TX - Moriah Wilson, 25, Cyclist Fatally Shot Before Race, Austin, 2022 *arrest* #5

[jash]

Cofer claims that before leaving Austin, Armstrong had consulted a lawyer to ask if she'd be in any legal trouble if she left. The arrest warrant for Armstrong had not yet been issued and so, according to Cofer, the lawyer encouraged Armstrong to be with family and to not talk with Strickland, who at the time was a potential suspect for murder.

Even at the time of her flight to Costa Rica, there was "no live, active warrant for her arrest," Cofer points out.

The arrest warrant was signed on May 17th at 10:40pm. It was filed in court on May 19th at 8:20am. https://www.velonews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Arrest-Warrant-Kaitlin-Armstrong.jpg?width=730

KA was dropped off at the airport in Newark on May 18th, for a 5:09pm flight (Kaitlin Armstrong Captured in Costa Rica).

Is a warrant considered live/active at the time it's signed, or only after it's filed with the court?

 

[ilovewings]

t has been reported that KA traveled overseas for a few trips…but did she live abroad for years as Cofer said? He also said she contacted a lawyer to see if she could leave before she left…who was it? IMO lots of spin…

Defense attorney expects 'the government's own evidence will acquit Kaitlin Armstrong...she will be found not guilty' in Moriah Wilson murder case

Cofer claims that before leaving Austin, Armstrong had consulted a lawyer to ask if she'd be in any legal trouble if she left. The arrest warrant for Armstrong had not yet been issued and so, according to Cofer, the lawyer encouraged Armstrong to be with family and to not talk with Strickland, who at the time was a potential suspect for murder.

Even at the time of her flight to Costa Rica, there was "no live, active warrant for her arrest," Cofer points out.

"All told, she's lived years of her life abroad. It makes perfect sense that when her life is turned upside down, destroyed and in a state of shock, she goes to Costa Rica to do yoga stuff."

I thought KA attorney was extremely arrogant- he is what makes me dislike criminal defense attorneys: twisting things around and making the potential perp, the victim.
this guy is going to put MW on trial- trash her and all of that kind of garbage we have seen way too often.

 

[JerseyWasHome2]

The arrest warrant was signed on May 17th at 10:40pm. It was filed in court on May 19th at 8:20am. https://www.velonews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Arrest-Warrant-Kaitlin-Armstrong.jpg?width=730

KA was dropped off at the airport in Newark on May 18th, for a 5:09pm flight (Kaitlin Armstrong Captured in Costa Rica).

Is a warrant considered live/active at the time it's signed, or only after it's filed with the court?

Wow, good question. If it took a day and a half to be filed, ughhhhhhhhh. That’s insane and is a huge loophole. At what point would they be actively looking for her, 10m on the night of May 17 or did they have to sit tight til May 19 at 8:21 am? All news sources said she had left while an active warrant was out for her.

 

[Sundog]

Ha! I made this very comment a thread or two back, when we first learned of him. I cannot imagine this trial playing out without him as a witness, though I do not see how he could be compelled to be a part of it. What is the likelihood that he would come here to testify? I assume his expenses would be paid if he was asked to testify, but I am not sure that he isn't over there, instead of over here, for reasons other than just love of the lifestyle. I loved that he noted that Costa Rica is a good place to hide out, and a place for the wanted, and the unwanted. I do think he would be the media star sideshow of the trial, if he were to appear. Every word out of the guy's mouth is a sound byte. JMO

IIRC, on Dateline they said that he was born and raised in that beach area in Costa Rica, and he described how it used to be pretty isolated when he was growing up, how it was impossible to get there by land before they built the road, that people had to get there by boat. Since they built the road and access by land became possible, then it grew to quite a tourist spot.

 

[cujenn81]

IANAL, but I’m pretty sure an arrest warrant becomes active or “valid” as soon as the judge signs off on it. OTOH, TSA (or other government agencies) likely won’t know the warrant exists until the warrant is filed with the court and logged into the system. Or LE issues a BOLO or something. I doubt LE knew they had a runner on their hands at that particular point and time, though.

 

[Gypsy Road]

From Cofer, <modsnip - namecalling not permitted>:

Evidence such as the ballistic report that ties Armstrong's gun to the killing. The report concludes that the potential for a match was 'significant,' but not concrete.

"Ballistic analysis is functionally a junk science. It is a type of witchcraft if you will," Cofer says.

[..]

As for the appearance changes, Cofer says there's no evidence to indicate that Armstrong had any plastic surgery.

Defense attorney expects 'the government's own evidence will acquit Kaitlin Armstrong...she will be found not guilty' in Moriah Wilson murder case

In a two-hour NBC Dateline special, attorney Rick Cofer alludes to evidence that may exonerate Armstrong

www.cyclingweekly.com

Ballistic analysis is junk science he says? Witch craft if you will? Omg. Arrogant much?

I think his defense is junk science.

 

[Marysmith]

I just wanted the Dateline episode. So CS dropped Mo off and just drove away? Didn’t even watch her go in the door or up the stairs even?

 

[steeltowngirl]

I just wanted the Dateline episode. So CS dropped Mo off and just drove away? Didn’t even watch her go in the door or up the stairs even?

Yep. Makes me wonder if he had a feeling he was being tailed by KA, and was super anxious to get out of there.

 

[Charlot123]

I thought KA attorney was extremely arrogant- he is what makes me dislike criminal defense attorneys: twisting things around and making the potential perp, the victim.
this guy is going to put MW on trial- trash her and all of that kind of garbage we have seen way too often.

I would agree with another poster in that I view him as a clever, logical, if nerdish, person. It is the latter part that is often taken for arrogance, even narcissism. IRL, such people are probably unusually blunt, that’s all. RC gets paid for pulling accused criminals out of jail, well, someone has to do it.

I feel that in some odd way, Cofer resembles CS. Not physically, but both possess some cool logic to them.

However, if Cofer’s only alternative for a villain is CS, it doesn’t fly with me. CS, JMO, would have only gained, massively, from a serious public relationship with MW. For advertisement, they would have been a golden couple, not to forget that MW was young, attractive, highly educated, and had a lot of potential. Her murder deprived CS of everything he worked for. He, probably, is the person with the least motive to kill MW.

I suspect that Rick Cofer knows it. He relies on emotional response of the jury. Many women dated cheaters, and probably, it would be hard to find someone who would feel much compassion towards CS. (I used to, before I found out about his lawsuit. Now I think he is definitely not a local hero, but not a murderer, either). Rick Cofer relies on human emotion, transference, this is why I think MW’s family needs to make another movie, about Moriah.

 

[Marysmith]

I would agree with another poster in that I view him as a clever, logical, if nerdish, person. It is the latter part that is often taken for arrogance, even narcissism. IRL, such people are probably unusually blunt, that’s all. RC gets paid for pulling accused criminals out of jail, well, someone has to do it.

I feel that in some odd way, Cofer resembles CS. Not physically, but both possess some cool logic to them.

However, if Cofer’s only alternative for a villain is CS, it doesn’t fly with me. CS, JMO, would have only gained, massively, from a serious public relationship with MW. For advertisement, they would have been a golden couple, not to forget that MW was young, attractive, highly educated, and had a lot of potential. Her murder deprived CS of everything he worked for. He, probably, is the person with the least motive to kill MW.

I suspect that Rick Cofer knows it. He relies on emotional response of the jury. Many women dated cheaters, and probably, it would be hard to find someone who would feel much compassion towards CS. (I used to, before I found out about his lawsuit). Rick Cofer relies on transference, this is why I think MW’s family needs to make another movie, about Moriah.

What CS lawsuit are you referring to? Sorry, I’m not aware of that.

 

[Charlot123]

What CS lawsuit are you referring to? Sorry, I’m not aware of that.

He and Kaitlin invested into some land, and when his business didn’t take off, he sued his realtors for $ 1 million. He retracted the lawsuit after he made that known statement after MW’s death (the one in which he apologized for his role in the situation). Dateline doesn’t get into details.

 

[Marysmith]

He and Kaitlin invested into some land, and when his business didn’t take off, he sued his realtors for $ 1 million. He retracted the lawsuit after he made that known statement after MW’s death (the one in which he apologized for his role in the situation). Dateline doesn’t get into details.

Oh ok. I thought it was a new one.
Personally I don’t think he’s a kind person and never did and I feel bad for Mo that was he was it seems swindling her. Most people have experienced that. It’s just awful how it turned out for her.

 

[Charlot123]

Oh ok. I thought it was a new one.
Personally I don’t think he’s a kind person and never did and I feel bad for Mo that was he was it seems swindling her. Most people have experienced that. It’s just awful how it turned out for her.

He is a guy like many others, just born with physique and metabolism fit for biking. Emotionally and morally, a dime a dozen. And I feel sorry for Mo, too, were she not so young, she'd not have fallen for him. But, for his role, he already paid - by losing everything, career, sponsors, prestige, money, all. This should be enough. KA, who has been accused of killing, and I believe, is a killer and a massive liar, has to pay her due. Also, of these two, maybe CS is still able to feel remorse. Had Kaitlin remained in her tropical paradise, I believe, with time she'd simply forget what she had done, and just enjoy life.

 

[steeltowngirl]

He is a guy like many others, just born with physique and metabolism fit for biking. Emotionally and morally, a dime a dozen. And I feel sorry for Mo, too, were she not so young, she'd not have fallen for him. But, for his role, he already paid - by losing everything, career, sponsors, prestige, money, all. This should be enough. KA, who has been accused of killing, and I believe, is a killer and a massive liar, has to pay her due. Also, of these two, maybe CS is still able to feel remorse. Had Kaitlin remained in her tropical paradise, I believe, with time she'd simply forget what she had done, and just enjoy life.

CS is an instrumental witness to the complexities of his relationship with KA, as well as a being present in the final hours of MW’s life.

Any truthful information that he may bring forward to help achieve justice for MW could go a long way in redeeming himself in the public eye.

jmo

 

[ilovewings]

CS is an instrumental witness to the complexities of his relationship with KA, as well as a being present in the final hours of MW’s life.

Any truthful information that he may bring forward to help achieve justice for MW could go a long way in redeeming himself in the public eye.

jmo

He is a cad though, isn't he? just sayin'

 

[Spyderlady]

I wish we knew more about CS true relationship with KA. Do we know for sure she was living full-time at CS house? The Dateline show gave me the impression it had evolved from a romantic relationship to more like a business relationship at the time MW was killed. OTOH that doesn't mean KA viewed it that way. I hope we get answers to this situation at trial.

 

[steeltowngirl]

He is a cad though, isn't he? just sayin'

100%

jmo

 

[Sundog]

Yep. Makes me wonder if he had a feeling he was being tailed by KA, and was super anxious to get out of there.

Could be, although I don't see how this fits with his pulling over his motorcycle a few blocks away and texting KS about dinner, etc. Seems that if he thought KS had been tailing him, then he wouldn't send the lying/misleading texts.

 

[Sundog]

CS is an instrumental witness to the complexities of his relationship with KA, as well as a being present in the final hours of MW’s life.

Any truthful information that he may bring forward to help achieve justice for MW could go a long way in redeeming himself in the public eye.

jmo

CS has lied so much to everyone involved in this case, including LE, that I don't know how anyone could believe much that he has to say at this point. On the witness stand, he will be confronted with all of his lies and I doubt much of anything he says will be taken seriously by a jury.

 

[steeltowngirl]

Could be, although I don't see how this fits with his pulling over his motorcycle a few blocks away and texting KS about dinner, etc. Seems that if he thought KS had been tailing him, then he wouldn't send the lying/misleading texts.

Sure he would. If he suspected she might be following him, but wasn’t sure, he would be anxious to text her and have her respond with reassurance that she was actually at home and all was well. And he’d be rushing home after dropping MW off, getting away from the apartment as quickly as he could.