Staff Report
AUSTIN – An Austin woman accused of killing world-class cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson on May 11 was captured in Costa Rica.
The U.S. Marshals Office of International Operations, Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service worked with Costa Rica authorities to locate and arrest Kaitlin Marie Armstrong on June 29 at a hostel on Santa Teresa Beach in Provincia de Puntarenas.
Armstrong, 34, will be deported and returned to the U.S.
Members of the U.S. Marshals-led Lone Star Fugitive Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations recently discovered that Armstrong, using a fraudulent passport, had boarded United Airlines Flight 1222 from Newark International Airport at 5:09 p.m. EST on May 18 and arrived in San Jose, Costa Rica, at 8:27 p.m. EST.
“The Marshals Service elevated the Kaitlin Armstrong investigation to major case status early in this investigation, which likely played a key role in her capture after a 43-day run,” said Susan Pamerleau, U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Texas. “This is an example of combining the resources of local, state, federal and international authorities to apprehend a violent fugitive, bring an end to that run and hopefully a sense of closure to the victim’s family.” Last week, the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force located Armstrong’s black Jeep Grand Cherokee and learned that Armstrong sold the vehicle on May 13 to a CarMax dealership in south Austin for $12,200. Armstrong was provided a check from the dealership a day after being questioned by Austin authorities. She then departed the Austin airport on May 14.
Investigators learned that Armstrong was dropped off at the Newark Liberty International Airport on May 18, a day after Austin police issued a homicide warrant for her arrest.
Police responded to a call at an east Austin residence May 11 and discovered Wilson bleeding and unconscious from multiple gunshot wounds. They performed CPR on her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Wilson, 25, a Vermont native and world class cyclist, had been in Austin for a race.
The Austin Police Department requested assistance from the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force – Austin Division to locate and apprehend Armstrong. On May 17, Austin police issued a homicide warrant for Armstrong.
During the investigation, it was learned through an interviewed source that Armstrong was provided transportation to the Newark Liberty International Airport on May 18. Investigators searched outbound flights at the Newark Airport and found no flight reservations under her name.
On May 25, investigators obtained an arrest warrant in the U.S. District Court in the Western District of Texas for an Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution.
Investigators believe Armstrong was at the Austin Bergstrom International Airport on May 14 at approximately 12:30 p.m., and that she boarded Southwest Airlines Flight WN2262 from ABIA to Houston Hobby Airport, where she boarded a connecting SW Flight WN30 to New York LaGuardia Airport.
