A yoga instructor accused of killing her love rival in Texas has been arrested in Costa Rica after she went on the run with a fake passport for six weeks.
Authorities had been looking for Kaitlin Armstrong, 34, who was wanted for the murder of 25-year-old professional bicyclist Anna Moriah Wilson in Austin on May 11, according to San Francisco Gate. Armstrong was reportedly jealous of Wilson, who used to date her boyfriend Colin Strickland.
The U.S. Marshals Service announced her arrest on Thursday, and she now faces a murder charge as authorities seek to have her deported back to the states.
“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,” U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Texas Susan Pamerleau said in a statement. “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.”
Instructor Used A Fake Passport to Fly to Costa Rica
Marshals said Armstrong used a fake passport to board a flight to San Jose, Costa Rica a day after Austin police issued a warrant for her arrest on May 17.
On May 11, Wilson had been reportedly swimming with Armstrong’s boyfriend, Strickland, who authorities said used to date Wilson prior to his relationship with Armstrong, according to the news outlet.
Police were on Armstrong’s trail after receiving an anonymous tip from someone who said she wanted to kill Wilson upon learning Strickland and Wilson were involved romantically. Wilson was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds to the torso by a friend, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Botox Bill Leads To Arrest
Armstrong was brought in for questioning after Wilson’s body was found, thanks in part to an outstanding warrant she had for skipping out on a Botox treatment bill in 2018 which allowed police to detain her the day after the fatal shooting.
But she was eventually released without being charged, which began her 43-day run as a fugitive. Authorities said they continued to follow Armstrong’s whereabouts, tracking her to Newark International Airport in New Jersey on May 18 four days after flying out of Austin, according to SF Gate.
Police had previously released images of possible disguises Armstrong may have been wearing prior to her capture by U.S. Marshals. Armstrong reportedly sold her Jeep for $12,000 before going on the run.
