She Was Followed Home, Killed — Then the Killer Changed Appearance With Plastic Surgery: Inside the Moriah Wilson Murder

Professional cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson’s life was tragically cut short when she was fatally shot in a case that drew national attention.

On May 11, 2022, Wilson was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds at a friend’s residence in Austin. Earlier that evening, fellow cyclist Colin Strickland had dropped her off after the two went swimming at Deep Eddy Pool and had dinner together.

Strickland’s girlfriend, Kaitlin Armstrong, was later identified as a suspect after surveillance footage showed a black Jeep Grand Cherokee arriving at the residence shortly before the shooting. When questioned about the footage, Armstrong declined to respond.

Investigators later discovered that Wilson and Strickland had been involved in a romantic relationship while he was still dating Armstrong. Strickland admitted to the affair, stating that he had concealed his communication with Wilson—allegedly deleting messages and saving her contact under a pseudonym.

Authorities also uncovered evidence suggesting Armstrong was aware of the relationship and had expressed anger about it. According to an anonymous tip, she had either recently purchased a firearm or was planning to do so. A spent shell casing recovered from the scene was later matched to a SIG Sauer P365 linked to Armstrong.

An arrest warrant for first-degree murder was issued on May 17.

Armstrong fled the country using her sister’s passport and traveled to Costa Rica, where she allegedly altered her appearance and used fake identities to evade capture.

After 43 days on the run, U.S. Marshals located her in a hostel in Santa Teresa using a covert strategy that involved posting a Facebook advertisement for a yoga instructor. She was arrested and later sentenced to 90 years in prison, with eligibility for parole after 30 years. She is currently incarcerated at the Dr. Lane Murray Unit.

The case has recently returned to the spotlight following the release of the Netflix documentary The Truth and Tragedy of Moriah Wilson, which premiered on April 3. Directed by Marina Zenovich and produced by Academy Award-winner Evan Hayes, the film features interviews with Wilson’s family, friends, and colleagues.

Wilson grew up in Vermont with her brother, Matt, where their father, Eric Wilson, introduced them to skiing at a young age. She initially excelled in the sport but faced setbacks due to repeated injuries.

“She had that dream from the beginning,” Matt said in the documentary, referring to her aspirations of becoming an Olympic-level athlete.

Following her injuries, Wilson shifted her focus to cycling, where she quickly emerged as one of the most promising talents in the sport.

“She was a young woman who had just found what she loved to do—and she was incredibly good at it,” Zenovich said.