TX - Moriah Wilson, 25, prized cyclist, fatally shot before race, Austin, May 2022

[SMK777]

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Hope that helps.

Yes, it definitely helps. Thanks very much!

 

[Spider92]

New statement from KA's father:

"We can't imagine the pain that the Wilson family is going through. Our hearts go out to them. We would like to be left to be able to focus on Kaitlin's safety and proving her innocence."

Per the Deputy U.S. Marshal interviewed, their focus has switched to New York. They are hoping they get tips from the public - maybe from an Uber or Lyft driver.

Noteworthy to me that he did NOT say "focus on finding Kaitlin"

 

[SMK777]

 

[SMK777]

Noteworthy to me that he did NOT say "focus on finding Kaitlin"

I wonder if he really believes she’s innocent as he’s said. I can’t see how he could.

 

[azure]

 

[SteveP]

A few thoughts

- LE definitely knows if she used her passport to fly internationally beyond LGA and/or board a ship at Cape Liberty in Bayonne. If she did, they are reserving that info because they don’t want to spook her out of wherever she went.

- LE probably knows if she used Uber or Lyft or an airport cab to leave LGA. If she used the subway or LIRR, it’s likely she used a personal card to get a Metrocard or ticket, so they’d know that too. It is very difficult to pay cash for a Metrocard in that station, and they’d have her on video in there anyway. … the two toughest exits for tracking would be if she took a bus, or if she had a friend pick her up.

- My theory on what she did: I think she used Uber or Lyft to head into Manhattan, probably to somewhere known in yoga circles. I think she then paid cash for a performance bike or potentially stole one. If I’m her, and I have her degree of bike fitness and the clothes on my back, and it’s May and the weather is beautiful - I’m riding north. (what I’m about to describe would be dangerous and freezing in the winter)

- I think she is biking through upstate NY toward Canada. She’s originally from Michigan. This will feel like familiar terrain and temperatures. Up through the Hudson Valley to start. Hostels, camping, crashing with people in the Adirondack community. Fake name, shorter hair, backpack full of cash.

- She can pass into Canada on a bike without being stopped, much less needing a passport.

will be curious to see what happens next.

I like your thoughts, and could see that as being a possibility. The only thoughts I have that make me less than sold on the idea are that if she bought a performance bike, she either would have gotten it from a bike shop or an individual, and I would think people at pro bike shops are probably all riders as well, as would be probably anyone selling such a bike through an ad, and I think it is highly likely that anyone in the biking community is probably familiar with this case by now, and may recognize her. I suppose it is possible that she has a contact in the area who may have lent her a bike. My other thought is that NYC to Niagara Falls or any other point in Canada is probably a little over 400 miles, minimum, and despite being a "participant" in races, according to CS, and despite what many here seem to believe, I am not sure she is physically fit enough to try to make that trek alone, while also lugging necessary bed roll or sleeping bag, tent, food, extra clothing etc. Not saying she couldn't do it, but not convinced she could. JMO

 

[Sundog]

I wonder if he really believes she’s innocent as he’s said. I can’t see how he could.

We don't know what KA told him, she may be saying she is being framed or something else.

 

[SMK777]

We don't know what KA told him, she may be saying she is being framed or something else.

Yes, good point.

 

[SMK777]

I like your thoughts, and could see that as being a possibility. The only thoughts I have that make me less than sold on the idea are that if she bought a performance bike, she either would have gotten it from a bike shop or an individual, and I would think people at pro bike shops are probably all riders as well, as would be probably anyone selling such a bike through an ad, and I think it is highly likely that anyone in the biking community is probably familiar with this case by now, and may recognize her. I suppose it is possible that she has a contact in the area who may have lent her a bike. My other thought is that NYC to Niagara Falls or any other point in Canada is probably a little over 400 miles, minimum, and despite being a "participant" in races, according to CS, I am not sure she is physically fit to try to make that trek alone, while also lugging necessary bed roll or sleeping bag, tent, food, extra clothing etc. Not saying she couldn't do it, but not convinced she could. JMO

Do you think it’s possible that she got a false passport and flew out of the US undetected?

 

[muddlehead]

A few thoughts

- LE definitely knows if she used her passport to fly internationally beyond LGA and/or board a ship at Cape Liberty in Bayonne. If she did, they are reserving that info because they don’t want to spook her out of wherever she went.

- LE probably knows if she used Uber or Lyft or an airport cab to leave LGA. If she used the subway or LIRR, it’s likely she used a personal card to get a Metrocard or ticket, so they’d know that too. It is very difficult to pay cash for a Metrocard in that station, and they’d have her on video in there anyway. … the two toughest exits for tracking would be if she took a bus, or if she had a friend pick her up.

- My theory on what she did: I think she used Uber or Lyft to head into Manhattan, probably to somewhere known in yoga circles. I think she then paid cash for a performance bike or potentially stole one. If I’m her, and I have her degree of bike fitness and the clothes on my back, and it’s May and the weather is beautiful - I’m riding north. (what I’m about to describe would be dangerous and freezing in the winter)

- I think she is biking through upstate NY toward Canada. She’s originally from Michigan. This will feel like familiar terrain and temperatures. Up through the Hudson Valley to start. Hostels, camping, crashing with people in the Adirondack community. Fake name, shorter hair, backpack full of cash.

- She can pass into Canada on a bike without being stopped, much less needing a passport.

will be curious to see what happens next.

Well thought out.
She's a fitness biker. So, she does what she knows. Sounds perfect.
Except to me, one flaw.
She's too likely to run into someone along the way who will blow her cover.
You and I have no idea who she is.
Someone on a bike trail, in the biking world, somewhere, just might think
"What's up w/this attractive, super fit, obviously experienced cyclist traveling alone to Canada ..."
and put 2 and 2 together.

 

[SteveP]

Do you think it’s possible that she got a false passport and flew out of the US undetected?

No. I just do not see that as remotely likely, given security around flying and airports post 9/11. I believe if she flew out of the country, it was with her own passport, and LE are aware of it. JMO

 

[Herat]

I like your thoughts, and could see that as being a possibility. The only thoughts I have that make me less than sold on the idea are that if she bought a performance bike, she either would have gotten it from a bike shop or an individual, and I would think people at pro bike shops are probably all riders as well, as would be probably anyone selling such a bike through an ad, and I think it is highly likely that anyone in the biking community is probably familiar with this case by now, and would recognize her. I suppose it is possible that she has a contact in the area who may have lent her a bike. My other thought is that NYC to Niagara Falls or any other point in Canada is probably a little over 400 miles, minimum, and despite being a "participant" in races, according to CS, I am not sure she is physically fit to try to make that trek alone, while also lugging necessary bed roll or sleeping bag, tent, food, extra clothing etc. Not saying she couldn't do it, but not convinced she could. JMO

So what is she going to do in Canada?

She is going to need an occupation, whether it be low-key yoga instructor, cycling coach? Not real estate or anything that requires you to be licensed.

She won't have a vehicle unless she pays cash, and licenses it under a false identity. I think a $10K or so cash transaction would something used car dealers might have a clue about and LE should be looking for.

Unless she has an accomplice that can hide her and provide transportation and assist in fake ID and documents.

All of that should have left a trail somewhere. If this was as calculated as postulated, she could have arranged fake ID's, travel, accommodations, possibly even a job via a burner phone with a friend.

If she grew up in Michigan, the border areas like the Toronto to Niagara Falls might be familiar territory.

And in that region, she is fairly close to her family. For whatever that means.

 

[SteveP]

I would be surprised if US Marshalls do not have some investigators working this case in the Detroit area.

 

[Herat]

Is there any reason to think she has a slightly Texan accent? I think Canadians are pretty good at picking up American accents and any Texan to her accent would get noticed.

 

[Charlot123]

According to the following article, the Austin police management system (PMS) listed her birthday month incorrectly. So she was released since the birth month did not match the warrant. Sounds to me like there was a clerical error when someone entered the info into the PMS back in 2018, MOO.

Kaitlin Armstrong was mistakenly freed from custody, says Austin Police - Canadian Cycling Magazine

Texas resident wanted for murder of Moriah Wilson

cyclingmagazine.ca

- Of course it could have been a mistake, some tired clerk could have easily typed 10 instead of 11

- KA was a yoga instructor, she could have known something at the PD (forgetting to pay for a botox looks like such a tiny thing to me)

- there might still be a discrepancy between her DOB in different documents; why I am insistent about this possibility is because she is trying to leave the country

 

[SMK777]

No. I just do not see that as remotely likely, given security around flying and airports post 9/11. I believe if she flew out of the country, it was with her own passport, and LE are aware of it. JMO

Do you think she may have risked that, or is it really too risky? If the US Marshals saw, for example, that she had taken a flight to the Bahamas, or to London, they could just call ahead and have her arrested when her flight landed…..

 

[SMK777]

Is there any reason to think she has a slightly Texan accent? I think Canadians are pretty good at picking up American accents and any Texan to her accent would get noticed.

Probably, yes.

 

[SteveP]

Probably, yes.

Do we know how long KA has lived in Texas?

 

[Marysmith]

Do you think she may have risked that, or is it really too risky? If the US Marshals saw, for example, that she had taken a flight to the Bahamas, or to London, they could just call ahead and have her arrested when her flight landed…..

But they didn’t put out the warrant until after she’s now confirmed to have flown to JFK I believe…

 

[SMK777]

Do we know how long KA has lived in Texas?

Not sure….