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

[SMK777]

It's been reported that she didn't book any flights from EWR in her name. But as far as we know, they haven't ruled out that she used another name.

Right, the one US Marshal says ( in one of the linked articles from the past 48 hours) that she could possibly be traveling under an assumed name.

 

[caradana]

So could she have done it as a decoy? Or do you believe she intended to fly out and perhaps did under a pseudonym ?

Walking through it: she could’ve gotten a DL with a fake name in NYC, bought a ticket online using a Visa gift card she paid cash for, and made it through TSA. That said: I am reminded of this:

That’s a shot of two of the 9/11 terrorists that morning, passing through security at the airport in Portland, ME.
This is a pic from 21 years ago at a secondary US airport. By no means EWR.

Where I am going with this: if she passed through TSA with ID under any name, they have excellent pictures of her. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn they have a facial scan of her. I am very confident TSA and DHS do not want it commonly known what kind of technology and AI are running at those gateways, because it’d send civil rights advocates to the moon, but I think we can safely guess that they know, without question, if that woman passed through TSA under any name and ID that day. … let’s hope the tech has come as far in 21 years as it is capable of coming …

 

[GDawg89]

She may have spent 4 days taking random Uber trips.

Perhaps she fired the weapon just as the guy was raising the garage door, a crazy noisy coincidence.

JMO

Surely, garage door is possible, they may have been watching TV, playing music louder than normal.

 

[SMK777]

… she went to EWR to do one of six things.
1) Board an international flight. This was May 18 - was her warrant issued May 18? Possible she made it out before her passport got flagged? If she did this they know where she went.
2) Board a domestic flight. Texas DL not yet flagged at TSA? Higher likelihood that she could get through with a fake drivers license and ticket, but even then, TSA has pictures of her and facial recognition and they know where she went and if she boarded.
3) Rent a car. This is the one that intrigues me. I think any fake drivers license, anyone’s credit card, a very long-duration booking, she would’ve ridden a shuttle bus to most of the lots, low probability she’s on camera if she never entered a terminal …
4) Take a shuttle bus to NYC or Philadelphia, Coach USA or similar. She would’ve been memorable to a driver appearing without at least a carry-on.
5) Take NJ Transit. Difficult without an app and a cc.
6) Stood on the curb and got picked up by someone else.

Great list.

#1 is still possible because my posted article today contained a quote from a U.S. Marshal saying they were continuing to check flights that might have her on the passenger list.

I guess time will tell about the other enumerated points. Hopefully, soon.

 

[SMK777]

Walking through it: she could’ve gotten a DL with a fake name in NYC, bought a ticket online using a Visa gift card she paid cash for, and made it through TSA. That said: I am reminded of this:

View attachment 348542

That’s a shot of two of the 9/11 terrorists that morning, passing through security at the airport in Portland, ME.
This is a pic from 21 years ago at a secondary US airport. By no means EWR.

Where I am going with this: if she passed through TSA with ID under any name, they have excellent pictures of her. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn they have a facial scan of her. I am very confident TSA and DHS do not want it commonly known what kind of technology and AI are running at those gateways, because it’d send civil rights advocates to the moon, but I think we can safely guess that they know, without question, if that woman passed through TSA under any name and ID that day. … let’s hope the tech has come as far in 21 years as it is capable of coming …

Wow. If she did do this, it’s only a matter of time before they find the images. It’s sure not like the old low-tech days where you could remain anonymous easily.

 

[GDawg89]

… she went to EWR to do one of six things.
1) Board an international flight. This was May 18 - was her warrant issued May 18? Possible she made it out before her passport got flagged? If she did this they know where she went.
2) Board a domestic flight. Texas DL not yet flagged at TSA? Higher likelihood that she could get through with a fake drivers license and ticket, but even then, TSA has pictures of her and facial recognition and they know where she went and if she boarded.
3) Rent a car. This is the one that intrigues me. I think any fake drivers license, anyone’s credit card, a very long-duration booking, she would’ve ridden a shuttle bus to most of the lots, low probability she’s on camera if she never entered a terminal …
4) Take a shuttle bus to NYC or Philadelphia, Coach USA or similar. She would’ve been memorable to a driver appearing without at least a carry-on.
5) Take NJ Transit. Difficult without an app and a cc.
6) Stood on the curb and got picked up by someone else.

I also believe LE Agents are pulling records of all cars rented from Newark Liberty on 5/18 - 5/19 (I think all rental car exits have cameras, camera storage run time not sure). Looking at all DL's. Then running a filter at each rental car company where a car was returned at a different location by a female ages 25-40 maybe. I guess there is a possibility someone else rented a car for her but that seems way out there. AMOO

 

[SMK777]

I guess there is a possibility someone else rented a car for her but that seems way out there. AMOO

Yes, I think as the US MARSHAL press and images circulate through the media, friends and family will feel less willing to help her, because of the legal consequences.

Even when Vicky and Casey White paid that homeless man to check into the motel for them, they still managed to slip up, and it came out in the end.

 

[SpanishInquisition]

Walking through it: she could’ve gotten a DL with a fake name in NYC, bought a ticket online using a Visa gift card she paid cash for, and made it through TSA. That said: I am reminded of this:

View attachment 348542

That’s a shot of two of the 9/11 terrorists that morning, passing through security at the airport in Portland, ME.
This is a pic from 21 years ago at a secondary US airport. By no means EWR.

Where I am going with this: if she passed through TSA with ID under any name, they have excellent pictures of her. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn they have a facial scan of her. I am very confident TSA and DHS do not want it commonly known what kind of technology and AI are running at those gateways, because it’d send civil rights advocates to the moon, but I think we can safely guess that they know, without question, if that woman passed through TSA under any name and ID that day. … let’s hope the tech has come as far in 21 years as it is capable of coming …

I never considered it any secret, like I've been through that multiple times out of the Port Of Los Angeles for cruises. When you enter port one of the steps you have to do is stand at a certain spot specifically for facial recognition, which ends up being kind of a convenience feature since it is quicker and no paperwork so you can just be on your way and leave once you get off the ship.

Biometrics

Securing America's Borders

biometrics.cbp.gov

 

[jash]

#1 is still possible because my posted article today contained a quote from a U.S. Marshal saying they were continuing to check flights that might have her on the passenger list.

His quote in that article was not crystal clear but the USMS news release from 2 days ago was more definitive. But he did say they were still going through video surveillance from EWR trying to locate her so hopefully they will know one way or another soon whether she flew under a different name.

A search of outbound flights at the Newark airport revealed no reservations had been made under the name Kaitlin Marie Armstrong.

U.S. Marshals Continue Search for Austin Homicide Suspect Sought in Cyclist’s Murder

U.S. Marshals Continue Search for Austin Homicide Suspect Sought in Cyclist’s Murder

www.usmarshals.gov

 

[jash]

I never considered it any secret, like I've been through that multiple times out of the Port Of Los Angeles for cruises. When you enter port one of the steps you have to do is stand at a certain spot specifically for facial recognition, which ends up being kind of a convenience feature since it is quicker and no paperwork so you can just be on your way and leave once you get off the ship.

Biometrics

Securing America's Borders

biometrics.cbp.gov

This is good to know. Earlier on I wondered if KA had managed to board a cruise ship out of NJ.

 

[SMK777]

His quote in that article was not crystal clear but the USMS news release from 2 days ago was more definitive. But he did say they were still going through video surveillance from EWR trying to locate her so hopefully they will know one way or another soon whether she flew under a different name.

A search of outbound flights at the Newark airport revealed no reservations had been made under the name Kaitlin Marie Armstrong.

U.S. Marshals Continue Search for Austin Homicide Suspect Sought in Cyclist’s Murder

U.S. Marshals Continue Search for Austin Homicide Suspect Sought in Cyclist’s Murder

www.usmarshals.gov

I was referring to this:

Now, authorities fear she may have left the country after being spotted atNew Jersey's Newark International Airport four days later, on May 18, one day after a warrant was issued for her arrest.

But did Armstrong board a flight, or was it all a ruse to throw police off her trail?

“We've still been unable to locate a flight that was under the name of Kaitlin Armstrong,” Deputy U.S. Marshal Brandon Filla told Inside Edition, also noting authorities were, “Looking at video surveillance, trying to narrow down Kaitlin Armstrong amongst thousands of visitors that come in and out of that airport on a daily basis.”

*BOLDED RED SEEMS TO IMPLY THEY ARE STILL LOOKING *

Where Is Kaitlin Armstrong? US Marshal Says Search for Fugitive Yoga Teacher Is Ongoing

Kaitlin Armstrong is accused of murdering her love rival in Austin, Texas, before fleeing to New York, and then being spotted at an airport in New Jersey.

www.insideedition.com

 

[Cryptic]

This is good to know. Earlier on I wondered if KA had managed to board a cruise ship out of NJ.

That is really worth pursuing.

Cruising out instead of flying out could bring the possibility that mega super computer data mining and AI algorithms for suspicious ticket purchases related to terror concerns are not as stringent with cruise ships as they are with aircraft. Likewise, ID requirements maybe more relaxed.

Maybe ask cruise lines to see if any female passengers did not re-board the ship after port calls in Canada, Bermuda, Bahamas etc. ? If so, could you send a photo of the passenger?

 

[minneolo]

So I am still stuck on the language of the US Marshall statement: that KA had been dropped off at EWR.

I think this suggests:
+ They have direct evidence that KA was transported to EWR.
+ They do not have direct evidence of KA being in the airport.

My speculation:
+ KA connected with a friend / family member (for ease - call them PersonA) when she arrived in NYC prior to the news really covering the story of Mo’s death. I would guess that KA told PersonA that she was having a family / relationship crisis (or similar story) and needed somewhere to stay for several days.
+ IMHO, the smartest play would be for PersonA to be someone outside of her closest ring of contacts. Maybe someone she was close to in the past, etc - such that they would not be part of LE’s first round(s) of calls
+ KA stayed with PersonA for a few days while gathering her thoughts and making a plan. I suspect that KA spoke to her dad during this period of time
+ After a few days, KA decides to leave NYC / PersonA’s place, either due to news reports about MO’s murder or other factors
+ PersonA agrees to drop KA off at EWR. Later, when the news breaks, PersonA contacts LE. While PersonA is close to KA, they have no interest in aiding / abetting. In fact, they probably had no idea KA was in legal trouble while KA was staying with them
+ From EWR, KA rents a car (@caradana - good theory!) with a stolen, fake or borrowed ID and a pre-paid visa. She has a general plan / destination in mind.

IMO, this is more plausible / easier to execute than an international flight. International flights have several layers of security. While the idea of non-extradition sounds appealing, it takes a bunch of cash and more complicated documentation to live in a foreign country than to hide out somewhere in the US.

I still think there’s a decent chance that there’s self-harm in play - given all the intrigue / travel we know about is from before the media reports / pressure was on.

 

[caradana]

So I am still stuck on the language of the US Marshall statement: that KA had been dropped off at EWR.

I think this suggests:
+ They have direct evidence that KA was transported to EWR.
+ They do not have direct evidence of KA being in the airport.

My speculation:
+ KA connected with a friend / family member (for ease - call them PersonA) when she arrived in NYC prior to the news really covering the story of Mo’s death. I would guess that KA told PersonA that she was having a family / relationship crisis (or similar story) and needed somewhere to stay for several days.
+ IMHO, the smartest play would be for PersonA to be someone outside of her closest ring of contacts. Maybe someone she was close to in the past, etc - such that they would not be part of LE’s first round(s) of calls
+ KA stayed with PersonA for a few days while gathering her thoughts and making a plan. I suspect that KA spoke to her dad during this period of time
+ After a few days, KA decides to leave NYC / PersonA’s place, either due to news reports about MO’s murder or other factors
+ PersonA agrees to drop KA off at EWR. Later, when the news breaks, PersonA contacts LE. While PersonA is close to KA, they have no interest in aiding / abetting. In fact, they probably had no idea KA was in legal trouble while KA was staying with them
+ From EWR, KA rents a car (@caradana - good theory!) with a stolen, fake or borrowed ID and a pre-paid visa. She has a general plan / destination in mind.

IMO, this is more plausible / easier to execute than an international flight. International flights have several layers of security. While the idea of non-extradition sounds appealing, it takes a bunch of cash and more complicated documentation to live in a foreign country than to hide out somewhere in the US.

I still think there’s a decent chance that there’s self-harm in play - given all the intrigue / travel we know about is from before the media reports / pressure was on.

Like this analysis a lot. This story has a Choose Your Own Adventure element to it, where we all put on our KA glasses and say, dude! Would I have flown to Thailand direct from LGA on May 14 when my passport was clearly unencumbered and I connected no problem at Hobby? (Turn to page 56). Would I have hit up some rando guy I knew from college and who is disconnected from cycling to meet me in NYC so I can steal his wallet? (Turn to page 112). Would I be sighted at an airport after a warrant was issued so I could show off my witchiness and disappear in a poof of smoke with a yoga mat and Toto? (Turn to page 39).

 

[SMK777]

So I am still stuck on the language of the US Marshall statement: that KA had been dropped off at EWR.

I think this suggests:
+ They have direct evidence that KA was transported to EWR.
+ They do not have direct evidence of KA being in the airport.

My speculation:
+ KA connected with a friend / family member (for ease - call them PersonA) when she arrived in NYC prior to the news really covering the story of Mo’s death. I would guess that KA told PersonA that she was having a family / relationship crisis (or similar story) and needed somewhere to stay for several days.
+ IMHO, the smartest play would be for PersonA to be someone outside of her closest ring of contacts. Maybe someone she was close to in the past, etc - such that they would not be part of LE’s first round(s) of calls
+ KA stayed with PersonA for a few days while gathering her thoughts and making a plan. I suspect that KA spoke to her dad during this period of time
+ After a few days, KA decides to leave NYC / PersonA’s place, either due to news reports about MO’s murder or other factors
+ PersonA agrees to drop KA off at EWR. Later, when the news breaks, PersonA contacts LE. While PersonA is close to KA, they have no interest in aiding / abetting. In fact, they probably had no idea KA was in legal trouble while KA was staying with them
+ From EWR, KA rents a car (@caradana - good theory!) with a stolen, fake or borrowed ID and a pre-paid visa. She has a general plan / destination in mind.

IMO, this is more plausible / easier to execute than an international flight. International flights have several layers of security. While the idea of non-extradition sounds appealing, it takes a bunch of cash and more complicated documentation to live in a foreign country than to hide out somewhere in the US.

I still think there’s a decent chance that there’s self-harm in play - given all the intrigue / travel we know about is from before the media reports / pressure was on.

Very good theorizing. It makes a lot of sense, given the information we have.

I would agree that as time passes, self-harm/suicide is a danger. To be 34 and facing the rest of your life as a fugitive wanted for first-degree murder, and having lost your home, work, and man, and unable to see your family— well, it can’t be easy.

I just read a headline yesterday (from back in January) that a Texas fugitive who was wanted for his wife’s murder was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, in a Travel Park in Florida:

Texas fugitive wanted in wife’s death shoots, kills self in Florida, deputies say

A Texas man on the run after being accused of killing his wife in October 2020 was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Marion County, according to the sheriff’s office.

www.clickorlando.com

 

[minneolo]

Like this analysis a lot. This story has a Choose Your Own Adventure element to it, where we all put on our KA glasses and say, dude! Would I have flown to Thailand direct from LGA on May 14 when my passport was clearly unencumbered and I connected no problem at Hobby? (Turn to page 56). Would I have hit up some rando guy I knew from college and who is disconnected from cycling to meet me in NYC so I can steal his wallet? (Turn to page 112). Would I be sighted at an airport after a warrant was issued so I could show off my witchiness and disappear in a poof of smoke with a yoga mat and Toto? (Turn to page 39).

YES. It is absolutely ‘choose your own adventure’.

I just fear that there are really only two endgames: self-harm or prosecution. Just unclear how many ‘adventures’ are to be had before we end up there.

 

[JerseyWasHome2]

The cruise ship idea could be super risky for her, though. What is the US's relation regarding criminals with places like Bermuda, Bahamas, etc., if she were to get on a cruise ship and land in one of those places? Could US authorities be waiting for her there? She'd be trapped. She'd have to jump into the ocean if she felt they were onto her or try to slip past them at the port.

I also ask (as I have no idea what the answer is) - how many criminals escape to foreign countries? I seem to read that a lot here, that folks think so and so must be in Mexico or Canada by now, and then we read they had no elaborate plan and were nowhere near any such place when they're finally apprehended.

 

[caradana]

Very good theorizing. It makes a lot of sense, given the information we have.

I would agree that as time passes, self-harm/suicide is a danger. To be 34 and facing the rest of your life as a fugitive wanted for first-degree murder, and having lost your home, work, and man, and unable to see your family— well, it can’t be easy.

I just read a headline yesterday (from back in January) that a Texas fugitive who was wanted for his wife’s murder was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, in a Travel Park in Florida:

Texas fugitive wanted in wife’s death shoots, kills self in Florida, deputies say

A Texas man on the run after being accused of killing his wife in October 2020 was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Marion County, according to the sheriff’s office.

www.clickorlando.com

I love that you posted this, and humor me because I’m going to play devil’s advocate for a minute, not because I think you’re wrong but because I’m tinkering with a theory.
I think she feels like this is mission accomplished (posted that a long time ago here. Maybe back in May).
I think she felt like all involved got what they deserved and she was judge jury executioner.
I think she is strutting. I think if she never sees CS again she could care less. She had months of percolating rage, like a pressure cooker, inside her. She’s a remarkably anonymous and chameleonlike human. Consider this: we have heard from her dad. We have heard from one high school friend. Beyond that, crickets,
Can I ask you,
If you were suspected of capital murder at 35 years old,
And there were some facts to support that you weren’t Ted Bundy or whatever. That there were extenuating circumstances that certainly don’t justify what you’re accused of, but most women can kinda sorta see a tiny bit of where you were coming from,

… would your mother be on TV
… would your best friends be on TV
… would your former colleagues be on TV
… would people who know you well and can describe you in healthier times be showing up?

I think you’d be hard pressed to get my mother off NBC if this were me. In her mom jeans. Loving the youknowwhat out of me.

There’s so much missing in this story.

ETA: several verb tense violations that could not be allowed to stand, I was taught grammar by Italian Catholic nuns and they still whisper in miniature on my shoulder.

 

[JerseyWasHome2]

I love that you posted this, and humor me because I’m going to play devil’s advocate for a minute, not because I think you’re wrong but because I’m tinkering with a theory.
I think she feels like this is mission accomplished (posted that a long time ago here. Maybe back in May).
I think she felt like all involved got what they deserved and she was judge jury executioner.
I think she is strutting. I think if she never sees CS again she could care less. She had months of percolating rage, like a pressure cooker, inside her. She’s a remarkably anonymous and chameleonlike human. Consider this: we have heard from her dad. We have heard from one high school friend. Beyond that, crickets,
Can I ask you,
If you were suspected of capital murder at 35 years old,
And there were some facts to support that you weren’t Ted Bundy or whatever. That there were extenuating circumstances that certainly don’t justify what you’re accused of, but most women can kinda sorta see a tiny bit of where you were coming from,

… would your mother be on TV
… would your best friends be on TV
… would your former colleagues be on TV
… would people who know you well and can describe you in healthier times be showing up?

I think you’d be hard pressed to get my mother off NBC if this were me. In her mom jeans. Loving the youknowwhat out of me.

There’s so much missing in this story.

ETA: several verb tense violations that could not be allowed to stand, I was taught grammar by Italian Catholic nuns and they still whisper in miniature on my shoulder.

All good points. Although, I did discover on other threads here that a lot of times, those close friends, relatives, former neighbors, etc., come out on local sources (to them) and their comments and input don't make national news or the major sites. There could be friends of hers from other places she's lived giving interviews, but unless we dig for them, we'll never be presented with them in a more widespread media manner. For whatever reason it seems like the big MSM sites go after certain people and never dig down further.

I also think that it's possible that many have been told to keep their lips sealed, so as not to jeopardize her case. God forbid one of them says, "KA, come home, we all know you couldn't possibly have done this, although you did flip out about that guy in 11th grade and had us thinking you were a bit bizarre."

Now that you've said that, it makes me wonder about CS. We have one interview where the friend of his says he's (CS) in hiding because he's afraid of KA. What about his other friends? We can't discuss non media forums here, so I won't, but where is the nationwide support for him?

 

[SMK777]

I love that you posted this, and humor me because I’m going to play devil’s advocate for a minute, not because I think you’re wrong but because I’m tinkering with a theory.
I think she feels like this is mission accomplished (posted that a long time ago here. Maybe back in May).
I think she felt like all involved got what they deserved and she was judge jury executioner.
I think she is strutting. I think if she never sees CS again she could care less. She had months of percolating rage, like a pressure cooker, inside her. She’s a remarkably anonymous and chameleonlike human. Consider this: we have heard from her dad. We have heard from one high school friend. Beyond that, crickets,
Can I ask you,
If you were suspected of capital murder at 35 years old,
And there were some facts to support that you weren’t Ted Bundy or whatever. That there were extenuating circumstances that certainly don’t justify what you’re accused of, but most women can kinda sorta see a tiny bit of where you were coming from,

… would your mother be on TV
… would your best friends be on TV
… would your former colleagues be on TV
… would people who know you well and can describe you in healthier times be showing up?

I think you’d be hard pressed to get my mother off NBC if this were me. In her mom jeans. Loving the youknowwhat out of me.

There’s so much missing in this story.

ETA: several verb tense violations that could not be allowed to stand, I was taught grammar by Italian Catholic nuns and they still whisper in miniature on my shoulder.

Yes, I hadn’t thought about it, but it’s very telling that there is so much silence on everyone’s part.

Also, I had assumed she was regretful and ashamed, because that’s how I would be.

Maybe you’re right, though… But do you think this was premeditated to the point where she knew she’d live as a fugitive?
@caradana