ï ¿Ã NBC DATELINE 09/16/22
>>> TONIGHT ON THE SEASON PREMIER OF "DATELINE" --
>> MY NAME IS COLIN STRICKLAND I'M A BICYCLE RACER IN AUSTIN,
TEXAS. >> COLIN AND KAITLIN DATED FOR
ABOUT THREE YEARS. >> THEY SEEMED VERY HAPPY
TOGETHER >> I'M MORIAH WILSON
UM, I ALSO GO BY MO. >> SHE WAS THIS RISING STAR
CRUSHING THESE RACES >> COLIN DROPS HER OFF
AN INTRUDER SHOOTS AND KILLS HER.
>> THIS PRETTY DISTINCT JEEP CHEROKEE WAS IN THE AREA
>> Reporter: SO THIS IS SOMEBODY WHO'S WATCHING
>> ABSOLUTELY. THIS VERY EXPENSIVE BICYCLE WAS
MISSING. COLIN IS BEING LOOKED AT
>> ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE SUSPECTED KILLER IS GONE
>> IT'S A REALLY GOOD PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO HIDE OUT
THE LAND OF THE UNWANTED AND THE WANTED
>> Reporter: YOU CAN GET RID OF YOUR PHONE, GET RID OF YOUR
IDENTITY YOU CAN'T ESCAPE
>> IT'S A SMALL WORLD. >> LIFE'S KIND OF A MOVIE ITSELF
TALK ABOUT A STORY >> SO WHY WAS A CHAMPION CYCLIST
MURDERED AND WHERE DID HER SUSPECTED
KILLER GO? I'M LESTER HOLT, AND THIS IS
"DATELINE.
LAST RIDE. >> Reporter: JUST LOOK AT HER,
THIS BRIGHT, YOUNG STAR. >> MO HAS BRIDGED THAT GAP
>> Reporter: RIGHT HERE, CAPTURED ON VIDEO, IS THAT
RAREST OF THINGS, THE THRILLING, APPARENTLY UNSTOPPABLE RISE OF A
VIRTUAL UNKNOWN -- >> MO WILSON COMING THROUGH.
>> Reporter: -- TO THE TOP OF ONE OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE AND
PUNISHING ENDURANCE SPORTS THERE IS -- GRAVEL RACING, A
HIGH-MILEAGE MASHUP OF MOUNTAIN BIKING AND ROAD RACING
>> THIS IS MORIAH WILSON, THE WINNER OF ROUND 1 OF THE
2022 LIFETIME GRAND PRIX >> Reporter: WHICH MAKES WHAT
HAPPENED THIS YEAR, A YEAR THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT
OF HER YOUNG LIFE, A TRAGEDY INSTEAD, AND AN INTERNATIONAL
MURDER MYSTERY ONE THAT MILLIONS FOLLOWED AS
EVENTS UNFOLDED IN REAL TIME >> NBC'S MORGAN CHESKY IS IN
AUSTIN WITH THE VERY LATEST. >> Reporter: A MYSTERY THAT TOOK
US FROM THE DUSTY FIELDS OF TEXAS TO THE BIRCH WOODS OF
UPSTATE NEW YORK TO THE CURLING SURF OF CENTRAL AMERICA, WHERE
U.S. MARSHALS WENT LOOKING FOR A SUDDENLY FAMOUS FUGITIVE AND
ENCOUNTERED A GAGGLE OF UNSUSPECTING CHARACTERS CAUGHT
QUITE OFF GUARD. >> AFTERWARDS MY BRAIN JUST
WENT, "WHOA. AND I WAS LIKE, "WHOA, THAT
WOULD EXPLAIN EVERYTHING THAT'S WHY IT WAS ALL LIKE
THAT." >> Reporter: TONIGHT WE'LL TELL
YOU THE WHOLE STORY, BEGINNING IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, ON THE NIGHT
OF MAY 11th WITH A VOLLEY OF GUNSHOTS
>> A DEVELOPING STORY TONIGHT: 25-YEAR-OLD MORIAH WILSON
RECENTLY BURST ONTO THE COMPETITIVE CYCLING SCENE.
LAST WEEK, SHE WENT TO AUSTIN, TEXAS, FOR A RACE.
BUT SHE WAS FOUND DEAD IN THE HOME WHERE SHE WAS STAYING
>> Reporter: AND UNTIL THAT VERY MOMENT, IT HAD ALL SEEMED SO
FULL OF PROMISE. >> REALLY IMPRESSIVE RIDE BY
MORIAH WILSON. >> SHE CAME SEEMINGLY OUT OF
NOWHERE, VERY LITTLE BACKGROUND IN THE SPORT OF CYCLING.
>> Reporter: CYCLING JOURNALISTS BEN DELANEY.
>> SHE WAS SHOWING UP AND BEATING ALL THE WOMEN AND MOST
THE MEN. >> Reporter: AND BETSY WELCH
>> IT WAS A REALLY FAST AND FURIOUS RISE TO THE TOP.
SHE REALLY WAS DOMINATING EARLY THIS SEASON AND HAD A BEAUTIFUL
AIR ABOUT HER, WAS A GREAT RACER.
WAS FRIENDLY AND KIND. AND SO I THINK PEOPLE WERE
REALLY SORT OF LIKE, "WOW, WHO IS SHE?"
AND, "WOW, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO WATCH HER."
>> I'M MORIAH WILSON UM, I ALSO GO BY MO.
>> Reporter: HERE SHE WAS IN A ZOOM INTERVIEW FOR FLOSPORTS
>> I REALLY ENJOY THAT LAID-BACK FEELING THAT OFTEN ACCOMPANIES
THE REALLY SERIOUS RACING THAT WE'VE ALSO HAD TO DEVELOP.
>> Reporter: CHARMING, UNASSUMING MORIAH COULD TALK FOR
HOURS ABOUT EQUIPMENT, ABOUT STRATEGY, HER UNUSUAL GOD-GIVEN
ENDURANCE, AND HER HAPPY YOUNG LIFE AS HERE, IN A YET TO BE
RELEASED PODCAST RECORDED A MONTH BEFORE HER DEATH
>> WELL, I GREW UP IN VERMONT. A BIG PART OF MY UPBRINGING WAS
JUST, LIKE, I WAS ON SKIS BEFORE I COULD BASICALLY WALK
AND THEN WHEN I WAS, LIKE, 7 OR SOMETHING, I THINK MY DAD ASKED
ME AND MY BROTHER IF WE WANTED TO RACE.
AND WE WERE LIKE, "YEAH, OF COURSE."
LIKE, WE LOVE SKIING LIKE, IT JUST SEEMED SO NATURAL.
SO WE STARTED RACING WHEN I GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE IN
2019, I BOUGHT A GRAVEL BIKE AND THAT SUMMER -- AND MOVED TO
SAN FRANCISCO. AND JUST, LIKE, IMMEDIATELY
STARTED TO FALL IN LOVE WITH RACING, THE TRANSITION FROM
SKIING TO RACING BIKES JUST FELT REALLY NATURAL
>> Reporter: ON THAT MAY NIGHT IN AUSTIN, MORIAH WAS LOOKING
FORWARD TO HER BIGGEST CHALLENGE YET -- THE PREMIERE RACING EVENT
OF THE YEAR, UNBOUND GRAVEL, A BRUTAL 200-MILE CONTEST.
>> IT'S THE SUPER BOWL OF GRAVEL
>> Reporter: IT WAS TO BE MORIAH'S BREAKOUT MOMENT, THIS
REMARKABLE 25-YEAR-OLD >> SHE WAS A ONE OF A KIND
TALENT SHE WAS THE ONE, THE ONE TO
WATCH, THE ONE TO BEAT >> Reporter: WAS TO BE
ON MAY 10th, 2022, MORIAH WILSON TRAVELED FROM HER HOME IN
SAN FRANCISCO TO AUSTIN FOR A TO SAVE MONEY, SHE BUNKED AT A
FRIEND'S TINY APARTMENT. THIS ONE
IT'S ABOVE A GARAGE ON A BACK ALLEY.
THE FOLLOWING DAY, MAY 11th, REPORTER BETSY WELCH PUBLISHED
THIS GLOWING PROFILE IN "VELO NEWS."
LATE THAT AFTERNOON, MORIAH'S FRIEND WENT OUT FOR THE EVENING,
LEAVING MORIAH ON HER OWN. AND A FEW HOURS LATER, WHEN THE
FRIEND CAME HOME - >> SHE SEES WILSON LYING ON THE
BATHROOM FLOOR, COVERED IN BLOOD.
>> Reporter: WHAT HAPPENED WE ASKED VETERAN HOMICIDE
INVESTIGATOR LIZ THOMSON TO REVIEW THE CASE FOR US
>> THIS PERSON ISN'T BREATHING THERE'S A LOT OF BLOOD
IT'S GONNA BE VERY, VERY CONFUSING TO THE FRIEND WHO
FOUND -- >> Reporter: SURE.
>> -- MORIAH AND DOING THE BEST THAT SHE KNOWS HOW TO SAVE HER
IN DOING CPR >> Reporter: SHE KEPT HER WITS
ABOUT HER AND CALLED 911 >> THEY'RE IN THE APARTMENT
ABOVE THE GARAGE GO TO THE ALLEY.
>> Reporter: BUT BY THE TIME PARAMEDICS ARRIVED, IT WAS TOO
LATE MORIAH WILSON WAS PRONOUNCED
DEAD AND SHOCK ON TOP OF SHOCK, BY
THEN THE CAUSE OF HER DEATH WAS ALL TOO OBVIOUS.
MORIAH HAD BEEN SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES, RIGHT THERE IN THE
BATHROOM OF THAT TINY APARTMENT. IT WAS MURDER.
>> CAN YOU CHECK, UH, ANY CALLS AROUND THE AREA FOR POTENTIAL
SHOTS FIRED OR LOUD NOISE? >> Reporter: BUT WHY
WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO KILL MORIAH
OH, THERE WAS A CLUE, BIG AND IMPOSSIBLE TO MISS
IT WAS THE MOST EXPENSIVE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT MORIAH WILSON
OWNED. >> THIS AMAZING, VERY
SPECIALIZED, VERY EXPENSE BICYCLE WAS MISSING, WAS GONE.
>> Reporter: THEY'VE GOT TO BE THINKING THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN --
>> UH-HUH. >> Reporter: -- THE REASON THIS
HAPPENED >> ABSOLUTELY.
ABSOLUTELY >> Reporter: BUT IN FACT, THE
TERRIBLE CHAIN OF EVENTS WAS JUST BEGINNING
>>> WHEN WE COME BACK, AN EAR-WITNESS.
DID HE HEAR THE KILLER ESCAPE? >> HE SAID HE WAS IN THE GARAGE
AND OPENED THE DOOR JUST PARTIALLY.
AND THEN HE HEARD SOMEONE RUNNING DOWN THE STAIRS.
>> HE ALSO SAID HE MAY HAVE SEEN A BIKE DISAPPEARING DOWN THE
ALLEY. >> THE PART OF THAT PLAN THAT
DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE IS WHY GO INSIDE THE HOUSE AND SHOOT THEM
IN HE BATHROOM TO GET THE >>> THERE WERE 89 HOMICIDES IN
AUSTIN LAST YEAR--MORE THAN THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS COMBINED.
AND THIS YEAR IS ON THE SAME BLOODY PACE.
SO THE MURDER OF MORIAH WILSON DID NOT MAKE THE NEWS THAT NIGHT
OR EVEN THE NEXT ACCORDING TO AUSTIN AMERICAN
STATESMAN REPORTER RYAN AUTULLO. >> I DON'T THINK ANYBODY PAID A
LOT OF ATTENTION TO IT >> Reporter: UNTIL TWO DAYS
AFTER THE MURDER >> WHEN YOU FIND OUT THAT THE
VICTIM IS A WOMAN IN FROM CALIFORNIA FOR A CYCLING RACE.
OH MY GOD, SHE'S A REALLY GOOD CYCLIST, AND SHE WAS JUST KILLED
IN COLD BLOOD INSIDE OF A HOUSE THAT SHE WAS STAYING IN IN -- IN
A RELATIVELY SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD IN AUSTIN, I THINK IT SHOOK
EVERYONE >> THAT'S WHEN NEWS OF MORIAH'S
MURDER MADE ITS WAY TO BETSY WELCH.
HOW DID YOU HEAR WHAT HAPPENED >> WORD TRAVELED UP TO ME
SOMEHOW FROM SOMEONE IN THE CYCLING INDUSTRY
I WAS ON A BIKE RIDE AND I-- YEAH
LIKE, SORT OF LOST FEELING IN MY BODY
>> Reporter: JUST SEEMED LIKE A RANDOM THING
NOBODY KNEW. >> I MEAN, NO.
NOBODY KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON. I MEAN, THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO
DESCRIBE IT THAN DISBELIEF AND SHOCK.
>> Reporter: UH-HUH. >> AND I KNOW THAT THOSE WORDS
DON'T CARRY WEIGHT BECAUSE THEY'RE
-THEY'RE - >> Reporter: OVERUSED.
>> DESCRIBING SOMETHING THAT'S SO INEXPLICABLE.
BUT THAT'S WHAT IT WAS WHAT DO YOU DO
HOW CAN THIS BE REAL ARE WE -- IS THIS REALLY REAL?
>> Reporter: INTELLIGENT HARD-WORKING
A GRACIOUS COMPETITOR. NO KNOWN ENEMIES
SHOT DEAD IN THE BATHROOM OF AN AUSTIN APARTMENT JUST WEEKS
BEFORE AN IMPORTANT RACE AND THERE WAS ALMOST, BUT NOT
QUITE, A WITNESS THE LANDLORD WHO LIVED IN A
SEPARATE HOUSE ON THE PROPERTY HAPPENED TO BE IN THE GARAGE
DIRECTLY BELOW THE APARTMENT TINKERING WITH HIS CARS.
HIS CONVERSATION WITH POLICE WAS RECOUNTED IN AN AFFIDAVIT LATER
FILED IN COURT >> HE SAID HE WAS IN THE GARAGE
BETWEEN 8:30 AND 9:30 P.M. AND OPENED THE DOOR JUST
PARTIALLY. AND THEN HE HEARD SOMEONE
RUNNING DOWN THE STAIRS. >> Reporter: BUT -- AND THIS IS
THE STRANGE THING. THE LANDLORD TOLD POLICE HE
HEARD SOMEONE RUN DOWN THESE STEPS.
THERE'S NO INDICATION HE MENTIONED HEARING GUNSHOTS
BUT A GUN WAS FIRED IN THE APARTMENT.
NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. 9mm SHELL CASINGS SCATTERED ON
THE FLOOR. PROOF A PISTOL HAD BEEN FIRED
MULTIPLE TIMES >> Reporter: A SEMIAUTOMATIC
WEAPON OF THAT SORT, DOES IT MAKE A LOT OF NOISE?
>> IT CAN. IT CAN
>> Reporter: 160 DECIBELS WORTH. LOUDER THAN A JET ENGINE AT TAKE
OFF. IF A 9mm PISTOL WAS FIRED IN THE
ROOM RIGHT ABOVE HIS HEAD, IT'S LIKELY THE LANDLORD WOULD HAVE
HEARD IT IF HE DIDN'T
WELL, SAID THOMSON, MAYBE THE SHOOTING HAPPENED BEFORE THE
LANDLORD OPENED THE GARAGE DOOR, WHICH COULD HAVE STARTLED
MORIAH'S KILLER. >> AND THE EXIT DOWN THE STAIRS
MAY HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN PROMPTED BY THE SOUND OF THE GARAGE DOOR
OPENING. >> Reporter: QUITE POSSIBLY?
>> MHM >> Reporter: THE LANDLORD TOLD
POLICE SOMETHING ELSE, TOO HE WASN'T SURE, BUT HE MAY HAVE
SEEN A BIKE WHIZZING DOWN THE ALLEY.
SO WAS MORIAH KILLED FOR HER RACING BIKE?
>> BUT THE PART OF THAT PLAN THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE IS
WHY DID YOU GO INSIDE THE HOUSE AND SHOOT THEM IN THE BATHROOM
TO GET THE BICYCLE >> Reporter: SOMETHING ELSE THAT
DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. DURING THEIR SEARCH OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT NIGHT, POLICE FOUND MORIAH'S BIKE.
HERE, HIDDEN IN THE BACK ALLEY LESS THAN 70 FEET FROM THE
APARTMENT WHERE SHE WAS SHOT >> THEY FOUND THE BICYCLE
BASICALLY IN A CLUSTER OF BAMBOO
>> Reporter: WHAT WOULD THAT BE ALL ABOUT?
>> THAT IS A REALLY GOOD QUESTION
IT COULD BE THAT PART OF THE PLAN WAS TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE A
ROBBERY FOR THE BIKE IT COULD BE SYMBOLIC
TAKING THE BICYCLE AND DUMPING IT IN THE BUSHES, WHICH SEEMS A
LITTLE ODD >> Reporter: IF IT WASN'T A
ROBBERY GONE WRONG, THEN THE OBVIOUS CONCLUSION -
MORIAH WILSON WAS THE TARGET >> NICE JOB, MO.
WAY TO DO IT AT THE END ON DOUBLE PEAK.
>> OH, MY GOD .. >> Reporter: WHICH MEANT THE
LAST KNOWN PERSON TO HAVE SEEN HER ALIVE THAT EVENING WAS
CLEARLY GOING TO BE A PERSON OF INTEREST
MORIAH'S FRIEND TOLD THEM MORIAH SPENT THE EARLY EVENING WITH A
MAN, A FELLOW GRAVEL RACER BUT THAT PRESENTED ITS OWN SET
OF COMPLICATIONS BECAUSE THAT OTHER RIDER WAS A
LOCAL CELEBRITY. >> MY NAME IS COLIN STRICKLAND
I'M A BICYCLE RACER BASED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
>>> COMING UP. >> IF YOU WERE TO DRAW THE IDEAL
CYCLIST, I THINK HE LOOKS LIKE COLIN STRICKLAND
AND MAYBE SHE WAS HIS MATCH. >> IT'S GREAT.
>> Reporter: AUSTIN, TEXAS WAS ONCE HOME TO AMERICA'S MOST
FAMOUS CYCLIST EVER, LANCE ARMSTRONG, WHO HELPED
CREATE A PASSION FOR ANYTHING CYCLING IN THIS TOWN
IN 2012, ARMSTRONG WAS STRIPPED OF HIS SEVEN TOUR DE FRANCE
TITLES AFTER ADMITTING HE USED PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUGS.
>> COLIN'S OUT THERE'S YOUR TOP FIVE LEADERS
BACK OUT ON THE ROAD >> Reporter: BUT IN RECENT
YEARS, A NEW HOMETOWN HERO EMERGED --
35-YEAR-OLD COLIN STRICKLAND COLIN IS ONE OF THE TOP GRAVEL
RACERS IN THE COUNTRY. HE WAS ALSO THE LAST PERSON
KNOWN TO HAVE SEEN MORIAH WILSON ALIVE.
NOW POLICE WANTED TO LEARN EVERYTHING THEY COULD ABOUT HIM.
>> THIS IS THE ALL-ROAD. IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE SWISS ARMY
KNIFE OF BIKES >> IF YOU WERE TO DRAW THE IDEAL
CYCLIST, I THINK HE LOOKS LIKE COLIN STRICKLAND
6'2", SKINNY BUT POWERFUL. >> Reporter: COLIN WAS SO WIDELY
ADMIRED, SO CHARISMATIC -- SAID REPORTER RYAN AUTULLO -- HE
SEEMED TO CREATE HIS OWN GRAVITATIONAL PULL
>> HE'S FROM THE AUSTIN AREA, BORN AND RAISED.
WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. AND PEOPLE WANTED TO RACE WITH
HIM, TRAIN WITH HIM, BE AROUND HIM.
HE WAS A FRIENDLY GUY AND JUST BELOVED IN THE AUSTIN CYCLING
COMMUNITY. >> Reporter: COLIN CAME OUT OF
NOWHERE IN 2019 WHEN HE WON GRAVEL RACING'S PREMIER EVENT --
UNBOUND GRAVEL THE SAME 200-MILE RACE THAT WAS
SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN MORIAH WILSON'S COMING-OUT
PARTY. >> GUYS, YOU'RE LOOKING GOOD
>> Reporter: HE WAS PICKED UP BY A HOST OF SPONSORS
ONE OF THEM, RED BULL, WAS SO HAPPY TO SIGN COLIN THEY
PRODUCED THIS HIGH-END VIDEO TO SHOWCASE HIM
>> SOME OF THE BEST ATHLETES IN THE WORLD ARE RED BULL ATHLETES.
>> Reporter: JOURNALIST, GRAVEL-CYCLER, AND FRIEND OF
COLIN'S, JAMES STOUT, HELPED OUT ON THE PRODUCTION.
>> TELL US WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO GET READY.
>> HE WENT TO RED BULL TO DO LOADS OF TESTING, RIGHT?
AND THEY HAVE THIS ATHLETE PERFORMANCE CENTER UP IN
SANTA MONICA AND THEY REALLY HAVE A BATTERY
OF PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP YOU BE THE BEST THAT YOU CAN BE
>> COLIN WAS PART OF THAT --- THAT CREW OF, SORT OF, ELITE
GUYS WE CALL IT THE POINTY END OF THE
RACE SO THAT'S -- THAT'S THE PRO END.
AND FOR THOSE PEOPLE, IT'S VERY COMPETITIVE.
>> Reporter: BUT AS COLIN TOLD FLOSPORTS, HIS LIFE WAS MORE
THAN JUST GRAVEL RACING. HE WAS TRAINED AS AN
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST. AND HE WAS A TINKERER.
HE TOOK PRIDE IN AN OLD TRAVEL TRAILER HE RESTORED HIMSELF.
>> THESE ARE ANTIQUE STYLE PUSH KNOBS WITH DIMMERS FOR THE LED
LIGHTING >> IN CYCLING, YOU SEE A NUMBER
OF TOP CYCLISTS AS ONE DIMENSIONAL.
THEY WAKE UP, THEY TRAIN, THEY EAT HEALTHY, THEY LIFT WEIGHTS,
THEY GO TO SLEEP, THEY DO IT AGAIN.
THAT DIDN'T REALLY FIT COLIN STRICKLAND IN HIS
TRAINING I MEAN HE WAS DEDICATED.
HE ENJOYED THE SPORT, BUT HE ENJOYED MANY OTHER THINGS.
AND I THINK THAT WAS PART OF HIS CHARM.
>> THE WEATHER LOOKS PERFECT IN MY BOOK.
IT'S BREEZY AND WARM >> Reporter: IN JULY OF 2021,
COLIN WAS RACING AT THE BELGIAN WAFFLE RIDE IN SAN DIEGO
AND ONE OF THE OTHER RIDERS THERE WAS THE RISING STAR
MORIAH WILSON. >> YEAH, IT'S GREAT.
I'M STOKED TO BE HERE. >> Reporter: AND IT WAS NO
SURPRISE -- SAID COLIN'S FRIEND JAMES STOUT -- THAT MORIAH AND
COLIN MET. AND HIT IT OFF
>> IT'S LIKE A TRAVELING CIRCUS IN A WAY, RIGHT?
YOU SEE THESE PEOPLE EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS THROUGHOUT THE
SUMMER, RIGHT? YOU'RE HERE, YOU'RE THERE.
YOU DO THE RACE. YOU'RE IN THESE NICE BARS WITH
WEALTHY PEOPLE WHO'LL BUY YOU A BUNCH OF BEERS
'CAUSE OFTEN, ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING VERY WELL END UP
AT THE SAME PARTY AFTERWARDS >> Reporter: A FEW MONTHS LATER.
OCTOBER, 2021. MORIAH WAS IN AUSTIN, STAYING
WITH HER FEMALE FRIEND AT THIS VERY SAME GARAGE APARTMENT
AND THAT'S WHEN THE FLING HAPPENED -- COLIN AND MORIAH
BUT WHAT ISN'T CLEAR IS WHAT COLIN TOLD MORIAH, IF ANYTHING,
ABOUT THE STATE OF HIS LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP WITH ANOTHER
WOMAN -- A WOMAN NAMED KAITLIN THREE MONTHS LATER, WHEN MORIAH
RAN INTO COLIN AT THE UCI CYCLO- CROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS, KAITLIN WAS RIGHT THERE WITH HIM
MORIAH, CLEARLY CAUGHT OFF GUARD, TEXTED COLIN.
"HEY, SO, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU AT SOME POINT
THIS WEEKEND WAS STRANGE FOR ME AND I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S
GOING ON IF YOU JUST WANT TO BE FRIENDS,
SEEMS TO BE THE CASE, THEN THAT'S COOL.
BUT I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT, 'CAUSE HONESTLY MY MIND HAS BEEN
GOING IN CIRCLES AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK."
>> SHE'S CONFUSED. SHE SEES THE TWO OF THEM AT AN
EVENT, AND SHE'S CONFUSED. >> ARE WE TOGETHER OR NOT?
>> YES >> Reporter: COLIN TEXTED MORIAH
THE FOLLOWING DAY. "HEY, MO, I FEEL VERY S----- FOR
PUTTING YOU IN A POSITION WHERE YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE
KAITLIN CAME ALONG TO A MEETING ABOUT THE SPRINTER/SPARTAN HOTEL
PROJECT. IN HINDSIGHT, THIS WAS NOT A
GOOD IDEA. >> IT'S THIS SORT OF VAGUE, NOT
REALLY AN EXPLANATION. AND HE DEFINITELY DOES NOT
ANSWER HER QUESTION ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP
>> UNH-UH. >> SO RIGHT OFF THE BAT, I'M
SEEING THIS VERY POOR COMMUNICATION.
THIS IS NOT MATTER OF FACT IT'S NOT UP FRONT, YOU KNOW?
HE'S DECEITFUL HE'S DECEITFUL TO HER.
HE'S CLEARLY DECEITFUL TO KAITLIN.
>> Reporter: WHAT COLIN DIDN'T REVEAL IN HIS TEXT TO MORIAH,
WAS THAT HE AND KAITLIN WERE VERY MUCH TOGETHER -- A COUPLE
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH CONTACT COLIN HAD OR DIDN'T HAVE WITH
MORIAH AFTER THIS UNCOMFORTABLE JANUARY RUN-IN
BUT FOUR MONTHS LATER, JUST A DAY AFTER RETURNING TO AUSTIN
FOR A RACE, MORIAH WAS MURDERED. THAT FRIEND MORIAH HAD BEEN
STAYING WITH TOLD POLICE MORIAH TEXTED HER AROUND 5:30 P.M. TO
SAY THAT SHE AND COLIN HAD PLANS TO GO SWIMMING
THE POLICE AFFIDAVIT RECOUNTS WHAT MORIAH'S FRIEND DID WHEN
SHE HEARD THAT NEWS. >> SHE WENT BACK HOME TO TALK TO
MORIAH ABOUT THAT. >> BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY
SAID TO EACH OTHER. >> NO, BUT I THINK IT'S NOT TOO
MUCH OF A LEAP TO THINK IF YOUR FRIEND TELLS YOU THEY'RE GONNA
GO SWIMMING WITH A FRIEND, WHY WOULD YOU COME HOME TO TALK
ABOUT THAT UNLESS YOU HAD SOME CONCERNS
>> Reporter: CONCERNS ABOUT SEEING COLIN
AND YET THEY DID GO OUT TOGETHER
MEANING COLIN STRICKLAND WAS THE LAST PERSON KNOWN TO HAVE SEEN
MORIAH WILSON ALIVE. >> COMING UP -
>> COLIN IS BEING LOOKED AT. HE'S THE LAST PERSON TO SEE HER.
>> AND DETECTIVES UNCOVER THEIR FIRST MAJOR CLUE
>> THEY WERE ABLE TO CAPTURE THIS PRETTY DISTINCT JEEP
CHEROKEE THAT WAS IN THE AREA. IT HAD THIS REALLY LARGE,
>> Reporter: EARLY IN THE MORNING AFTER MORIAH WILSON WAS
MURDERED, DETECTIVES SHOWED UP AT THE DOOR OF LOCAL CYCLING
HERO COLIN STRICKLAND. >> COLIN IS BEING LOOKED AT.
"OKAY, HE'S THE LAST PERSON TO SEE HER SO, YOU KNOW, WE -- WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT HE ISN'T THE SUSPECT.
>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE POLICE AFFIDAVIT, COLIN WENT
DOWN TO THE STATION AND WILLINGLY ANSWERED QUESTIONS FOR
HOURS, GIVING A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF WHAT HE AND MORIAH DID ON THE
NIGHT SHE DIED >> THEY HAVE IMMEDIATELY A
TIMELINE AND AS -
>> Reporter: A VERY PRECISE TIMELINE
MY GOODNESS. >> PRECISE
TO THE MINUTE. AND THIS BECOMES EXTREMELY
CRUCIAL. >> Reporter: POLICE DIDN'T JUST
TAKE COLIN'S WORD FOR IT THEY FOUND SILENT WITNESSES,
IMPECCABLY HONEST ONES THE ELECTRONICS.
>> EVERYTHING IN THIS CASE RIDES ON AND RESTS ON ELECTRONIC DATA.
>> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS LEARNED THE EXACT MINUTE MORIAH
LEFT THE APARTMENT THAT EARLY EVENING.
HOW? SHE TRIGGERED HER OWN UNIQUE
CODE TO THIS HIGH TECH ELECTRONIC LOCK ON THE DOOR.
NOT ONLY A DOOR THAT COULD RECORD WHEN IT WAS LOCKED AND
UNLOCKED, BUT IT HAD VERY SPECIFIC -
>> YES >> Reporter: ONLY A CERTAIN
PERSON COULD DO IT AND IT WOULD -
>> CORRECT >> Reporter: -- RECORD WHEN THAT
CERTAIN PERSON DID IT. >> YES
THE DOOR LOCK CODE SHOWED AT 5:55 P.M. IS WHEN MORIAH LEFT
THE FRIEND'S AND LOCKED THE DOOR
>> Reporter: SO POLICE COULD COMPARE THAT TO WHAT COLIN TOLD
THEM HE SAID HE PICKED UP MORIAH ON
HIS MOTORCYCLE AND THEY WENT FOR AN EARLY EVENING SWIM AT A LOCAL
POOL, AND THEN FOR A BURGER. AND THERE WAS SECURITY VIDEO
THAT CONFIRMED THAT. >> AT 8:16 P.M. IS WHEN
STRICKLAND AND MORIAH ARE SEEN LEAVING THE PARKING LOT OF THE
BURGER PLACE ON THE MOTORCYCLE >> Reporter: 19 MINUTES LATER,
AT 8:35 P.M., ANOTHER SECURITY CAMERA CAUGHT COLIN, NOW RIDING
ALONE AND HEADING AWAY FROM THE GARAGE APARTMENT, APPARENTLY
AFTER DROPPING OFF MORIAH. AND ONE MINUTE AFTER THAT,
MORIAH WAS AT THE APARTMENT'S FRONT DOOR
>> AT 8:36, THE DOOR LOCK CODE INDICATES THAT MORIAH UNLOCKED
THE DOOR AND ENTERED THE PROPERTY
>> Reporter: 12 MINUTES LATER, 8:48 P.M., ANOTHER SECURITY CAM
PICKED UP COLIN RIDING HIS MOTORCYCLE 8 MILES AWAY FROM THE
APARTMENT. FROM THE AMOUNT OF TIME IN THESE
RECORDS, DOES IT SHOW THAT HE COULD HAVE GONE UPSTAIRS WITH
HER AND, YOU KNOW, SPENT SOME TIME WITH HER THERE?
OR DID HE JUST DROP HER OFF AND LEAVE?
>> SO THERE'S NO LAG OF HIM STOPPING
IT IS SEEING HIM IN THE ALLEY AND THEN IMMEDIATELY SEEING HIM
CONTINUE ON. >> Reporter: THE DATA COULDN'T
LIE. AND APPARENTLY COLIN DIDN'T.
THERE JUST WASN'T ENOUGH TIME FOR HIM TO KILL MORIAH, STEAL
HER BIKE, STASH IT, AND GET SO FAR AWAY
BUT THE DATA ALSO SHOWED SOMETHING ELSE FROM THE SAME
ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCK THAT RECORDED MORIAH'S ARRIVAL.
>> IT DID NOT SHOW IT WAS AGAIN LOCKED
>> Reporter: WHICH MEANT THE DOOR WAS OPEN FOR THE KILLER TO
WALK RIGHT IN. BUT WHO WAS THAT
DETECTIVES SCOURED THE NEIGHBORHOOD LOOKING FOR MORE
WITNESSES, HUMAN OR ELECTRONIC AND HERE'S WHERE POLICE GOT
THEIR FIRST MAJOR CLUE VIDEO FROM A NEARBY RING
SECURITY CAMERA. IT SHOWED A BLACK SUV TRAVELING
ON A STREET JUST NORTH OF THE APARTMENT TEN MINUTES BEFORE
MORIAH AND COLIN ARRIVED >> SO THEY WERE ABLE TO CAPTURE
THIS PRETTY DISTINCT JEEP CHEROKEE THAT WAS IN THE AREA.
IT HAD THIS LUGGAGE RACK, AND IT HAD THIS REALLY LARGE,
COMPLICATED BIKE RACK ON IT. >> Reporter: 11 MINUTES LATER,
ANOTHER RING CAM SHOWED THIS IN THE BACK ALLEY
IT WAS DARK BY THEN. BUT LOOK
THE SAME BLACK JEEP DRIVING UP THE ALLEY JUST A FEW FEET BEHIND
THE APARTMENT. WATCH CAREFULLY AS IT GOES OUT
OF FRAME, AND THEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AND THE JEEP
APPEARS TO STOP. THE TIME WAS 8:37 P.M., 1 MINUTE
AFTER MORIAH UNLOCKED THE DOOR SO THIS IS SOMEBODY WHO'S
WATCHING >> ABSOLUTELY.
ONE MINUTE IS NO COINCIDENCE >> Reporter: NO.
SO WAS THE DRIVER OF THE JEEP FOLLOWING COLIN AND MORIAH
LIZ THOMSON DOESN'T THINK SO AT LEAST NOT TAILING THEM.
>> COLIN HAD PICKED UP MORIAH ON HIS MOTORCYCLE
WELL, I HAVE TRAINING IN TRAILING PEOPLE.
AND TRAILING A MOTORCYCLE IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT
>> Reporter: ESPECIALLY AVOIDING THEM SEEING YOU --
>> EXACTLY >> Reporter: INSTEAD, SHE SAID,
WHOEVER WAS IN THE JEEP MAY HAVE BEEN USING SOME SORT OF TRACKING
APP AND HAD BEEN USING IT ALL EVENING.
THAT WAY THEY'D KNOW WHERE COLIN PICKED UP MORIAH AND COULD BE
THERE LYING IN WAIT WHEN THE TWO RETURNED
ALL JUST SPECULATION, MIND YOU BUT FOR POLICE, THE JEEP WAS A
MAJOR LEAD, ITS DRIVER AN OBVIOUS PERSON OF INTEREST
WHICH IS WHY THIS DETAIL FROM THE POLICE AFFIDAVIT BECAME
EXTREMELY INTERESTING. WHEN DETECTIVES WENT TO COLIN'S
HOUSE THAT MORNING AFTER THE MURDER, THEY SAW THREE VEHICLES
THERE. HIS BMW MOTORCYCLE, AN OLD
MERCEDES-BENZ, AND A BLACK JEEP CHEROKEE WITH A VERY ELABORATE
BIKE RACK. >>> COMING UP --
WHOSE JEEP WAS IT? SOMEONE VERY CLOSE TO COLIN.
>> SHE STRUCK ME AS THE SORT OF PERSON WHO WOULD WANT SOMETHING
AND GO GET IT. >> Reporter: IT WAS POTENTIALLY
A HUGE BREAK IN THE INVESTIGATION.
RIGHT HERE ON RING VIDEO RECORDED NEAR THE APARTMENT
WHERE MORIAH WILSON WAS MURDERED, A BLACK SUV MUCH LIKE
THE ONE DETECTIVES SAW IN COLIN STRICKLAND'S DRIVEWAY.
>> THIS VERY, VERY, VERY SIMILAR VEHICLE IS PARKED THERE.
>> Reporter: HAD TO BE THE SAME SUV.
SO THEY ASKED COLIN ABOUT IT AND HE TOLD THEM THE JEEP WASN'T
HIS. ACCORDING TO COLIN, IT BELONGED
TO HIS LONGTIME GIRLFRIEND HER NAME, AS YOU'VE ALREADY
HEARD, WAS KAITLIN -- KAITLIN ARMSTRONG, AGE 34.
>> SHE'S INTELLIGENT, SPEAKS MULTIPLE LANGUAGES
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, LICENSED REALTOR, TAUGHT YOGA
>> Reporter: SO NOW THE DETECTIVES NEEDED TO KNOW
EVERYTHING THEY COULD ABOUT THIS KAITLIN ARMSTRONG.
WAS KAITLIN ARMSTRONG RELATED AT ALL TO THE FAMOUS ARMSTRONG,
LANCE? >> NO RELATION
>> Reporter: WAS SHE A SERIOUS CYCLIST?
>> KAITLIN IS PROBABLY WHAT YOU -- YOU WOULD CALL A HOBBY
CYCLIST. ABOVE AVERAGE.
JUST NOT AT THE LEVEL OF COLIN AND MORIAH WHICH, YOU KNOW,
NOBODY WAS >> KAITLIN WAS A FUN LOVING,
ADVENTUROUS PERSON AND VERY SMART AS WELL TOO
SHE WAS FANTASTIC AT MATH. I REMEMBER THAT.
>> Reporter: KRISTEN MOSTROM KNEW KAITLIN FROM CHILDHOOD.
THEY BOTH GREW UP IN LIVONIA, MICHIGAN, A SUBURB OF DETROIT.
>> HER FAMILY LIVED TWO BLOCKS FROM US, AND IT WAS HER SINGLE
MOM. SO THE MOM WAS RAISING THESE
THREE KIDS >> Reporter: KAITLIN WAS THE
MIDDLE CHILD WITH AN OLDER BROTHER AND YOUNGER SISTER
>> CHRISTINE WAS HER YOUNGER SISTER, AND SHE WAS ALWAYS --
ALMOST LIKE A MOTHERLY FIGURE TO HER, A GOOD, NURTURING SISTER TO
CHRISTINE. >> Reporter: AFTER COLLEGE,
KAITLIN TRAVELED THE WORLD FOR YOGA TRAINING, MOSTLY BALI,
ICELAND, MEXICO. EVENTUALLY SHE ENDED UP IN
AUSTIN, AND THAT'S WHERE SHE CROSSED PATHS WITH
COLIN STRICKLAND >> I THINK THEY'D OBVIOUSLY HAD
THEIR UPS AND DOWNS IN THE PAST. BUT AT THAT TIME, THEY WERE VERY
HAPPY TOGETHER >> Reporter: JAMES STOUT MET
KAITLIN A YEAR AGO, ONE NIGHT OVER DINNER.
>> COLIN HAD INTRODUCED US, AND SHE STRUCK ME AS THE SORT OF
PERSON WHO WOULD WANT SOMETHING AND GO GET IT.
COLIN'S A VERY DETERMINED PERSON, AND SHE'S A VERY
DETERMINED PERSON. AND I WAS LIKE, "HOLY --
THEY'RE, LIKE -- LIKE, THE POWER RANGERS," YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY,
LIKE, COME TOGETHER AND MAKE A BIG POWER RANGER
>> Reporter: AND SO IT WAS OR SEEMED TO BE.
REMEMBER THE OLD TRAVEL TRAILER COLIN LOVED SO MUCH?
>> I'M BUILDING A TINY HOUSE INSIDE A LIGHT WEIGHT MOBILE
SHELL. >> Reporter: HE STARTED A
BUSINESS COLLECTING VINTAGE TRAILERS AND REFURBISHING THEM
WITH HIGH-END INTERIORS. KAITLIN WAS HIS BUSINESS
PARTNER. >> I THINK MECHANICALLY, HE WAS
INSIDE OF THESE TRAILERS FIXING THEM UP, RETROFITTING THEM
I THINK FINANCIALLY, SHE HELPED HIM.
>> Reporter: EVEN AS SHE BUILT HER OWN CAREER IN REAL ESTATE.
>> SHE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL CAREER SELLING -- FLIPPING
HOUSES >> Reporter: AND SHE WAS AN AVID
YOGA PRACTITIONER. >> I THINK SHE HAD A LOT OF GOOD
THINGS GOING FOR HER >> Reporter: BUT NOW IT SEEMED
VERY LIKELY THAT HER JEEP WAS AT THE MURDER SCENE
AND ANOTHER THING. COLIN TOLD THE POLICE A FEW
MONTHS EARLIER HE HAD PURCHASED TWO GUNS, ONE FOR HIMSELF AND
ONE FOR KAITLIN. 9 MILLIMETER HANDGUNS, THE SAME
TYPE OF WEAPON USED TO KILL MORIAH
IT WAS TIME TO BRING KAITLIN IN FOR QUESTIONING.
AND IT JUST SO HAPPENED SHE WAS WANTED ON A MISDEMEANOR CHARGE
FOR AN UNPAID MEDICAL BILL -- $650 FOR BOTOX TREATMENT
>> THEY THOUGHT THAT THEY HAD THIS VALID WARRANT
>> Reporter: SO THEY PUT HER IN HANDCUFFS AND BROUGHT HER TO THE
AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT WHAT CAN YOU TELL ABOUT THAT
FIRST CONVERSATION WITH KAITLIN? >> THEY HAD HER CAR ON THE
VIDEO. IT HAD TO BE HER
WHO ELSE COULD IT BE COLIN WAS ON THE MOTORCYCLE.
>> THEY HAVE WHAT LOOKS LIKE HER VEHICLE.
BUT THEY DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE VIDEO OF HER GETTING OUT OF THE
VEHICLE. >> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE
AFFIDAVIT, WHEN DETECTIVES CONFRONTED KAITLIN ABOUT THE
VIDEO THEY DID HAVE OF A JEEP THAT LOOKED LIKE HERS AT THE
SCENE OF THE CRIME AROUND THE TIME MORIAH WAS KILLED, KAITLIN
SEEMED TO NOD HER HEAD BUT SAID NOT A WORD
>> AND SHE WASN'T GIVING A LOT OF INFORMATION
>> Reporter: SHE'S NODDING LIKE I'M NODDING NOW OR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT. >> YES
WHICH IS A GREAT CAUSE OF CONCERN FOR A SKILLED
INVESTIGATOR >> Reporter: AND ABOUT THEN, THE
POLICE DISCOVERED WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THAT
WARRANT THEY'D USED TO ARREST HER.
>> IT WASN'T SO MUCH THAT THE WARRANT WASN'T VALID
IT JUST HAD A MISTAKE, SO THEY COULDN'T SAY AT THAT MOMENT THAT
THAT WAS EXACTLY HER I THINK THERE WAS A DIGIT WRONG
IN THE - >> Reporter: IT'S LIKE A TYPO OR
SOMETHING. >> DATE OF BIRTH
EXACTLY. IT WAS A TYPO.
>> Reporter: DETECTIVES HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO LET HER GO WHILE
THEY DUG A LITTLE DEEPER INTO THE STORY OF KAITLIN ARMSTRONG
>>> COMING UP -- KAITLIN'S RELATIONSHIP WITH
COLIN. >> MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT
EMOTIONALLY, MAYBE SOMETHING WAS LACKING THERE.
>> AND HER CONTACTS WITH MORIAH. >> KAITLIN STARTED TO FOLLOW HER
ON INSTAGRAM CONTACTED HER BY PHONE AND SAID,
"COLIN IS MY -- MY BOYFRIEND," AND, "BACK OFF."
>> Reporter: KAITLIN ARMSTRONG WAS A PUZZLEMENT
A PERSON OF INTEREST IN A MURDER WHO SEEMED ANYTHING BUT
HOMICIDAL. >> SHE'S LEADING THIS SEEMINGLY
SORT OF NORMAL, MILLENNIAL LIFE IF YOU WILL.
YOGA TEACHER AND - >> Reporter: ZEN YOGA.
I MEAN, SOMEBODY WHO SHOULD BE SO CALM, AND RELAXED, AND --
>> EXACTLY WHERE ARE THE RED FLAGS?
WHERE ARE THE INDICATORS OF VIOLENCE
>> Reporter: STILL, DETECTIVES WERE TAKING A HARD LOOK AT
KAITLIN AND HER RELATIONSHIP WITH COLIN STRICKLAND.
BUSINESS PARTNERS AND LIFE PARTNERS
BUT, AFTER THREE YEARS TOGETHER, PERHAPS SPARKS WEREN'T FLYING
QUITE SO FREQUENTLY ANYMORE. >> MY UNDERSTANDING IN SPEAKING
WITH SOME PEOPLE AROUND THEM WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, EMOTIONALLY,
MAYBE SOMETHING WAS LACKING THERE.
THAT THIS RELATIONSHIP WAS CONVENIENT FOR BOTH OF THEM
BECAUSE THEY WERE BUSINESS PARTNERS
>> Reporter: IF THEIR BUSINESS WAS THE GLUE HOLDING COLIN AND
KAITLIN TOGETHER, BY DECEMBER OF 2021, THAT TOO WAS UNDER STRESS.
>> THEY'RE TRYING TO DO THIS COMPLICATED REAL ESTATE
TRANSACTION, WHICH GOES BADLY. SO HE FILES A LAWSUIT.
>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO COURT RECORDS, AFTER A LAND DEAL HE
AND KAITLIN WERE PURSUING WENT SOUTH, COLIN SUED HIS REALTOR
AND HIS CONTRACTOR, AMONG OTHERS, FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT
HE WAS SEEKING MORE THAN $1 MILLION IN DAMAGES.
SO TURMOIL ON THE BUSINESS SIDE. AND ON THE PERSONAL SIDE, AS WE
KNOW COLIN'S FLING WITH MORIAH DURING
THE FALL OF 2021 >> AND THEN THAT WAS BRIEF AND
HE GETS BACK WITH KAITLIN. SO IT ALMOST SEEMED TO ME MIDDLE
SCHOOL-ISH >> Reporter: IT STRIKES ME AS
MAYBE SOME PEOPLE WHO JUST WEREN'T TOO SURE WHAT THEY
WANTED TO DO WITH THEIR LIVES YET.
THEIR ROMANTIC LIVES AT LEAST. >> I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY A
GOOD CHARACTERIZATION. >> Reporter: BUT HOW DID IT LOOK
TO KAITLIN MORIAH WILSON WAS NINE YEARS
YOUNGER, AND A RISING-STAR IN COLIN'S SPORT.
IT WAS STIFF COMPETITION >> THE BRASS RING WAS SLIPPIN'
AWAY >> Reporter: IN HIS INTERVIEW
WITH POLICE, COLIN ADMITTED HE HAD LIED TO KAITLIN ABOUT HIS
LAST ENCOUNTER WITH MORIAH THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER DROPPING MORIAH OFF, HE TEXTED KAITLIN.
>> HEY ARE YOU OUT I WENT TO DROP SOME FLOWERS FOR
ALISON AT HER SON'S HOUSE UP NORTH AND MY PHONE
NORTH AND MY PHONE DIED. >> Reporter: HE SAID HE HAD
TO KEEP HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH MORIAH A SECRET FROM KAITLIN
HE ACTUALLY CHANGED MORIAH'S NAME IN HIS PHONE CONTACT LIST
AND DELETED THEIR TEXT MESSAGES SO KAITLIN COULDN'T FIND THEM.
WHY ALL THE DECEPTION? MAYBE BECAUSE DURING THE FLING,
AS COLIN WOULD TELL POLICE, KAITLIN PHONED MORIAH --
PROBABLY STAYING AT THE SAME APARTMENT WHERE SHE WAS LATER
SHOT TO DEATH -- AND SAID, â HEY, DO YOU KNOW THAT I
PRETTY MUCH LIVE AT COLIN'S HOUSE AND AFTER THE MURDER,
POLICE FOUND A WITNESS WHO TOLD THEM THAT WASN'T THE ONLY CALL
KAITLIN MADE TO MORIAH >> THE DETECTIVES GOT AHOLD OF A
FRIEND OF MORIAH'S AFTER THE MURDER, A FEW DAYS LATER
AND THAT FRIEND IS IN THE REPORT UNDER A PSEUDONYM, JANE.
>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE AFFIDAVIT, JANE ASKED TO REMAIN
ANONYMOUS, FEARING SHE WOULD BE TARGETED BY KAITLIN.
SHE TOLD POLICE MORIAH AND COLIN'S LIAISON DIDN'T END WITH
THE FLING. JANE SAID THE TWO HAD CONTINUED
TO SEE EACH OTHER IN WHAT SHE CALLED AN "ON AGAIN-OFF AGAIN"
RELATIONSHIP JANE ALSO SAID MORIAH HAD
RECEIVED NUMEROUS CALLS FROM KAITLIN IN THE FALL OF
2021 TELLING HER TO STAY AWAY FROM COLIN
SO MANY CALLS, SHE SAID, THAT MORIAH BLOCKED KAITLIN'S PHONE
NUMBER >> AND JANE TALKED ABOUT HOW
MORIAH REPORTED TO HER THAT KAITLIN STARTED TO FOLLOW HER ON
INSTAGRAM. >> Reporter: THAT SCARED HER A
BIT. >> YEAH, IT BOTHERED HER,
BECAUSE THIS IS A WOMAN WHO'D ALREADY CONTACTED HER BY PHONE
AND SAID, "I --" YOU KNOW, BASICALLY, "COLIN IS MY
BOYFRIEND," OR, "MINE. AND BACK OFF
>> Reporter: THE DAY AFTER THEY INTERVIEWED JANE, POLICE HEARD
FROM A SECOND ANONYMOUS TIPSTER WHO SAID SHE WITNESSED KAITLIN'S
REACTION WHEN SHE REALIZED COLLIN AND MORIAH HAD CONTINUED
TO SEE EACH OTHER. >> AND AT THAT POINT, ACCORDING
TO THE TIPSTER, KAITLIN ARMSTRONG BECAME
ENRAGED. SHE WAS FURIOUS.
>> Reporter: THE TIPSTER TOLD POLICE, IN HER FIT OF ANGER,
KAITLIN SAID - >> SHE SAID, "I AM GOING TO KILL
THAT WOMAN." >> Reporter: WELL, YEAH.
PROBABLY NOT A WISE THING TO SAY ABOUT ANYBODY, BUT WHEN THAT
WOMAN WINDS UP DEAD, IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD.
>> IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD. >> Reporter: FOR THOSE WHO KNEW
CALM, PERSONABLE KAITLIN, NONE OF THIS MADE ANY SENSE
>> I DIDN'T PERCEIVE ANY OF THAT
NO SORT OF JEALOUSY, NO SORT OF CONTROLLING RELATIONSHIP
BEHAVIOR IT'S SO EASY TO FALL INTO THIS
GENDERED STEREOTYPES OF, LIKE, CRAZY, JEALOUS GIRLFRIEND.
AND, LIKE, I DIDN'T SEE THAT >> Reporter: SIX DAYS AFTER THE
MURDER, DETECTIVES ASKED COLIN TO COME BACK TO THE STATION FOR
A SECOND INTERVIEW, THIS ONE FOCUSED ON KAITLIN
WE OBTAINED THE TRANSCRIPT AND HERE IS THE GIST OF WHAT HE
SAID AS, HOUR AFTER HOUR, THEY ASKED HIM ABOUT HIS GIRLFRIEND
>> DO I THINK KAITLIN COULD KILL SOMEBODY
NO, I DON'T. >> SHE'S AN INCREDIBLY KIND,
CARING, SWEET PERSON WHO HAS HELPED ME TAKE CARE OF MY AGING
MOTHER >> Reporter: WAS SHE JEALOUS
NO, SAID COLIN >> SHE'S BY FAR ONE OF THE LEAST
VOLATILE WOMEN I HAVE DATED IN TERMS OF ANGER AND JEALOUS AND
EMOTION. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING THAT
WAS ALARMING >> Reporter: WHY WAS THAT JEEP
NEAR THE CRIME SCENE >> I THINK IT COULD BE THAT SHE
WENT TO SEE, LIKE, A SPIRITUAL -- LIKE AN ENERGY
WORKER THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE IN THAT AREA
>> Reporter: WHY DID SHE HAVE A GUN?
BECAUSE, COLIN REMINDED POLICE, HE BOUGHT HER ONE.
FOR PROTECTION >> KAITLIN HAD A SKETCHY
EXPERIENCE IN A PARKING LOT, SOME GUY ROAD RAGING AT HER.
AND SHE WAS PHYSICALLY SHAKING >> Reporter: IT WAS ALL AN
UNQUALIFIED DEFENSE OF KAITLIN, BUT DETECTIVES WEREN'T
NECESSARILY BUYING IT. THEY WANTED TO BRING KAITLIN IN
AGAIN FOR QUESTIONING. EXCEPT KAITLIN WAS NOWHERE TO BE
FOUND. >>> COMING UP.
A MISSING MURDER SUSPECT LEAVING HER LOVER IN CRISIS.
>> HE SAID SOMETHING LIKE, "I >> I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH HER
PARENTS REGARDING THE RACE AND REGARDING THE STRUGGLE THAT A
LOT OF US ARE HAVING WITH THIS >> Reporter: ON MAY 14th, 2022,
JUST THREE DAYS AFTER MORIAH WAS MURDERED, GRAVEL LOCOS -- THE
RACE SHE HAD COME TO TOWN TO COMPETE IN -- WENT ON WITHOUT
HER. >> THEY BASICALLY SAID, WE WANT
YOU ALL TO DO WHAT MO WANTS YOU ALL TO DO.
SHE WANTS YOU TO RACE. >> Reporter: SO THE RACERS
STRUGGLED THROUGH IT MANY OF THEM STILL GRIEVING THE
LOSS OF MORIAH AND WONDERING WHY COLIN WASN'T
RACING EITHER. >> YOU HAVE CYCLISTS WANTING TO
KNOW WHAT JUST HAPPENED, WHERE TWO OF THE STARS OF OUR SPORT
ARE INVOLVED, ENTANGLED IN THIS REALLY HORRIFIC SHOOTING
>> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS THOUGHT THEY HAD A GOOD IDEA
WHAT HAPPENED TO MORIAH, BUT THEY NEEDED PROOF.
ON MAY 17th, SIX DAYS AFTER THE MURDER, LAB RESULTS CAME BACK ON
THOSE SHELL CASINGS FOUND NEAR MORIAH'S BODY.
>> THE FIREARM THAT WAS USED, SEMIAUTOMATIC FIREARM.
LEAVES CASINGS BEHIND. SO WE NOW HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO
BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THOSE CASINGS THAT WILL HAVE UNIQUE MARKS ON
THEM, SORT OF LIKE THE FIREARM LEAVES BEHIND A FINGERPRINT.
>> Reporter: POLICE HAD SEIZED BOTH COLIN AND KAITLIN'S GUNS.
WHEN THEY TESTED KAITLIN'S, THE LAB SAID IT FOUND "SIGNIFICANT
POTENTIAL" HER GUN WAS THE MURDER WEAPON.
>> IT'S VERY STRONG EVIDENCE >> Reporter: TWO DAYS LATER.
EVERYONE COULD SEE WHAT INVESTIGATORS THOUGHT WHEN THAT
POLICE AFFIDAVIT BECAME PUBLIC >> THIS AFFIDAVIT COMES OUT.
THEY THINK KAITLIN ARMSTRONG KILLED MORIAH WILSON
>> Reporter: POLICE ASKED A JUDGE FOR AN ARREST WARRANT.
THE CHARGE -- FIRST DEGREE MURDER
>> IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY GET
KAITLIN ARMSTRONG INTO CUSTODY AND DAYS PASS, SHE'S NOT IN
CUSTODY. >> Reporter: KAITLIN WASN'T IN
CUSTODY BECAUSE SHE WAS GONE WHEN THEY BROUGHT COLIN IN FOR
THAT SECOND INTERVIEW, THEY ASKED HIM WHERE SHE WAS.
NO IDEA, SAID COLIN. IF FACT, HE SAID, HE HADN'T SEEN
KAITLIN SINCE MAY 13th -- TWO DAYS AFTER THE MURDER.
AND WHEN HE TRIED TEXTING HER, HE SAID, SHE DID NOT RESPOND
>> A MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE ISSUED A WARRANT FOR ARMSTRONG'S
ARREST FOR THE OFFENSE OF MURDER
>> Reporter: IF THEY COULD FIND HER.
SO THE NEXT CALL WAS TO THE U.S. MARSHALS.
>> ON MAY 18, THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT REQUESTED THE
ASSISTANCE FROM THE LONE STAR FUGITIVE TASK FORCE TO LOCATE
AND APPREHEND KAITLIN ARMSTRONG. >> Reporter: WITH A FUGITIVE
TASK FORCE NOW ON KAITLIN'S TRAIL, HER FATHER WENT ON
NATIONAL TELEVISION TO DEFEND HIS DAUGHTER
>> WE LOVE YOU, KAITIE, AND WE ARE GOING TO FIGURE THIS OUT
I KNOW HOW SHE THINKS AND I KNOW WHAT SHE BELIEVES AND I KNOW
THAT SHE JUST WOULD NOT DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
I KNOW HER >> I SAW HER FATHER INTERVIEWED
AND THAT'S -- THAT'S REALLY DIFFICULT FOR A FAMILY
>> OF COURSE >> ON ONE HAND, YOU DON'T WANT
TO BELIEVE THAT YOUR CHILD, ESPECIALLY, DID SOMETHING SO
HEINOUS AND SO PLANNED OUT BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, IT'S A
MURDER I HAVE SEEN FAMILIES STRUGGLE
WITH THIS. WHAT DO WE DO?
>> Reporter: THE SAME DAY KAITLIN WAS NAMED A FUGITIVE,
COLIN RELEASED HIS FIRST PUBLIC STATEMENT SINCE MORIAH'S MURDER.
IT READ IN PART, "I AM REELING FROM GRIEVING MO WILSON'S DEATH
AND FROM THE FACTS THAT HAVE EMERGED DURING THE
INVESTIGATION. THERE IS NO WAY TO ADEQUATELY
EXPRESS THE REGRET AND TORTURE I FEEL ABOUT MY PROXIMITY TO THIS
HORRIBLE CRIME >> Reporter: CONSEQUENCES.
IN A MATTER OF DAYS, COLIN'S CAREFULLY CURATED LIFE FELL
APART. HE DROPPED THAT MILLION DOLLAR
LAWSUIT. AND ONE BY ONE, HIS SPONSORS
DROPPED HIM. ALLIED CYCLE, SPECIALIZED,
RAPHA, ENVEE COMPOSITES. >> I WAS REALLY WORRIED THAT I
SAW THE SPONSORS LEAVING AND STUFF.
I WAS, LIKE, OH, THIS ISN'T GOOD FOR HIM.
LIKE, I HOPE HE'S NOT IN A DARK PLACE.
>> Reporter: JAMES STOUT DECIDED TO REACH OUT TO COLIN.
>> IF HE'S MADE A RELATIONSHIP ERROR, THEN SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE
THAT AND HOPEFULLY, HE CAN LEARN FROM
THAT AND BECOME A BETTER PERSON. BUT I DON'T WANT HIM TO FEEL
ALONE AND, LIKE, DO SOMETHING TERRIBLE
I THINK HE SAID SOMETHING LIKE, "I FEEL LIKE A BOMB'S GONE OFF
IN MY HANDS. >> Reporter: COLIN PULLED
HIMSELF OFF THE RACE CIRCUIT AND TURNED HIS ONCE PUBLIC SOCIAL
MEDIA ACCOUNTS PRIVATE FOR WEEKS AFTER MORIAH'S MURDER,
HIS INSTAGRAM BIO READ "I USED TO RIDE BIKES.
>> SO WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION.
IF HE CHEATED ON HER AND SHE DIDN'T KNOW AND THEY WEREN'T ON
A BREAK, THAT IS WRONG, RIGHT? HE SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT, AND
IT WAS STUPID. BUT I DON'T THINK ANYONE CAN
REASONABLY EXPECT THAT TO END IN THE OTHER PERSON'S DEATH
>> Reporter: MEANWHILE, THE U.S. MARSHALS REVVED UP THEIR
SEARCH, WITH AGENTS WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TRYING TO TRACK
DOWN KAITLIN THEIR WORKING THEORY -- SHE WAS
STILL HIDING OUT IN AUSTIN SOMEWHERE.
BUT THERE WAS NO SIGN OF HER, OR HER BLACK JEEP CHEROKEE.
THAT IS, UNTIL MAY 25th -- 14 DAYS AFTER THE MURDER -- WHEN
INVESTIGATORS RELEASED THIS. RECORDED ON A SECURITY CAMERA AT
AUSTIN'S INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT A SLENDER, FAIR-HAIRED WOMAN
ABOUT TO BOARD A PLANE WITH A YOGA MAT
>> IT WAS EVIDENT ON VIDEO SURVEILLANCE AND BOARDING PASSES
THAT ARMSTRONG HAD FLED THE AUSTIN AREA.
>> COMING UP - >> ATTENTION SHIFTS FROM THIS
HORRIFIC CRIME TO, OH, MY GOSH, THE SUSPECTED KILLER IS GONE
>> A VERY ZEN SUSPECTED KILLER >> WHENEVER SHE'S GOIN', SHE
PLANS TO DO YOGA, TEACH YOGA THAT'S A BIG CLUE.
>> Reporter: DAY AFTER DAY THE MYSTERY GREW
CONFOUNDING SEASONED INVESTIGATORS, AND EVEN THE
U.S. MARSHALS SEEMED TO BE STUMPED.
>> THIS MORNING U.S. MARSHALS ARE ACTIVELY SEARCHING FOR
KAITLIN ARMSTRONG. >> A WOMAN IN TEXAS ACCUSED OF
SHOOTING AND KILLING AN UP-AND-COMING CYCLIST FROM THE
BAY AREA >> POLICE SAY ARMSTRONG HAS NOT
BEEN SEEN IN NEARLY TWO WEEKS. >> Reporter: RESPONSIBLE, THEY
BELIEVED, FOR THE COLD-BLOODED KILLING OF MORIAH WILSON, THAT
INNOCENT YOUNG WOMAN NOW BEING PORTRAYED, ACCURATELY OR NOT, AS
KAITLIN'S UNWITTING ROMANTIC RIVAL.
AND SOMEHOW THE AWFUL LOSS OF MORIAH SEEMED SHOVED INTO
PARAGRAPH TWO. >> AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN,
ATTENTION SHIFTS FROM THIS HORRIFIC CRIME TO, OH MY GOSH,
THE SUSPECTED KILLER IS GONE >> Reporter: THE ONLY TRACE OF
HER, THIS VIDEO FROM THE AUSTIN AIRPORT.
>> NOTHING SEEMS OUTTA THE ORDINARY, EXCEPT SHE HAS A YOGA
MAT WITH HER SO WHEREVER SHE'S GOIN', SHE
PLANS TO DO YOGA, TEACH YOGA, WHATEVER IT IS
THAT'S A BIG CLUE. >> Reporter: BUT KAITLIN HAD A
BIG HEAD START THE AIRPORT VIDEO HAD BEEN
RECORDED JUST THREE DAYS AFTER THE MURDER, BUT IT WAS 11 MORE
DAYS BEFORE INVESTIGATORS FOUND IT
WHERE WAS SHE GOING? THEY DUG UP THE FLIGHT RECORDS
AND DISCOVERED THAT KAITLIN HAD FLOWN FROM AUSTIN TO HOUSTON TO
LAGUARDIA AIRPORT IN NEW YORK. LENNY DEPAUL IS A RETIRED U-S
MARSHAL WHO'S FOLLOWED THE CASE. >> THEN IT WAS, YOU KNOW, WELL,
WHO PICKED HER UP? WHERE DID SHE GO
THEY WERE TALKIN' TO INVESTIGATORS ON THE GROUND IN
NEW YORK THE NEW YORK-NEW JERSEY REGIONAL
FUGITIVE TASK FORCE OF THE U.S. MARSHALS, THEY CAME INTO
PLAY >> Reporter: BUT THEY FOUND
NOTHING. MAY TURNED TO JUNE
NO SIGN OF KAITLIN INTERNALLY THE MARSHALS UPGRADED
THE CASE TO MAJOR STATUS, MEANING MORE MANPOWER AND MORE
FUNDING. AND THEY ASKED THE PUBLIC FOR
HELP >> THE MARSHAL SERVICE POSTED A
CASH REWARD LISTED AT $5,000 FOR TIPS LEADING TO THE ARREST OF
ARMSTRONG. >> REWARD MONEY WAS IMPORTANT.
WE ALL KNOW THE STREETS TALK >> Reporter: AND TALK THEY DID
IN EARLY JUNE, THE MARSHALS RECEIVED A CREDIBLE TIP --
SOMEBODY HAD SEEN KAITLIN IN UPSTATE NEW YORK A FEW DAYS
AFTER SHE LANDED IN LAGUARDIA. >> ENDS UP ONE OF HER SISTERS,
CHRISTINE, LIVED IN NEW YORK SHE WAS NORTH OF NEW YORK CITY
SO THEY TOOK A LOOK AT HER SHE APPARENTLY WORKED AT A
CAMPSITE THEY SENT SOME INVESTIGATORS UP
THERE. >> Reporter: HERE IS THE PLACE,
CAMP HAVEN WHERE KAITLIN'S SISTER WORKED.
KAITLIN WAS KNOWN TO BE CLOSE TO CHRISTINE.
SO MAYBE KAITLIN WENT TO HER FOR HELP
BUT BY THE TIME AGENTS ARRIVED, KAITLIN, ONCE AGAIN, HAD
VANISHED AND AS THE MARSHALS LATER
REVEALED - >> IT WAS LEARNED THROUGH A
CONFIDENTIAL SOURCE THAT ARMSTRONG WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE
NEWARK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN NEW JERSEY, AND AT THAT TIME,
THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL WAS UNKNOWN.
>> Reporter: IT WAS A GAME OF CATCH-UP
KAITLIN WAS STILL WAY AHEAD. SHE'D BEEN DROPPED OFF AT NEWARK
AIRPORT ON MAY 18. BUT MARSHALS DIDN'T GET THAT TIP
ABOUT IT UNTIL ALMOST A MONTH LATER.
STILL, THEY CHECKED ALL FLIGHTS OUT OF NEWARK ON THE 18TH.
AND NOBODY NAMED KAITLIN ARMSTRONG WAS ON ANY PASSENGER
MANIFEST SO DID SHE FLY SOMEWHERE
OR WAS THE TIP A CLEVER BIT OF MISDIRECTION
WHERE DID KAITLIN GO AND WHAT WAS SHE DOING FOR
MONEY? >> SHE PROBABLY KNEW THAT THEY
WERE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT ALL OF HER BANK ACCOUNTS TO KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT SHE WAS UP TO AND SHE NEEDED NOT JUST MONEY,
BUT ACTUAL CASH THAT SHE COULD USE.
>> Reporter: IT WAS NOT TILL JUNE 23rd WHEN THEY FIGURED OUT
HOW SHE GOT SOME OF THAT THAT'S WHEN INVESTIGATORS FOUND
KAITLIN'S JEEP SITTING IN THIS CARMAX LOT BACK IN AUSTIN.
SHE'D SOLD IT ON MAY 13TH. THE DAY AFTER POLICE QUESTIONED
HER ABOUT THE MURDER OF MORIAH WILSON.
>> SO THAT SAME VEHICLE THAT POLICE SAID PULLED UP TO THE
HOUSE WHERE MORIAH WAS KILLED, KAITLIN TAKES THAT VEHICLE TO A
DEALERSHIP, UNLOADS IT, SELLS IT FOR A LITTLE OVER $12,000.
>> Reporter: THE VERY NEXT DAY AFTER, AFTER SHE'S BEEN IN
TALKIN' TO THE COPS? >> YES
>> WE BELIEVE NOW, THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE HAS $12,200 POSSIBLY
IN CASH AND THAT IS WHAT IS HELPING HER STAY UNDER THE RADAR
FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS >> THERE'S LOTS OF EVIDENCE OF
LOTS OF REALLY COMPLICATED THINKING
AND -- >> PLOTTING, PLANNING?
THAT KIND OF THINKING? >> PLOTTING, PLANNING.
UM, PROBLEM SOLVING, IF YOU WILL
THINK ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT AIRLINE TRAVEL IS THESE DAYS
BUT YET SHE DID THAT SEEMINGLY VERY QUICKLY
SELLING YOUR VEHICLE ON A NORMAL DAY IS JUST NOT SOMETHIN' YOU DO
ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT AND QUICKLY.
THINGS LIKE THAT IT JUST -- IT JUST AMAZES ME
THAT IN WHAT SEEMED LIKE A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, SHE
CARRIED OUT SOME VERY COMPLEX THINGS
>> Reporter: THE U.S. MARSHALS WERE ALSO AMAZED THAT KAITLIN,
WITH LITTLE TIME TO THINK OR PLAN AN ESCAPE, HAD MANAGED TO
REMAIN SO ELUSIVE. >> YEAH, THIS IS A VERY
CHALLENGING FUGITIVE INVESTIGATION.
YOU KNOW, WITH THE MARSHAL SERVICE, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS
ADOPT, YOU KNOW, THE WORST OF THE WORST IN VIOLENT CASES AND
SOME FUGITIVES, YOU KNOW, ARE CAUGHT WITHIN, YOU KNOW, A DAY
OR A WEEK OR MONTH >> NOT KAITLIN
SHE COULD BE LITERALLY ANYWHERE. BUT SHE WAS CARRYING THAT YOGA
MAT, REMEMBER. AND THAT JUST HAD TO BE A CLUE
>>> COMING UP. >> HER STORY WAS I JUST MOVED
HERE I TEACH YOGA
>>> IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN SANTA TERESA, COSTA RICA, YOU
MUST REALLY HAVE WANTED TO BE HERE
IT'S NOT AN EASY PLACE TO FIND OR GET TO.
TEAL AKERSON IS A TRUE LOCAL, BORN IN SANTA TERESA TO AMERICAN
PARENTS. HE GREW UP HERE LONG BEFORE THE
TOURISTS ARRIVED >> WELL, WHEN I WAS A KID, THERE
WASN'T A ROAD HERE AND THE PEOPLE CAME BY BOATS
AND THERE WAS A CATTLE TRAIL AND YOU COULD COME WITH A
BICYCLE OR A HORSE OR A MOTORBIKE SOMETIMES.
AND THEN THEY OPENED THE ROAD AND UP -- AND THEN THEY --
EVERYONE WANTED A SLICE OF PARADISE
>> Reporter: SINCE THE ROAD WENT IN, THIS LITTLE HAMLET IN
CENTRAL AMERICA HAS BECOME A MECCA FOR ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE.
>> THERE'S NATURE AND THE OCEAN, AND PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR
SILENCE AND NATURE, PRISTINE BEACHES.
PEOPLE ALSO WANT TO COME HERE AND THEY KIND OF GET, LIKE, TWO
BIRDS, ONE STONE, WHERE THEY GET TO COME TO COSTA RICA AND SURF
AND DO -- THEY BE IN A JUNGLE AND THEN ALSO GET TO DO THEIR
YOGA >> Reporter: SOME VISITORS WANT
TO DO YOGA, SURE OTHERS JUST WANT TO GET LOST
>> IT'S A REALLY GOOD PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO HIDE OUT
YOU CAN REALLY HIDE OUT IN THE MOUNTAINS.
AND TONS OF PEOPLE DO. >> Reporter: WITH A WHOLE WORLD
OUT THERE TO SEARCH, WHO WOULD THINK OF LOOKING IN THIS SPECK
ON A MAP MAYBE THAT'S WHY, BACK BEFORE
THEY PUT IN A ROAD, SANTA TERESA WAS KNOWN BY A LESS SAINTLY
NAME -- MAL PAIS, THE BADLANDS >> AND THEY SAY, LIKE, IT'S LIKE
MAL PAIS IS THE LAND OF UNWANTED AND THE WANTED
SOMETIMES YOU'RE BOTH. >> Reporter: AND SO IT HAPPENED
ON A SUNNY DAY IN THE LATTER PART OF MAY, AS THE
U.S. MARSHALS WERE CASTING A DOMESTIC NET FROM AUSTIN TEXAS
ALL THE WAY TO UPSTATE NEW YORK, SEARCHING FOR KAITLIN ARMSTRONG,
A SANDY HAIRED YOGA INSTRUCTOR TURNED UP IN SANTA TERESA AND
MADE HER WAY HERE, TO DON JON'S, A HOSTEL OF SORTS WHERE, AMONGST
OTHER ACTIVITIES, THERE IS YOGA THREE TIMES A DAY.
THE NEWCOMER QUICKLY WENT FROM A GUEST AT DON JON'S TO AN
EMPLOYEE, FIRST WORKING THE FRONT DESK, AND THEN EVENTUALLY
REALIZING HER TRUE GOAL -- TEACHING YOGA.
SHE ALSO BECAME A FIXTURE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SANTA TERESA, THE
ONE THAT COMES OUT AFTER THE SUN GOES DOWN.
FEW PEOPLE KNOW THE NIGHT LIFE OF SANTA TERESA BETTER THAN
GREG HABER ONCE A RESPECTABLE TAX LAWYER
FROM LONG ISLAND, NOW, MUCH TO THE CHAGRIN OF HIS MOTHER, HE
TOLD US, HE SPENDS HIS DAYS SURFING AND MAKES HIS LIVING AS
A SELF-AVOWED BEACH ENTREPRENEUR, OWNER OF THE ONLY
BAR IN TOWN. IN HIS NEW LINE OF WORK, GREG
MEETS ALL KINDS, INCLUDING THE PRETTY NEW YOGA INSTRUCTOR
>> TUESDAY NIGHTS ARE BIG NIGHTS, HIP HOP NIGHT, BIG
PARTY. AND SHE WAS JUST HERE WITH A
COUPLE OF FRIENDS, INTRODUCED HERSELF.
SHE CALLED HERSELF ARI >> Reporter: THE MORE GREG GOT
TO KNOW THIS ARI, THE MORE SHE SEEMED LIKE THE KIND OF PERSON
HE HAD SEEN MANY TIMES BEFORE. >> HER STORY WAS, "I JUST MOVED
HERE I TEACH YOGA."
PRETTY MUCH HALF THE TOWN HAS THE EXACT SAME STORY
"I JUST MOVED HERE I TEACH YOGA."
A LOT OF THEM LEAVE AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS
I DON'T REALLY THINK ANYTHING OF IT
>> Reporter: BUT THE DRINKS TASTE GOOD AND GO DOWN EASY IN
SANTA TERESA, AND THE NEXT SCENE THAT PLAYED OUT IN GREG'S BAR --
WELL, THAT WAS A FAMILIAR ONE AS WELL
>> SHE WAS HERE MAYBE TWO, THREE TIMES A WEEK, NEVER BY HERSELF,
ALWAYS WITH OTHER FRIENDS OF MINE
YOU KNOW, USUALLY, IF A NEW GIRL MOVES TO TOWN, A BUNCH OF GUYS
ARE GOING TO BE ASKING HER TO HANG OUT
THEY'RE USUALLY GOING TO BRING THEM HERE.
>> Reporter: AND SURE ENOUGH, THE NIGHTS ARI WAS IN GREG'S
BAR, THE GUYS BEHAVED PREDICTABLY.
MOTHS TO A LIGHT BUT ONE SURFER DUDE SEEMED TO
MAKE A REAL CONNECTION AND YOU'VE ALREADY MET HIM
>> ARI I KNEW ABOUT ARI
YES, I GUESS WE RAN INTO EACH OTHER.
WE'RE BOTH A LITTLE WEIRD, I GUESS, IN DIFFERENT WAYS
BUT SHE DID YOGA I DID YOGA
WE END UP TALKING, AND SHE HAD JUST GONE THROUGH A HEAVY
BREAKUP, SHE TOLD ME AND THEN I HAD GONE THROUGH A
BREAKUP, AND WE WERE BOTH KIND OF GETTING ALONG AND TALKING AND
SHARING. >> Reporter: TALKING AND
SHARING, ACTIVITIES THAT CAN SOMETIMES LEAD TO MUCH MORE.
BUT NOT FOR TEAL AND ARI >> WE WENT ON PROBABLY, LIKE,
ABOUT FOUR DATES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WE NEVER KISSED OR NEVER HOOKED UP
IT WASN'T LIKE THAT. SHE WAS -- SHE MADE IT CLEAR
THAT SHE HAD BEEN TRAUMATIZED, AND I WAS OKAY WITH JUST BEING A
FRIEND AND HANGING OUT AND I COULD UNDERSTAND
BUT SHE DIDN'T SAY MUCH. AND SHE KIND OF DID THAT
TRICK -- YOU ANSWER WITH A QUESTION
SO SHE ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERED A LOT OF TIMES WITH
QUESTIONS. SHE WOULD KIND OF LEAVE THE
CONVERSATION >> Reporter: ARI SEEMED EAGER TO
BLEND IN HERE BUT NOT EAGER TO REVEAL TOO MUCH ABOUT HERSELF.
HER NEW FRIENDS IN THIS LITTLE SLICE OF PARADISE DIDN'T KNOW
WHY. BUT THEY WERE ABOUT TO FIND OUT.
>>> COMING UP -- THERE ARE CERTAIN RULES TO
HIDING OUT ARI FORGOT SOME.
>> SHE DID SOME THINGS PRETTY WELL TO AVOID CAPTURE, BUT SHE
WAS STILL GOING TO HAVE FUN AND LIVE IT UP AT THE BEACH IN HER
>>> THIS MORNING U.S. MARSHALS LEADING A COAST-TO-COAST SEARCH
FOR A MURDER SUSPECT KAITLIN ARMSTRONG IS ACCUSED OF
FATALLY SHOOTING - >> Reporter: THIS TINY SURF
VILLAGE SEEMS A WORLD AWAY FROM, WELL JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING
AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING A VISITOR WOULD NEED
TO RELAX -- SUN, SURF, YOGA, AND SUNSETS.
ARI, THE NEW YOGA INSTRUCTOR, SEEMED TO LIKE IT HERE
BUT DID NOT ALWAYS SEEM RELAXED. HER NEW FRIENDS NOTICED.
SHE TENDED TO AVOID OTHER NEW ARRIVALS IN TOWN
>> SHE WAS ALWAYS HERE WITH LOCALS
I NEVER SAW HER HERE WITH PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T LIVE HERE
>> Reporter: GREG THE BAR OWNER ALSO COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE
THAT SOON AFTER ARI ARRIVED IN SANTA TERESA, SHE DARKENED HER
FLOWING HAIR AND CHOPPED IT QUITE A BIT SHORTER.
AND THEN THERE WAS THE REQUEST ARI MADE OF HER
NOT-QUITE-BOYFRIEND. >> SHE ALWAYS WANTED A LOT OF
FAVORS, WANTED A LOT OF INFORMATION.
SHE WANTED ME TO GIVE HER A RIDE ON MY MOTORBIKE TO GET THE
FERRY, BECAUSE SHE NEEDED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.
>> Reporter: THE HOSPITAL? ARI DIDN'T SEEM SICK
AND THE FERRY WAS A LONG WAY OFF.
>> AND THAT'S LIKE A -- IT'S ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF
AND THEN IT'S AN HOUR AND HALF BACK
I DON'T USUALLY DO THAT. >> Reporter: TEAL SAID NO.
BUT HE ALSO GOT TO WONDERING ABOUT THE REASON ARI GAVE FOR
WANTING A RIDE >> SHE WAS WORRIED ABOUT COPS
AND ROADBLOCKS, BECAUSE SHE SAID HER PAPERWORK WASN'T UP TO DATE
AND SHE DIDN'T WANT TO GET STOPPED.
>> Reporter: BUT SHE DID GO ON HER OWN.
ARI MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE CAPITAL, SAN JOSE.
AND TO THIS CLINIC -- A.V.A. SURGICAL CENTER.
WE RE-TRACED HER STEPS AND SPOKE WITH AN EMPLOYEE HERE WHO
RECOGNIZED ARI, BUT SAID SHE CHECKED IN UNDER A DIFFERENT
NAME AND HER REASON FOR COMING HERE
COSMETIC SURGERY TO ALTER THE APPEARANCE OF HER NOSE
ARI DIDN'T TELL TEAL THAT. SHE GOT IT AROUND THAT SHE'D HAD
SOME SORT OF SURFING ACCIDENT. TEAL DIDN'T PRY, BUT HE TOLD US
HE GOT THE SENSE SHE WAS TROUBLED, SOMEHOW.
>> THE PERSON I MET WAS TRYING TO BE A COOL PERSON.
AND YOU COULD TELL SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED IN HER LIFE THAT REALLY
HAD BROKE HER. >> Reporter: BUT OF COURSE, HE
HAD NO IDEA ARI WASN'T REALLY ARI.
OR THAT SHE WAS A WANTED WOMAN DIDN'T KNOW THAT BACK IN THE
UNITED STATES, U.S. MARSHALS SEARCHING FOR KAITLIN ARMSTRONG
WERE HOMING IN ON THE MOST VISIBLE CLUE FROM THAT AIRPORT
SECURITY VIDEO -- THE YOGA MAT THEY STARTED CONTACTING THEIR
COUNTERPARTS IN YOGA DESTINATIONS AROUND THE WORLD.
AND BEFORE LONG -- >> I RECEIVED A CALL FROM
SECURITY PERSONNEL AT THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY IN
COSTA RICA >> Reporter: CAPTAIN
FULVIO FERNANDEZ ARIAS HEADS A SPECIAL TOURISM UNIT OF THE
COSTA RICAN POLICE THE EMBASSY PEOPLE ASKED HIM
ABOUT ANY NEW VISITORS WHO WERE ALSO YOGA INSTRUCTORS.
>> WE STARTED TO CONTACT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WE KNOW TO
BE INVOLVED IN THAT ACTIVITY >> Reporter: SOON ENOUGH,
CAPTAIN FERNANDEZ HEARD ABOUT THE NEW YOGI IN SANTA TERESA
>> WE VISITED COMMERCIAL HOSPITALITY ESTABLISHMENTS
OFFERING THESE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES, AND THAT'S HOW WE
WERE ABLE TO VERIFY MS. ARMSTRONG'S IDENTITY
>> Reporter: SIX WEEKS AFTER KAITLIN ARMSTRONG WENT ON THE
RUN, GOOD OLD FASHIONED "GUM-SHOE" POLICING BY THE
COSTA RICAN AUTHORITIES AND THE U.S. MARSHALS HAD THEM ON THE
VERGE OF CAPTURING THIS INTERNATIONAL FUGITIVE
AND KAITLIN? IT WAS STRANGE, PERHAPS.
AS THE LOCALS TELL IT, SHE BEGAN TO ACT LESS SKITTISH
DIDN'T SEEM TO BE TRYING SO HARD TO HIDE IN THE DAYS AND NIGHTS
THAT WOULD BE HER LAST FREE ONES
MAYBE SHE GOT COMFORTABLE -- TOO COMFORTABLE.
THE BREEZE BLOWING IN OFF THE PACIFIC OCEAN CAN HAVE THAT
AFFECT >> ON ONE HAND, YOU HAVE A
FUGITIVE WHO CHANGES HER APPEARANCE, CHANGES HER NAME,
CHANGES HER BACKSTORY. SHE HAS A NEW EXISTENCE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU HAVE THIS SAME PERSON WHO IS GOING TO
RESTAURANTS, TO BARS, GOING ON DATES, PRACTICING YOGA, LIVING
AT A HOSTEL IN A ROOM WITH SEVEN OTHER PEOPLE
>> IT'S AN ODD THING TO DO IF YOU'RE TRYIN' TO HIDE.
>> YEAH, I THINK SHE LACKED THE DISCIPLINE, FRANKLY, TO NOT GET
CAUGHT I MEAN, SHE DID SOME THINGS
PRETTY WELL TO AVOID CAPTURE, BUT WANTED THE BEST OF BOTH
WORLDS SHE WAS STILL GOING TO HAVE FUN
AND LIVE IT UP AT THE BEACH IN HER NEW LIFE
>> Reporter: THERE ARE MANY SUNNY DAYS IN SANTA TERESA,
COSTA RICA AND JUST LIKE THE WAVES THAT
ROLL IN, NO TWO ARE EXACTLY ALIKE.
IT WAS A MEMORABLE SUNNY DAY IN LATE JUNE, THE AUTHORITIES MADE
THEIR MOVE >> COMING UP -
KAITLIN'S LIFE ON THE RUN CRASHES INTO REALITY, OPENING A
FEW EYES >> AFTERWARDS MY BRAIN JUST WENT
WHOA AND I WAS LIKE, WHOA, THAT WAS
WHY EVERYTHING -- THAT'S WHY IT WAS ALL LIKE THAT.
Ã ACT 11 >> Reporter: IT WAS JUNE 29th,
JUST ANOTHER PERFECT DAY IN SANTA TERESA, COSTA RICA, WHEN
TWO EXPATS GOT TO TALKING AT DON JON'S HOSTEL
ONE WAS THE POPULAR YOGA TEACHER ARI.
THE OTHER WAS A MAN NAMED ZACH POULSEN, WHO ASKED US NOT
TO SHOW HIS FACE ON CAMERA NOT AFTER WHAT HE SAW HAPPEN
IT ALL STARTED INNOCENTLY ENOUGH, SAID ZACH.
>> AND I GOT HER LAUGHING. SHE WAS, LIKE -- REALLY, LIKE,
OPENING UP TO ME I WAS MAKING HER LAUGH
THAT'S ALL MY GOAL IS, JUST MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH AND HAVE FUN.
BUT, UH, UM, YEAH, WE WERE JUST HANGING OUT.
>> Reporter: JUST HANGING OUT, AS SO MANY MEN SEEMED TO WANT TO
DO WITH ARI. >> ONE THING I DO REMEMBER IS
SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT JON'S PLACE.
AND SHE WAS SAYING HOW SHE REALLY LIKES IT BECAUSE IT'S
LIKE SECLUDED IN THERE IT'S, LIKE, WALLED OFF AND, UH,
EVERYONE'S COOL THAT'S THERE AND I WAS LIKE, "YEAH, THAT'S
WHY I HANG OUT -- I COME HERE. >> Reporter: BUT JUST THEN, JUST
AT THAT MOMENT, WAS THERE A CHANGE IN THE AIR, A WHIFF OF
SOMETHING ABOUT TO HAPPEN? IF THERE WAS, ZACH DIDN'T NOTICE
AT FIRST >> AND THEN I -- I REMEMBER A
GUY CAME IN, A MEXICAN HE SAID HE WAS FROM MEXICO
AND HE -- REALLY ODD, HE'S ASKING FOR A ROOM, WENT RIGHT TO
HER. AND SHE SAID THERE THERE SHOULD
BE A ROOM AVAILABLE. THEN HE SAID, "OKAY, I'M GOING
TO GO EAT AND I'LL BE BACK." HE LEFT.
AND THEN, BOOM, ALL OF A SUDDEN THREE COPS WALKED IN
AND I'M JUST LIKE, "OH," AND I STILL WAS MAKING JOKES AS THEY
WERE YELLING AT OR NOT YELLING AT HER
THEY WERE ASKING FOR HER DOCUMENTS.
"GIVE ME -- WE NEED YOUR DOCUMENTS.
AND SHE'S LIKE, "I DON'T HAVE ANY.
SHE JUST KEPT GIVING WEIRD ANSWERS.
AND I WAS EVEN LIKE, "WHOA, THIS GIRL'S OBVIOUSLY LYING AND
HIDING SOMETHING." IT WAS CRAZY
THOSE COPS WERE NOT -- AROUND. THEY WERE THERE TO GET HER
>> Reporter: "GET HER" THEY DID. >> THEY JUST PUT HER IN THERE
AND PUT HER IN THE BACK SEAT BETWEEN TWO COPS
AND THERE'S FOUR OF THEM TOTAL, DROVE OFF, AND I JUST -- AND WE
JUST DID A LITTLE WAVE >> Reporter: AND AS THEY WERE
LEAVING -- >> THE POLICE SAID I'LL NEVER
SEE ARI AGAIN. >> Reporter: WHICH TURNED OUT TO
BE NOT QUITE TRUE. >> I'LL NEVER SEE ARI AGAIN.
BUT NOW I GET TO SEE KAITLIN ON THE NEWS
>> DEVELOPING -- THE WOMAN CHARGED IN THE DEATH OF A
WORLD-CLASS CYCLIST IN AUSTIN LAST MONTH HAS BEEN EXTRADITED
TO THE U.S." >> Reporter: KAITLIN ARMSTRONG'S
ARREST AFTER 43 DAYS ON THE LAM MADE HEADLINES ACROSS THE U.S.
AND NONE BIGGER THAN IN THE TOWN WHERE SHE WAS WANTED FOR MURDER.
RYAN AUTULLO COVERED THE STORY FOR "THE AUSTIN
AMERICAN-STATESMAN." WERE YOU SURPRISED THEY FOUND
HER? >> I WAS SURPRISED THAT THEY
FOUND HER. I THOUGHT THAT THE LONGER SHE
LASTED, THE LESS LIKELY THEY WOULD FIND HER
SO WHEN I HEARD THAT SHE WAS CAPTURED, AGAIN, SURPRISED
ANOTHER SHOCKER IN THIS CASE THAT JUST KEPT SHOCKING ME
IT'S A TRAGIC STORY FOR EVERYBODY.
I MEAN, THE GIRL THAT GOT KILLED AND THE FAMILY AND ALL HER
FRIENDS. AND THEN ARI OR KATE, KAITLIN,
ALL HER FRIENDS AND FAMILIES IN THEIR LIVES, TOO
PEOPLE GET CAUGHT UP IN EMOTION AND LOST IN TURMOIL.
>> Reporter: AND JUST BECAUSE HIND SIGHT IS 20/20, IT DIDN'T
MAKE SEEING THE TRUTH ANY EASIER
AFTER ALL, KAITLIN HAD BEEN HIS REBOUND AFTER A BAD BREAKUP.
>> I GUESS SHE DIDN'T KNOW IT, BUT I FELT LIKE I HAD NO MOJO,
NO, LIKE, SPIRIT AFTER I HAD GOTTEN DUMPED.
AND THEN IT JUST SO HAPPENED THAT IT WAS -- THAT WAS, LIKE,
THE ONE GIRL I STARTED HANGING OUT WITH AFTER 2 1/2 YEARS WITH
MY GIRL IS ON THE RUN AND SHE'S LYING TO ME ABOUT HER -- HER
EVERYTHING AND HER NAME. AND I DON'T KNOW
IT'S JUST MY LUCK. >> Reporter: AFTER THE ARREST,
ZACH SAID HE MADE A RATHER SURPRISING DISCOVERY
>> AND IT'S SO FUNNY I ENDED UP FINDING THE DOCUMENTS
BEFORE THE POLICE. >> Reporter: HE TURNED THEM OVER
TO THE POLICE. BUT NOT BEFORE HE TOOK SOME
PICTURES THESE DOCUMENTS SEEMED TO HOLD
TANTALIZING CLUES. >> I WAS SHOCKED
I WAS LIKE, "HOLY -- THAT'S HER SISTER'S PASSPORT.
THAT'S HER PASSPORT. THAT'S HER CREDIT CARD
THAT'S HER SOCIAL SECURITY CARD. THAT'S HER COVID CARD.
I -- I HAD MORE OF HER DOCUMENTS THAN I DO OF MY OWN.
>> Reporter: REMEMBER, THE U.S. MARSHALS COULD NOT FIND ANY
RECORD OF KAITLIN LEAVING THE UNITED STATES.
SO DID HER SISTER'S PASSPORT EXPLAIN THAT
THE CACHE OF DOCUMENTS ALSO INCLUDED THIS, A RECEIPT FOR
PLASTIC SURGERY, MORE THAN $6,000 WORTH, ABOUT HALF THE SUM
KAITLIN GOT WHEN SHE SOLD HER JEEP
BUT THE PATIENT'S NAME WAS RECORDED AS ALLISSON PAIGE
SO SOME OTHER ALIAS? OR SOMEONE ELSE ALTOGETHER
TO FORMER DETECTIVE LIZ THOMSON, IT ALL LOOKED LIKE PART OF A
PLAN TO EVADE CAPTURE. >> SHE HAD ALTERED HER
APPEARANCE, INCLUDING POTENTIALLY HAVING HAD SOME
COSMETIC SURGERY OR SOME ALTERATION DONE TO HER FACE.
>> Reporter: YES >> AND HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN
THAT -- "HEY, I'M GONNA GO ON VACATION AND DYE MY HAIR AND GET
A NOSE JOB"? >> Reporter: SURE.
>> HOW -- HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT
>> Reporter: YOU CAN MOVE ON QUICK IF YOU WANT TO
>> THAT'S RIGHT. >> Reporter: AS LONG AS THE
MARSHALS AREN'T LOOKING FOR YOU. >> YEAH.
>> Reporter: SURF INSTRUCTOR AND BEACH PHILOSOPHER TEAL AKERSON
HAS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT VIEW OF KAITLIN.
>> WELL, IT'S A BUMMER AND, YOU KNOW, THE BUMMER STORY
I MEAN, WE'RE JUST PEOPLE. WE'RE GOD'S LOST CHILDREN.
EVERYONE'S ON THEIR LIFE TRIP TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.
AND NO MATTER HOW WISE YOU ARE, HOW SMART, HOW ENLIGHTENED YOU
ARE, HOW MUCH YOGA YOU KNOW, YOU'RE STILL JUST ONE OF THOSE
PEOPLE ON THAT -- ON THAT RIDE >> Reporter: IT WAS A HOT SUMMER
DAY, THE KIND TEXAS SPECIALIZES RIDE ENDED WITH HER LOCKED IN A
JAIL CELL, INDICTED FOR THE MURDER OF MORIAH WILSON.
BAIL WAS SET AT $3.5 MILLION IF CONVICTED, SHE'LL FACE
99 YEARS IN PRISON BUT CASE CLOSED?
HARDLY KAITLIN ARMSTRONG HAS A ROBUST
DEFENSE AND A VERY CONFIDENT DEFENDER
>> KAITLIN ARMSTRONG IS NOT GUILTY
AND IF THIS CASE GOES TO TRIAL, SHE WILL BE FOUND NOT GUILTY
>>> COMING UP -- DOES THE DEFENSE KNOW SOMETHING
PROSECUTORS DON'T? >> EVIDENCE WILL COME OUT THAT
KAITLIN ARMSTRONG WAS NOWHERE NEAR THE SCENE OF MISS WILSON'S
MURDER >>> I'LL SAY JUST A FEW WORDS
TODAY BECAUSE I DO UNDERSTAND THERE'S INTENSE MEDIA INTEREST
IN KAITLIN ARMSTRONG'S CASE. >> Reporter: OH, BOY, THERE
CERTAINLY WAS. ONCE THE MARSHALS BROUGHT HER
BACK TO AUSTIN, KAITLIN ARMSTRONG PLEADED NOT
GUILTY AND HIRED THIS MAN TO DEFEND HER, AN ATTORNEY WHO
EXUDES CONFIDENCE -- RICK COFER. >> YOU BECOME A LAWYER, IN PART,
TO WORK ON CASES LIKE THIS >> Reporter: WELL, YES
BUT IN THIS CASE, IT LOOKS LIKE, UM, THE PUBLIC SEEMS TO HAVE
ACCEPTED THE IDEA THAT THEY'VE GOT HER DEAD TO RIGHTS
THEY GOT HER JEEP ON RING VIDEO. SHE GOES OUT AND SELLS HER CAR
AND GETS A PLANE TICKET AND FLIES TO FIRST SEE HER SISTER,
AND THEN DOWN TO COSTA RICA AND GETS PLASTIC SURGERY, DYES HER
HAIR BROWN >> THE CONSTRUCTION OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT THEORY, WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THIS CASE DECIDED THAT
ARMSTRONG IN FACT IS NOT A JEALOUS PERSON
>> REMEMBER HOW COLIN DESCRIBED HER, THE LEAST JEALOUS WOMAN HE
EVER KNEW. AND THE BALLISTICS TEST THAT
POLICE SAY CONNECTED CAITLIN'S GUN TO THE SHELL CASINGS
>> IT IS ESSENTIALLY A JUNK SCIENCE.
IT IS A TYPE OF RICHCRAFT, IF YOU WILL
>> Reporter: WELL, HARDLY WITCHCRAFT BUT WHY DID SHE RUN
AFTER HER INTERVIEW WITH THE POLICE
BECAUSE, SHE SAID THAT HE WAS AFRAID
SHE WAS AFRAID THAT COLLIN COULD BE A KILLER.
>> HER BOYFRIEND OF THREE AND A HALF YEARS, HER BUSINESS
PARTNER, THE PERSON THAT SHE HAS LIVED WITH AND MADE A LIFE WITH
SPENT BASICALLY ALL DAY WITH HOMICIDE DETECTIVES BEING
INTERROGATED FOR MURDER. AND HERE'S ARMSTRONG, AS YOU CAN
PRETTY WELL IMAGINE, TERRIFIED HER ENTIRE WORLD IS DESTROYED
AND SHAKEN EVERYTHING THAT SHE HAD
UNDERSTOOD IS GONE IN A SECOND >> AND BEFORE SHE LEFT TOWN,
CAITLIN CALLED A LAWYER TO SEE IF SHE'D BE IN ANY LEGAL TROUBLE
IF SHE DID >> THEY SAID GO SEE YOUR FAMILY.
HER CLOSEST FAMILIAR I WAS IN NEW YORK
>> AT WHICH TIME KROGER POINTED OUT THE ARREST WARRANT HAD NOT
YET BEEN ISSUED. SHE TRAVELED TO NEW YORK AIRPORT
TO FLY TO COSTA REEKA. IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE WHEN HER
WORLD IS. >> WHEN YOU SAY PASSPORT, OTHER
THAN HER OWN, THAT WOULD BE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT --
>> SO YOU DO KNOW BUT YOU CAN'T SAY IN.
>> IT WOULDN'T BE APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO COMMENT.
>> AFTER THE ASSERTION SHE HAD PLASTIC SURGERY, PROVE IT.
>> THERE'S NO EVIDENCE ANYWAY TO SAY SHE HAD PLASTIC SURGERY.
>> THE RECEIPT FOR SURGERY SHE LEFT BEHIND IN COSTA RICA, IT
HAD SOMEONE ELSE'S NAME ON IT. >> THE WHOLE CASE IS PREDICATED
ON A DEEPLY MISOGYNISTIC VIEW. IT'S PREDICATED ON THE IDEA THAT
SHE IS A TERRIBLE COVERAGE BUT THERE IS THAT KEY OF ED.
VIDEO OF HER JEEP HAS THE CRIME SCENE AT THE TIME OF THE MURDER.
AND SHE. >> THAT'S WHERE THE DETECTIVE
REALLY WANT TO START TO HANG THE SIGN.
>> THERE'S NO NUMBER AND HE SAID THAT CAN'T BE CAITLIN IN THE
JEEP GH FOR ONE REASON, YOU CAN'T TW
PLACES AT ONCE >> OKAY.
SO YOU'RE SAYING SHE WASN'T IN THE VICINITY OF THE MURDER
AND YOU CAN PROVE IT >> I DON'T HAVE TO PROVE IT.
>> YOU JUST SAID SIMPLE MASK WAS AN ERROR
IT IMPLIES THAT YOU HAVE PROOF >> I SAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS
EVIDENCE BUT THEY JUST HAVEN'T LOOKED AT IT
>> WHAT HE DID NOT SAY WAS THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT WOULD
EXONERA EXONERATE KAITLIN.
>> I WANT TO GET AS MUCH OF THIS AS A POSSIBLY CAN.
>> THE ELEMENT IS SURPRISE IT WILL COME OUT A
UNCONTROVERTED FACT THE EXACT TIME THAT MISS WILSON WAS SHOT
THAT EVIDENCE WILL COME OUT. AND EVIDENCE WILL COME OUT THAT
KAITLIN ARMTHAT'S WHY THIS HAS TO WORK ITSELF OUT
OUR JOB IS TO SEE THAT JUSTICE IS DONE AND A GREAT WRONG WAS
DROP HERE. THE KILL ARE NEED TO BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE. BUT REQUEST.
P. >> THERE WAS SOMETHING LIKE A
GAG ORDER AND WE'LL HAVE TO KNOW THE CHILD SHE WAS MAKING
>> WHAT HAS THE COMMUNITY LOST WITH HER LOSS?
>> I MEAN, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU I THINK MORE ABOUT WHAT HER
FAMILY HAS LOST. >> THAT'S INCALCULABLE FOR SURE.
>> AND I THINK THE COMMUNITY. >>> SHE WAS, SAID THOSE WHO KNEW
HER, UNFAILINGLY KIND. >> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION