Moriah Wilson Killing: Kaitlin Armstrong Guilty of Murder, Gets Almost 100 Years Prison Time

Kaitlin Armstrong has been handed a 90-year prison sentence and a $10,000 fine for Moriah Wilson killing, according to ABC News.

The sentencing decision followed a day after the jury found her guilty of first-degree murder, a charge they arrived at in less than three hours of deliberation.

Wilson, a 25-year-old emerging gravel racer, was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds at a friend's residence in Austin, Texas, on May 11, 2022.

The incident was initially deemed a targeted homicide by the police. Armstrong, a 35-year-old yoga instructor from Texas, eluded authorities for 43 days, leading to her arrest in Costa Rica.

She faced a first-degree murder charge in connection with Wilson's death.

The intricate connections surrounding the case revealed that Wilson had a past romantic involvement with Armstrong's then-boyfriend, Colin Strickland, also a professional cyclist.

Wilson was found shot hours after meeting Strickland in Austin.

Prosecutor Rick Jones, addressing the court before the sentencing, acknowledged Wilson's significant achievements in her 25 years of life and lamented her untimely death.

Kaitlin Armstrong, facing a potential sentence ranging from five to 99 years or life imprisonment, ultimately received a 90-year prison term.

Moriah Wilson Killing

Moriah Wilson's tragic end occurred just days before she was scheduled to participate in the Gravel Locos bike race, a 157-mile event in Texas, per CNN.

The circumstances leading to her death involved an afternoon swim with Strickland, who later claimed to have dropped her off at a friend's home.

After the murder, Armstrong briefly spoke to the police before fleeing to Costa Rica using her sister's passport.

While overseas, she underwent extensive cosmetic procedures, spending over $6,000 to alter her nose's appearance and change the color and style of her hair.

A homicide warrant was issued for Armstrong on May 17, 2022, and she was captured in Costa Rica on June 29, 2022, and subsequently deported to the United States on July 2.

The US Marshals Service revealed that Armstrong, in an attempt to escape authorities, violated Costa Rican law by fraudulently using a passport.

Moriah Wilson Murder Trial

During the trial, jurors deliberated for about two hours following two weeks of testimony, Sky News noted.

Wilson's friend, Caitlin Cash, shared her emotional discovery of Wilson's body and futile attempts at CPR.

Armstrong, a yoga teacher, opted not to testify, while evidence presented during the trial indicated her Jeep's presence near the crime scene, and bullet casings matched a gun registered to Armstrong.

Armstrong's defense claimed she was a victim of circumstantial evidence, emphasizing an unknown DNA profile at the crime scene.

Defense lawyer Rick Cofer argued that Armstrong was told she was free to go by the Austin Police Department, pointing to a story of a "spurned, jealous lover" rooted in cultural biases.

The defense emphasized the difficulty of disproving a negative and criticized the narrative woven by the police.

"Police think Kaitlin committed this crime. They don't know. She fits their story," Cofer told jurors.

Kaitlin Armstrong's conviction and subsequent sentencing conclude a trial marked by complex relationships, legal maneuvering, and the pursuit of justice for the tragic Moriah Wilson killing.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Kaitlin Armstrong sentenced to 90 years in prison for murder of Anna Moriah 'Mo' Wilson - From CBS Austin