In a dramatic turn of events, Kaitlin Armstrong, the Texas woman accused of the “love triangle” murder of professional cyclist Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson, made a daring escape attempt while in custody. Armstrong, who had previously led U.S. Marshals on a 43-day manhunt, allegedly picked the lock on her handcuffs with a pin and sprinted nearly a mile before being apprehended by Travis County deputies.
Armstrong is scheduled to go to trial on October 30 for the shooting death of Wilson, who was found dead after going on a date with Armstrong’s boyfriend, fellow professional rider Colin Strickland. However, last week, Armstrong seized an opportunity during a visit to an orthopedics clinic, feigning a leg injury to convince guards to bring her there. As she and two corrections officers were leaving the medical building, Armstrong made her escape.
According to court documents, Armstrong used a metal pin and dental floss to lockpick her handcuffs. She managed to slip out of the cuffs and sprinted for about a mile while injuring two guards in the process. In an attempt to disguise her appearance, she stripped off her jail pants and was wearing long thermal underwear underneath. Jailhouse surveillance video revealed that Armstrong had been exercising vigorously for months, preparing for her escape.
Armstrong’s escape attempt was short-lived, as a bystander captured footage of her sprinting through a parking lot before being tackled by a guard. Despite the fall, Armstrong quickly got up, hopped over a fence, and continued to run. She was eventually apprehended by law enforcement.
Prior to her escape attempt, Armstrong had been on the run for 43 days, during which she dyed her hair, assumed a new identity, and traveled to different locations. She was arrested in Costa Rica after obtaining her sister’s passport and extradited back to the United States.
Armstrong’s defense has denied reports that she underwent plastic surgery on her nose while on the run. However, photographs taken before and after her escape show significant differences in her appearance.
The murder of Anna Moriah Wilson, which Armstrong is accused of, occurred on May 11, 2022. Police allege that Armstrong’s Jeep Grand Cherokee was captured on surveillance video near the crime scene, and shell casings recovered matched Armstrong’s pistol. Wilson and Strickland had allegedly had a brief fling in the past.
Armstrong had initially been questioned by police early in the investigation but was released without charges. She subsequently sold her Jeep and went into hiding, making it difficult for authorities to locate her. She is currently being held on $3.5 million bail, which has been increased by $50,000 due to her escape attempt.
As the trial approaches, Armstrong’s defense has disputed the prosecution’s claim that she saw Wilson as a “romantic rival,” calling it “misogynistic and fictitious.” Strickland, Armstrong’s boyfriend, also stated to detectives that he did not believe Armstrong was the jealous or violent type.
The case continues to unfold, with Armstrong’s escape attempt adding another layer of complexity to the already intense legal proceedings.
