Cycling star's death: jealousy, a manhunt, and a 90-year sentence
The Netflix documentary The Truth and Tragedy of Moriah Wilson has reignited scrutiny of the 2022 murder of rising American cycling talent Moriah 'Mo' Wilson. The case, a brutal tale of jealousy and a dramatic international manhunt, culminated in a 90-year prison sentence.
Moriah wilson: a life cut short
Moriah Wilson, a 25-year-old professional cyclist from Vermont, was on the cusp of major success in gravel and mountain biking. A former elite skier and Dartmouth graduate, her blend of endurance and technical prowess had already earned her victories like the Big Sugar Gravel race. Friends remember her as driven and beloved within the cycling community – qualities the documentary highlights.
On the night of May 11, 2022, Wilson was found fatally shot at a residence in Austin, Texas, where she was staying before a race. A 911 call, included in the Netflix documentary, reveals a friend’s desperate plea for help.
Investigators swiftly zeroed in on Kaitlin Marie Armstrong, a yoga instructor and estate agent with a volatile on-again, off-again relationship with fellow cyclist Colin Strickland – someone with whom Wilson had briefly dated. Prosecutors alleged Armstrong meticulously tracked Wilson’s movements, fueled by jealousy, leading to the fatal confrontation.
The manhunt and conviction
Armstrong’s response was swift: she fled the United States, triggering a 43-day international manhunt. Authorities eventually apprehended her in Costa Rica, where reports suggest she had altered her appearance and used false identification to evade capture.
Arrested in June 2022, Armstrong was tried in Texas in late 2023. A jury found her guilty of first-degree murder in November 2023, and she received the maximum sentence: 90 years in prison. The Texas Third Court of Appeals upheld the conviction in January 2026, rejecting legal challenges from Armstrong’s defense team.
The case took another turn in 2024 when Wilson’s parents were awarded $15 million in a wrongful death lawsuit against Armstrong, intended to prevent her from profiting from the crime.
Where is kaitlin armstrong now?
As of 2026, Armstrong is incarcerated at the Dr. Lane Murray Unit in Gatesville, Texas. Parole is unlikely before the 2050s, requiring a minimum of 30 years served. Her repeated attempts to overturn the conviction have failed.
The renewed public interest sparked by The Truth and Tragedy of Moriah Wilson is unlikely to diminish. But for Wilson’s family, the focus remains on preserving her memory, a life tragically stolen.
The speed and brutality of the crime, followed by the desperate flight of the accused, paints a stark picture of jealousy’s destructive power. It’s a story that will linger long after the credits roll.