it given she could not contain her rage and instead put 3 bullets into another human being and not one word of regret. If the jury chooses to speak post trial, it would be interesting to learn what impact, if any, the Armstrong family speeches made.
 
Last edited:
Laura930 said:
@arielilane Thanks for posting all the info!

“Describing Kaitlin's interest in yoga, Mike (Armstrong) says she has always cared about health, well-being and other people's health and well-being. Says she eats a lot of vegan food and is very healthy. Says Kaitlin was athletic, ran track and played volleyball. Said she wanted to be a veterinarian.”

Was anyone else thinking that perhaps Mike Armstrong should have had someone look over his speech first? Opening with how much Kaitlin cares about other people’s health and well-being may not have been the best choice of words. Followed by she is so gentle she is a vegan, she would not dare hurt any animals by eating them, granted supposition on my part. I would agree to his analysis of her track skills as she has just recently demonstrated for everyone. And finally this kind soul only wanted to take care of animals by becoming a vet. Let’s all exhale a collective ahhhhhh isn’t she special, in Dana Carey’s voice if possible please.

As to being a yoga teacher not sure she was very good at it given she could not contain her rage and instead put 3 bullets into another human being And not one word of regret. If the jury chooses to speak post trial, it would be interesting to learn what impact, if any, the Armstrong family speeches made.
Click to expand...
But we don't know whether her family or friends feel she's guilty or not, and it's their right to paint her in a light of how they knew her. Just like her sister said she was great at conflict resolution - and to that I say, really? She couldn't resolve her own conflict in her head, nor did she apparently seek help for it - they both had a right to tell the world how they viewed this person before she committed her horrific act. This was their time to plead to the jury for a lighter sentence, I guess, is the goal, showing her "other side."
 
After only two hours of deliberation Kaitlin Armstrong is found guilty of murdering Mo Wilson in Austin.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1725291777416962404

www.austinchronicle.com

Kaitlin Armstrong Found Guilty of Murdering Mo Wilson in Austin

Jury deliberated for two hours
www.austinchronicle.com www.austinchronicle.com

Kaitlin Armstrong was found guilty of the murder of Anna Moriah Wilson on Thursday after only two hours of deliberations by Travis County jurors. The 35-year-old Armstrong faces up to 99 years in prison.

Wilson, a rising star in the world of competitive cycling who had been staying at a friend’s house in East Austin in preparation for a race in Dallas, was found dead on May 11 with two gunshot wounds to the head and another to the chest. Suspicion immediately fell on Armstrong, who, police suspected, had tracked Wilson to the house and shot her out of jealousy after Wilson had met Armstrong’s boyfriend, Colin Strickland, for a swim.
 
BREAKING: The jury has reached a verdict. We have been allowed back into the courtroom. Total deliberation time was just a little over two hours. We are waiting on the family and the jury to arrive. Standby for verdict.


Kaitlin Armstrong enters the courtroom. She glances at the judge before taking her seat. Rick Cofer sits next to her. They do not talk. Cofer leans over and speaks to the sheriff's deputies who are watching Armstrong. The courtroom is silent.


There are at a minimum 15 sheriff's deputies in the courtroom ensuring that no additional audio or recording devices (beyond the single still and single video cameras) are recording.


The defense team is sitting silently. The prosecution looks happy and is chatting among themselves. Rick Jones smiles to his colleague.


The jury has entered and they are now taking their seats. Here we go.


BREAKING: Kaitlin Wilson has been found GUILTY of murdering Anna Moriah "Mo" Wilson.


Kaitlin continues looking straight ahead. Friends and family of Mo Wilson are crying tears of joy silently as they hear the news read out loud. Huge hugs from the Wilson family. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson hug. Caitlin Cash and Matthew hug. There is overwhelming happiness from everyone on the Wilson side who has sat through this difficult trial for 2.5 weeks. Kaitlin's father stands at attention and looks at his daughter. Kaitlin continues to stare straight ahead.


Of course I make a typo in the most important tweet. Kaitlin *Armstrong has been found guilty of murdering Moriah "Mo" Wilson. My apologies.


The family exited the courtroom with the prosecution for about 10 minutes and are now taking their seats. It's likely that was their chance to say thanks to the lawyers and have a moment of privacy. It's possible they will get a chance to testify and say their peace to Kaitlin Armstrong during the sentencing phase.


After being escorted away briefly, Kaitlin Armstrong is back in the courtroom at the defense table. Mr. Wilson is looking in her direction. She is slightly slouched at her seat. Not much emotion on her face. The jury is being allowed back in. We are now beginning the sentencing phase.


State and defense waive opening statements. The state will call a number of witnesses, including Mr. Wilson, Mrs. Wilson, Matthew Wilson and Caitlin Cash. They are all being simultaneously sworn in.



First witness: Caitlin Cash. She takes a deep breath and takes the hands of each of the Wilson family before going up to the witness stand.

Cash says she is nervous. When asked about how close she was with Mo, she tears up and says she's not sure where to begin. "Begin wherever you want to begin," Jones reassures her.Cash says she met the Wilson family first when doing social media for a cycling event in Vermont. She says she kept seeing the Wilson family on the side of the road. Cash and the Wilson's hit it off. Cash says Mo "moved her beyond belief." Talks about her grit and determination.Cash fondly recollects the time she spent with Matthew and eventually meeting Mo. The races they competed in together and their first time ever actually meeting.Kaitlin Armstrong has her eyes low. It doesn't look as if she is looking at Cash. Her eyes may even be closed. Matthew has his head down and his family is comforting him in the front row.


Cash now recounting Mo Wilson's last few days on earth. Shares a funny anecdote about how excited they were to see each other in Austin that Mo even forgot her bag at the airport. They retrieved the bags and shared Cash's king bed as they caught up about everything. On 5/11, she remembers how Mo spoke to Matt on the phone. When Mo left for her bike ride, Cash took a photo of her and sent it to her mom. Cash wrote, "your girl is in safe hands here in Austin." Mrs. Wilson lets out an audible sob at that painful memory.


"I have held a lot of guilt for not being able to protect her that night," Cash says. Cash says she did not realize that she gave chest compressions to her friend more than 100 times. She did not know that she was already dead when she was giving CPR. Cash says she moved back in to that apartment because she didn't want the darkness to take over that home. She calls it a safe place because she feels Mo there. But admits it’s challenging to live there. "Every time I park my car and I walk up my stairs, I have to talk myself into doing it. I have to tell myself that there is nothing that's scary on the other side of the door. Every time I go to put in a load of laundry, I see the dent that the bullet left when she was shot in the head. Every time I get something out of my pantry, I think of her standing right here.”


"It's been 554 days since she was killed and I cannot tell you how many times I have relived that night. Trying to figure out if there was something I could have done differently to protect her...I think about it every single day of my life. I've had panic attacks where I thought I was dying."


Cash says she was shocked to relive that moment in her testimony. Says the 10 minutes of CPR was the longest 10 minutes of her life. Says she has PTSD to this day: Can't look at ambulances. Can't hear sirens. She doesn't even like to see stains on surfaces.


Cash has been released. Defense does not ask her any questions.



Next witness: Matthew Wilson, Mo's brother. Cash gives a big hug to Mr. Wilson and Mrs. Wilson before taking her seat.


When asked if he can talk about his sister, Matthew immediately breaks down. He begins, "my sister was my closest confidant. My only sibling. Only person in the world that I could talk to about certain experiences that only she could understand. She was a really, really good listener.”


Matt says he spoke to her daily in the months before she died. He says she helped him with his depression. At one point, Matt says she suggested they text each other three of the best things that happened each day. They continued that tradition for weeks.


Matt says Mo was unique and multi-dimensional. He was excited to watch her cycling career take off.He remembers their last communication together: about cycling, of course. They discussed the possibility of Matt coming to a big race that Mo was competing in.


Matt remembers what it was like to get the word that Mo was killed. Dad and mom knocked on his apartment door. He says he instantly knew something serious was wrong."He said, we lost Moriah. And I just freaked out. I ran out of the building and ran up the stairs into the street, punching walls... my mom looks at me crying and I'm crying and she says, it gets worse. I thought maybe something happened to Cash, too. She looks at me and she says, she was murdered.""It changed my entire world instantly.”


Matt says he knows his pain was different than that of his parents. It was hard on him to not understand what their experience was compared to his. He remembers the family calling and telling others that Mo had been murdered. He could hear those conversations, but he couldn't stand to listen to his mom tell her closest friends what happened to his sister.


Matt says he misses seeing his sister blossom. He says she was just coming into her own. The last time he saw her was NYE 2022 when they went skiing. They discussed what was going on in their lives, helping each other navigate those difficulties. He misses having that person in his life.


"My sister had her life taken from her. For no reason at all. She'll never ride a bike again. She'll never take a 20-minute break from work to bake banana bread in her kitchen. She'll never get married. She'll never buy a home or have kids. She'll never meet someone she loves. I will never be able to see that all happen and see her enjoy her life and build her life."Matthew Wilson leaves the witness stand.



Next witness: Mrs. Karen Wilson, Mo's mother. Karen says that Mo had a "force in her" and she screamed so loud on the day she was born. She was a baby that wanted to move and climb and live and she was "stuck in this little body." She laughs as remembers her little baby.She realized the reason her baby was like that was because she "needed to move and live and laugh and shine and listen and be such a unique person.”


Karen says Mo was gentle, but strong. Karen made up a song about her, picturing her as an Amazon Woman. Karen says her daughter lived her life fully and never wasted any time, as if "she knew her life would be cut short.”


Karen says the Wilson family has lived in the same home for 30 years, a home that her husband built. Karen says the family and the community is so close. They were an outdoor family and Mo was "born to ride a bike." Karen says she saw it before Mo even saw it in herself.

Karen talking about the relationship among siblings: Said Mo and Matt never had any real rivalry. They just would love each other and would work through their problems. "They were so close, like best friends, always.”


Mo worked hard at everything, Karen says. She never liked to inconvenience people. Karen says that she thought of Mo when she witnessed how much work the prosecution was putting into making their case. Jokes that Mo probably would have hated how much work they were doing on her behalf.


Karen discussing her daughter's athletic career as a cyclist and a slalom skier. It was an ACL injury that damaged her skiing career. But the good news about knee injuries is that cycling is a good rehab. It became obvious that she was a gifted cyclist. She had a new dream now: to become a professional cyclist. Karen encouraged her the entire way."She did it. She did it. Her dream came true.”


She recounts seeing a State Trooper pull into the driveway. She first thought something happened to Matt. The trooper instead told him about Mo."It was the worst moment of my life. My whole life hasn't been the same since. My whole life is upside down. It will never be the same," Karen says through tears.


Karen says it has impacted her family, but the community has been good to them. Says grieving is difficult and different for everyone. But says Cash has brought so much to their lives. Says Cash is like a second daughter to her. Calls Cash and Mo soul sisters.


Karen to the jury: "When you love somebody so much, and if any of you are parents, you understand what that means... when you love someone that much, and its taken from you, the depth of the joy of that love is equal to the depth of the pain you have to live with. I just miss her so much and nothing here can bring her back and I knew that coming down here. I would have done anything to stand in the way of that bullet and I wasn't there to protect her. And she died all alone on the floor of her friend's house. She did not deserve a death like that.”



Next witness: Eric Wilson, Mo's Father. Eric says he was so proud of his daughter. He says she never had any difficulties with Moriah. He said Mo the made of every day of her life. He admired her for that. He says they texted a lot and they were very close.


"I think, as a father, you are kind of the protector, right? That's one of the roles we assume for our family and, of course, we can't be with adult children 24/7 or even very often sometimes. Moriah was away living in California but I think when I heard about it, I was on my way to a meeting in a town about 20 miles away and my colleague called me and said, 'you gotta come back. Karen is here with the state police.' My heart sank. I knew something happened to one of the kids. And by the time I got back, they were out in the parking lot and I got down there and Karen told me and my heart just sank. You can't explain the devastation that you go through.""You're living through a bad nightmare, a bad dream... this is not a bad nightmare, this is reality. I think about it every night.”


"It's so hard to watch [Karen and Matt] go through this," Eric says. "I'm so grateful Matt has done so well considering what he's had to live with.""She was a beautiful girl, a beautiful young woman. She was just coming into her own really as a cyclist in that last year and I knew that she wanted to be a professional cyclist. And she achieved that dream…”

Recounting the last few calls he had with his daughter, he says he was so happy for her and she was doing so well. She was winning every race that year and he says he made it a point to tell her that he was proud of her. He said he told her that she had "come to be what you're meant to be."


"It feels so right," he remembers Mo telling him about her pursuits of her professional cycling career."To have that taken, to a senseless, premeditated, planned... to take her life, for what? Why? For what? She didn't deserve that."



All witnesses have ended their testimonies. There will now be a 10 minute recess.



We are back.



The defense calls Mike Armstrong, Kaitlin Armstrong's father. Kaitlin doesn't show much emotion when her father walks up and takes his seat at the stand.


Mike describing Kaitlin's childhood, calling her a very special person who he's loved since the day she was born. He acknowledges his other daughter, who he calls Christie, and how much he loves her, too.


Describing Kaitlin's interest in yoga, Mike says she has always cared about health, well-being and other people's health and well-being. Says she eats a lot of vegan food and is very healthy. Says Kaitlin was athletic, ran track and played volleyball. Said she wanted to be a veterinarian.


Says that she "fiercely stuck up for her friends." Supported her family and would watch out for everybody. Says he was always in awe of her willingness to travel and go places and live without fear.


Describes her education and experience in real estate and banking. Says she was always very intelligent.About the murder trial: "It's a very difficult time. It's been a tragic time. But I also want to say that it's far worse for the Wilson family. I can't imagine what they are going through. I've always known that it's horrible what we are going through, but I know what they are going through is worse.”

Mike Armstrong has been dismissed.



Next witness: Dr. Judith Knotts. She works in the chaplaincy program for the Travis County Jail.Knotts says Armstrong has enriched her life beginning 7 months ago when she first met her. Says she feels honored to have met her. Says she meets with Kaitlin on Mondays and they have a Catholic church service together.


Kaitlin always read the gospel to the group. Kaitlin was very insightful about what they were reading. The group would talk it through.Knotts recalls a certain conversation:"I said to her, 'Kaitlin, what do you do all day [in isolation]?'""Well, I meditate, I do yoga and I read."Knotts helped her get new books to read in jail since she had read most of the ones already in the jail library. Knotts said it's been a delight to converse with her.


What words would be used to describe Kaitlin? Extremely positive. Very kind. But most impressive? Her empathy.

Knotts says Armstrong taught another inmate how to meditate to help deal with pain. These are super interesting details about Kaitlin's life behind bars that we had no idea about.



Next witness: Christine Armstrong, Kaitlin's sister. On the stand, Christine holds up the "I love you" sign in sign language. Kaitlin reciprocates the sign without smiling.

"My heart is broken for the Wilson family," Christine begins. Christine is 32, Kaitlin is 35. She is crying as she speaks. Defense asks her to speak clearly and into the mic. Christine says that her sister has always been her best friend. She was like "a second mother to me.”


Christine says her parents divorced when she was a baby. Kaitlin and Christine lived with their mother. Says Kaitlin had to grow up fast because she had to take on extra responsibilities. That's why she sees her almost like a parent.


"We were best friends," Christine says. Says Kaitlin was brilliant with finances and excelled at math. She was working in finance when she began doing yoga. Recalls her athleticism as a child and as an adult.


Christine says she moved to Austin in 2019. Kaitlin moved in 2012. Yoga was a huge part of her sister's life. "She's always been a loving, caring, beautiful, bright light.""She's just such a special person. She's always been such a special person. I've always looked up to you. I've always looked up to her. I just love her so much and I hate that she's been painted in this light. She's not a bad person. She's a really good person, she's always cared for other people and if you ask anyone who knows her, they would say the same thing.”

"I respect the verdict of the jury," Christine says when ADA Jones asks if she recognizes that Kaitlin Armstrong murdered Mo Wilson. Jones: "Did you give your sister your passport?

Christine: "No."

Jones: "So she stole your passport?"

Christine: "I didn't give it to her."

Jones: "So she stole your passport?"

Christine: "I didn't give it to her, so she must have taken it."

Jones: "Pass the witness."Witness dismissed.


The jury was dismissed. The legal teams went up to the Judge. Defense Attorney Rick Cofer explained Armstrong her rights as a defendant and asked her if she would like to testify on her own behalf. Kaitlin answered inaudibly. The judge asked her to speak up. Armstrong said that she chooses not to testify. Armstrong turns and faces the gallery and spends about five seconds looking out at it. I didn't see any conveyable emotion on her face. She then takes her seat. The jury is now being allowed back in.




-- Both the state and the defense have rested and closed their cases.

Jury will begin deliberating about sentencing beginning 9am CT tomorrow morning. Court is adjourned.

 
JerseyWasHome2 said:
But we don't know whether her family or friends feel she's guilty or not, and it's their right to paint her in a light of how they knew her. Just like her sister said she was great at conflict resolution - and to that I say, really? She couldn't resolve her own conflict in her head, nor did she apparently seek help for it - they both had a right to tell the world how they viewed this person before she committed her horrific act. This was their time to plead to the jury for a lighter sentence, I guess, is the goal, showing her "other side."
Click to expand...
I am a bit surprised that Dr Burrows never testified for the defense in either phase of the case. Makes me wonder what she was even there for.
 
JerseyWasHome2 said:
But we don't know whether her family or friends feel she's guilty or not, and it's their right to paint her in a light of how they knew her. Just like her sister said she was great at conflict resolution - and to that I say, really? She couldn't resolve her own conflict in her head, nor did she apparently seek help for it - they both had a right to tell the world how they viewed this person before she committed her horrific act. This was their time to plead to the jury for a lighter sentence, I guess, is the goal, showing her "other side."
Click to expand...

I don't doubt KA has been selling herself to her family & friends as being innocent -- set up by CS!

They came to court to learn the evidence for the first time-- like the rest of us.

I think if her family knew a month ago what they know today, they would have urged, pleaded with KA to take the guilty plea agreement offered to KA in October.

KA is very manipulating. She controlled her family too.

KA is cruel, cruel, dagger to the heart evil.

It wasn't enough for her to take the daughter/sister Mo, but she also made the Wilsons live through a trial and hear her screams and the gunshots that pierced her body.

Something very wrong with KA.

IMO, KA also uses yoga for a different purpose.

What is yoga and how does it work?​

Yoga is an ancient and complex practice, rooted in Indian philosophy. It began as a spiritual practice but has become popular as a way of promoting physical and mental well-being.

www.nccih.nih.gov

Yoga: Effectiveness and Safety

This fact sheet provides a general overview of yoga and suggests sources for more information.
www.nccih.nih.gov www.nccih.nih.gov
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

DNASolves

Who is DeKalb County John Doe (2022)?

Members online

... and 65 more.
Total: 3,414 (members: 66, guests: 3,348)

Online statistics

Members online
66
Guests online
3,348
Total visitors
3,414
Totals may include hidden visitors.

Forum statistics

Threads
604,339
Messages
18,170,851
Members
232,419
Latest member
Txwoman
Back
Top