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

[GDawg89]

I will update with a link shortly but I just caught a bit on CNN and they said the US Marshals are trying to figure out who dropped her off in Newark. They said she did not take mass transit; it was a private car.

I am so stumped by all of this. Do they have her on video? Is this all based on an anonymous tip?

Exactly, I wonder if LE specifically know by surveillance video she got out of a private car, which would provide a TOA, description of vehicle, and possible LPR to identify "who" drove KA to Liberty. It's fact many airports have installed license plate readers (LPR's) at various airport entrances and exits, however I am not certain Newark Liberty has LPR's. Most of the LPR systems have 31 day storage from what I read.

I believe Austin Bergstrom Airport recently had LPR's installed per an online article. This made me wonder how KA arrived at AB Airport on 5/14, if they have her on video exiting a vehicle at the curb, then referencing the LPR to identify who or how she arrived at ABIA. AMOO

 

[Sundog]

I do not believe there is any danger that KA has, or will try to commit suicide, or do any self-harm, even if she feels her capture is imminent. Something about her gives me a Jodi Arias kinda vibe. She will run as long as she can, but when finally caught, I believe she thinks that she can talk herself out of a murder charge, and if she can't, and does get charged, and she will, then she can surely convince a jury that she just went to the apartment MW was staying at to have a civil chat with the woman who was trying to steal her bf, and something transpired that elevated the situation to a heated exchange, and she was forced her to shoot her in a moment of self-defense. I also do not believe she has cut her curly long mane, because surely a jury could see that no one who looks like her would be a cold-hearted killer. JMO

I doubt KA cut her hair, also, as I think it is a big part of her identity. I think she can wear it up under a cap or disguise herself without cutting her hair, maybe dye it darker, though, perhaps black, so it would be really different. Maybe tie it up and wear glasses with black hair.

 

[SMK777]

This got me thinking that perhaps KA was staying with someone who didn't know she had committed the murder. If they had seen the news, then perhaps KA convinced them it was all a mistake, she didn't do it, but everyone thought she did, so she had to get away to figure out how to handle the situation, etc. But then when the warrant came out on the 18th, the person she was staying with said they had to call LE so she had to leave, otherwise they would be in big trouble. KA understood, and perhaps asked to be dropped off at Newark airport which would give her some transportation options. So as soon as KA was dropped off, the person called LE with their tip. It could have been a friend or a family, who knew they could not help KA any longer now that an official warrant was issued for her arrest.

I agree. The only difference is that I don’t think they would have told KA they were calling the US Marshals line. I think they probably just said they were too uncomfortable with the legal implications for themselves, and that it’d be best if she left. Then later, they looked again at the media coverage, got nervous, and decided to call in saying, I think you should be made aware that I dropped her off at Newark airport. I don’t want to be accused of withholding information in the future.

 

[Cryptic]

BBM
Wouldn't someone walking to/from the airport raise suspicion and stand out? IMO the area around airports isn't all that walkable so I think it's more likely she took some form of public transportation or a cab.

Good point, with a strong majority of airports, I think you are right .

There, are however, a few exceptions. I don't know if Newark is one of them. For example, Love Field in Dallas is a smaller, older airport with alot of businesses and neighborhoods very close by.

In an era when hardly anybody walks anywhere, somebody walking into Love Field would be uncommon, but not head turning strange like it would be at the vast DFW airport.

Other airports that feature small sizes in densely populated areas that could lead to 'walk ins' being uncommon, but not eye catching (then again, she is an attractive women) could include:

San Diego for sure, Las Vegas (not in a older area, but close to the Strip), and to lesser degrees, BWI and La Guardia. I have never been to Newark though.

 

[Countem]

Probe intensifies in search for Texas suspect in killing of top cyclist from Vermont

Kaitlin Armstrong, who has been on the run for more than three weeks, is wanted on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Anna Moriah Wilson, who is from East Burke. Authorities accuse Armstrong of fatally shooting Wilson, a world-class cyclist, as Wilson was in Texas for a competition.

vtdigger.org

RSBM and BBM

Asked Wednesday if he believed Armstrong was still in the country, […] the deputy U.S. marshal, replied, “Right now, you still have to focus on the United States because that’s where we last know for her to be.”

 

[SMK777]

Probe intensifies in search for Texas suspect in killing of top cyclist from Vermont

Kaitlin Armstrong, who has been on the run for more than three weeks, is wanted on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Anna Moriah Wilson, who is from East Burke. Authorities accuse Armstrong of fatally shooting Wilson, a world-class cyclist, as Wilson was in Texas for a competition.

vtdigger.org

RSBM and BBM

Yes, but they need to find out ASAP if she flew out with a fraudulent passport. If they focus mainly on the US, and she flew out 3 weeks ago, time will be wasted….

 

[SMK777]

Good point, with a strong majority of airports, I think you are right .

There, are however, a few exceptions. I don't know if Newark is one of them. For example, Love Field in Dallas is a smaller, older airport with alot of businesses and neighborhoods very close by.

In an era when hardly anybody walks anywhere, somebody walking into Love Field would be uncommon, but not head turning strange like it would be at the vast DFW airport.

Other airports that feature small sizes in densely populated areas that could lead to 'walk ins' being uncommon, but not eye catching (then again, she is an attractive women) could include:

San Diego for sure, Las Vegas (not in a older area, but close to the Strip), and to lesser degrees, BWI and La Guardia. I have never been to Newark though.

Newark is a big international airport, but walking she could still blend in, as people get dropped at various points, and shuttles drop people in different areas, and some park in parking lots and have to walk far to get to the terminal entrances. In other words, you see a lot of people walking around outside.

 

[Curious_in_NC]

Surely KA would have removed the apps or got a new phone before she went on the lam? She is said to have used the cycling app Strava to track CS and MW, so she’s savvy about tracking apps.

JMO

You can't typically track someone from their app in real time. They have to upload a ride or other event over wifi, bluetooth, or other methods to Strava. Many athletes use settings for automatic uploads when they finish a ride. One can also send alerts to friends when starting a ride, abrupt stops (accident alerts) etc. But these settings are easily turned off. Although you can record events directly with Strava on a phone, most people record directly with a GPS device (watch, bike computer, etc.) then transfer the info to Strava.

KA undoubtedly had a watch or other device. MW's settings were probably for auto uploading. Her and CS's Strava accounts are locked now, but a a screen shot from an earlier MSM reposrt from MW's Strava home page showed she had just done a PR on a segment called "Chipseal Rollercoaster" which is just outside of Austin. Most pros, like MW and CS, would use on bike computer GPS units that track power, heart rate, etc. KA may have used one of these too, or just a watch.

Not sure this has come up before, but KA is a pretty capable cyclist. She finished in the middle of the pack at the Steamboat Springs Gravel Race in August 2021 (https://www.athlinks.com/event/300676/results/Event/982822/Course/2111404/Bib/33?source=internal). CS finished 7th, with former World Tour cyclist, Alex Howes, winning. MW doesn't seem to have been there. At these events there's usually a handful of pros racing for the win and the rest of the field are mostly talented amateurs. KA did the 144 miles in 9:22, a pretty respectable time.

 

[Barry]

Possible she did a "damsel in distress", and got a random person to give her the ride to Newark? Could have even offered to pay for gas and that person was headed to that area anyway. That person later realized who she was?

 

[jash]

I just can't quit thinking about this case. If we take the US Marshals and the media reporting at their words, authorities don't know who dropped KA off at EWR -- only that it was a private vehicle.

If this is all based on a tip that has been deemed credible, I just don't believe it could have been made anonymously. The only way it can make sense to me is if the person who called in the tip wasn't the one who actually dropped her off at the airport but knew that was KA's plan. Hypothetically KA could have been staying with this person and when it was time for KA to move on, KA made her own arrangements to be driven to EWR. This person may have seen her depart in a "private vehicle" (illegal cab maybe?) and subsequently called it in as a tip.

I don't think LE has video of her arriving at the airport (because if they did, it should be easy for them to track her movements on airport grounds and ascertain if she's disguised herself). Right now it sounds like they're looking for the proverbial needle in the digital haystack.

 

[Cryptic]

Newark is a big international airport, but walking she could still blend in, as people get dropped at various points, and shuttles drop people in different areas, and some park in parking lots and have to walk far to get to the terminal entrances. In other words, you see a lot of people walking around outside.

Thanks for the details. Its great to have such in depth local knowledge on the forum.

 

[Curious_in_NC]

I don't think this story is as simple as it seems: Jilted lover kills rival in a rage and goes on the run. There's too many odd bits of info. LE has said this was to some extent planned.
The most perplexing piece is why were the pistols bought many months in advance. I believe CS was quoted as saying he never even had used his.
Beyond that, there's some bits of the story that seem in conflict:
A yoga teacher versus someone easily set into a furious rage.
An inept criminal leaving behind a purported murder weapon and video evidence from the crime scene versus a fugitive able to elude US Marshalls for many weeks.
Keep in mind some of the more disparate info we have is from anonymous tipsters, like the shaking rage story. (ETA and arguably at least one airport sighting).

Also, did we ever find out what happened to KA's vehicle? Is it still missing? Did it hold important evidence?

Somehow I think that, when the dust finally settles, there may be more to this story than we think, and possibly more people involved in it in various unanticipated ways. MOO

 

[SMK777]

Possible she did a "damsel in distress", and got a random person to give her the ride to Newark? Could have even offered to pay for gas and that person was headed to that area anyway. That person later realized who she was?

Yes, it’s possible, certainly.

 

[SMK777]

Thanks for the details. Its great to have such in depth local knowledge on the forum.

Very welcome

 

[jash]

Possible she did a "damsel in distress", and got a random person to give her the ride to Newark? Could have even offered to pay for gas and that person was headed to that area anyway. That person later realized who she was?

But LE apparently doesn't know who dropped her off. In your scenario, there would be no reason for this person to contact authorities but not divulge their identity.

I am so flummoxed by all of this. It has now been 23 days since she was "known" to be in Newark.

 

[SMK777]

I don't think this story is as simple as it seems: Jilted lover kills rival in a rage and goes on the run. There's too many odd bits of info. LE has said this was to some extent planned.
The most perplexing piece is why were the pistols bought many months in advance. I believe CS was quoted as saying he never even had used his.
Beyond that, there's some bits of the story that seem in conflict:
A yoga teacher versus someone easily set into a furious rage.
An inept criminal leaving behind a purported murder weapon and video evidence from the crime scene versus a fugitive able to elude US Marshalls for many weeks.
Keep in mind some of the more disparate info we have is from anonymous tipsters, like the shaking rage story. (ETA and arguably at least one airport sighting).

Also, did we ever find out what happened to KA's vehicle? Is it still missing? Did it hold important evidence?

Somehow I think that, when the dust finally settles, there may be more to this story than we think, and possibly more people involved in it in various unanticipated ways. MOO

All of these questions do sound like red flags, definitely.

*I wonder if she tricked CS into getting the guns (pretended she’d had a scare like a mugging, etc.)

*I suppose her “yoga teacher” persona was a facade, like the minister who is a child molester.

*I’m surprised she didn’t anticipate being caught on doorbell camera because they’re so commonplace now. What could she have done to avoid it, though?

*She got a huge head start, and that’s enabled her to elude police.

*The vehicle hasn’t been followed up on, indicating they may have found it but don’t want it disclosed to the public for their own investigative purposes.

 

[Sundog]

Beyond that, there's some bits of the story that seem in conflict:
A yoga teacher versus someone easily set into a furious rage.

The "yoga teacher" part doesn't surprise me since one's walk of life doesn't really trump human nature, nor the purchase of the guns since many people buy them for protection even if looking back the timing does garner attention, but KA's vehicle being missing is odd to me.

 

[SMK777]

But LE apparently doesn't know who dropped her off. In your scenario, there would be no reason for this person to contact authorities but not divulge their identity.

I am so flummoxed by all of this. It has now been 23 days since she was "known" to be in Newark.

Well, maybe the person just didn’t want the bother of having agents coming to their home to follow up, and interviewing them ( little things like their apartment is a cluttered mess, or they have some marijuana plants, etc)— so they took advantage of the anonymous tip line?

 

[jash]

So sometime after KA was in Newark, someone changed her Strava profile from public to private. Hopefully LE can get Strava to give them the IP address linked to the change. Strava Cyclist Profile | Kaitlin A.

I missed the fact that she rode the morning of the murder. Curious if she was near where MW was staying.

Her account on Strava — an online cycling and fitness platform — remains public and shows that she last cycled on May 11, the day Wilson died.

Woman accused of killing cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson mistakenly freed from custody, police say

Anna Moriah Wilson, 25, was found dead May 11 in an East Austin home on Maple Avenue. She was staying in town before riding in a gravel race in Hico.

www.statesman.com

 

[jash]

Well, maybe the person just didn’t want the bother of having agents coming to their home to follow up, and interviewing them ( little things like their apartment is a cluttered mess, or they have some marijuana plants, etc)— so they took advantage of the anonymous tip line?

I totally get that -- but then I think the US Marshals must have more to go on than just an anonymous tip. Otherwise who is to say KA herself didn't arrange for a false tip to be made to keep them busy looking in the wrong place.