♪
>> HERE WITH THE FABULOUS MO
WILSON, YOU ARE READY.
>> I'M READY.
SO EXCITED TO BE HERE.
IT FEEL LIKE THE FIRST BIG RACE
IN A YEAR.
YEAH.
>> IT IS.
>> READY TO KICK IT OFF.
>> I'M STILL GETTING BETTER.
I'M STILL LEARNING.
IT'S AN EXCITING TIME.
THERE'S.
SO FOR ME TO LEARN.
>> HER NAME WAS MORIAH BUT
EVERYBODY CALL HER MO.
MY NAME THE PILAR MELENDEZ.
I'M WITH THE "DAILY BEAST."
FUNNY AND FRIENDLY AND SMART AND
DRIVEN.
MO WAS A RISING STAR.
SHE GRADUATED FROM DARTMOUTH IN
ENGINEERING.
EVERYONE THOUGHT SHE WAS ABOUT
TO MAKE HER BIG BREAK IF
CYCLING.
>> I HAVE ALWAYS RELIED ON OTHER
PEOPLE TO PUSH MYSELF.
>> WHAT HAPPENED TO MO WAS A
TRAGEDY.
>> WE FOUND MO INSIDE THE
RESIDENCE.
IT WAS A PRETTY GRISLY SCENE.
SHE HAD BEEN SHOT MULTIPLE
TIMES.
>> AT FIRST DETECTIVES THOUGHT
IT WAS A ROBBERY.
>> YOU'RE LOOKING INTO THIS
POSSIBILITY OF A ROBBERY OR A
BURGLARY.
BUT PARALLEL TO THAT, THERE IS
THIS NAME, COLIN STRICKLAND.
>> MY NAME IS COLIN STRICKLAND.
I AM A BICYCLE RACER.
>> COLIN STRICKLAND WAS A TOP
BIKER AND ALSO FRIENDS WITH MO.
>> I MEAN, COLIN, HE WAS AN
INTERESTING CHARACTER.
HE HAD A LOT OF LIKE COOL
QUALITIES ABOUT HIM.
MOTORCYCLES -- PROFESSIONAL
ATHLETE.
COLIN HAD DATED A FEW GIRL IN
THE CYCLING SCENE.
GIRLFRIENDS HERE AND THERE.
PRETTY STANDARD STUFF.
COLIN'S RELATIONSHIP WITH MO
WAS, LIKE THEY WERE BOTH BIKE
RACERS.
THEY HAD LIKE A ROMANTIC
RELATIONSHIP.
>> THERE HAD DEFINITELY BEEN
SOMETHING ROMANTIC BETWEEN THEM.
COLIN SAID THEY HAD BROKEN UP.
THE SITUATION WAS COMPLICATED.
THERE WAS ANOTHER WOMAN IN
COLIN'S LIFE.
HER NAME WAS KAITLIN ARMSTRONG.
>> KAITLIN, FIRST IMPRESSIONS,
SHE WAS REALLY NICE.
AROUND THE WORLD, INTERESTED IN
YOGA.
A VERY ATTRACTIVE PERSON INSIDE
AND OUT.
AT LEAST THE KAITLIN I INITIALLY
KNEW.
>> HOMICIDE DETECTIVES WERE VERY
INTERESTED IN TALKING TO KAITLIN
ARMSTRONG.
>> STARTING TO GET THE SENSE
THAT THERE COULD BE SOME
JEALOUSY TO IT.
SHE HAS A GUN.
A FEW THINGS LIKE THAT START TO
PAINT A PICTURE OF, IT COULD
DEFINITELY BE HER.
WE WERE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT, WILL THEY HAVE ENOUGH
SITUATION TO SCRATCH OUT A
WARRANT?
>> AT THIS POINT, SHE KIND OF
DISAPPEARS.
NO ONE KNOWS WHERE SHE IS.
>> KAITLIN ARMSTRONG VANISHED
SEEMINGLY INTO THIN AIR SPARKING
WHAT WOULD BECOME AN
INTERNATIONAL MANHUNT.
FIRST LEADING AUTHORITIES ACROSS
THE UNITED STATES AND THEN
EVENTUALLY HERE TO THE BEACHES
OF COSTA RICA.
ALONG THE WAY SHE USED MULTIPLE
IDENTITIES AND CHANGED HER
APPEARANCE, EVEN GETTING PLASTIC
SURGERY.
>> HOW SMART WAS KAITLIN
ARMSTRONG?
>> SHE DID SOME PRETTY
INTELLIGENT THINGS.
THE THING THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW
IS YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE JUST
SMARTER THAN ONE, TWO, THREE, OR
FOUR OF US.
THERE IS A TEAM OF 20 PLUS
PEOPLE.
YOU HAVE TO BE SMARTER THAN A
LOT OF PEOPLE TO GET AWAY WITH
IT.
>> IT ALMOST WORKED.
>>> HELLO.
I'M HERE WITH THE FABULOUS MO
WILSON.
YOU ARE LIKE READY.
>> I'M READY.
>> IN MARCH OF 2022, UP AND
COMING BIKE RACER ANNA MORIAH
WILSON KNOWN AS MO TO SOME
APPEARED ON THE PRE-RIDE SHOW.
A PROGRAM ABOUT CYCLING.
>> SO EXCITED TO BE HERE.
IT FEELS LIKE THE FIRST BIG RACE
OF THE YEAR.
SO YEAH.
>> IT IS.
>> READY TO KICK IT OFF.
>> JUST TWO MONTHS LATER, MORIAH
WAS FOUND MURDERED.
THE NEWS SHOCKING THE CYCLING
COMMUNITY.
>> I DON'T THINK ANYBODY COULD
REALLY BELIEVE IT AT FIRST.
WHY WOULD ANYBODY WANT TO HURT
OR HARM OR KILL THIS LOVELY,
TALENTED YOUNG WOMAN?
>> LISA GOSSELIN LYNN IS THE
EDITOR OF VERMONT SPORTS
MAGAZINE AND VERMONT SKI AND
RIDE MAGAZINE.
SHE'S ALSO A CBS NEWS
CONSULTANT.
LYNN HAD BEEN FOLLOWING MORIAH
WILSON'S CAREER FOR MANY MONTHS
BEFORE HER TRAGIC DEATH.
>> IT IS ALL MORIAH WILSON AS
SHE IS SNAKING THROUGH INTO THE
FINISH --
>> MORIAH WAS PRETTY MUCH
WINNING EVERY RACE THAT SHE
ENTERED.
>> MORIAH WILSON, THE WINNER OF
ROUND ONE --
>> WINNING OR FINISHING IN THE
TOP TWO.
THE RACES THAT SHE ENTERED WERE
TOP TIER.
MORIAH HAD THE POTENTIAL TO BE
ONE OF THE TOP BIKE RACERS,
DEFINITELY IN THE COUNTRY AND
PROBABLY IN THE WORLD.
>> MO --
>> Reporter: LYNN SAID MORIAH
WAS NEW TO THE HE PRO CYCLING
WORLD.
HAD HE FIRST PASSION HAD BEEN
DOWNHILL SKI RACING.
>> SHE WAS BORN INTO A FAMILY OF
REALLY GREAT ATHLETES.
HER FATHER ERIC HAD BEEN ON THE
U.S. SKI TEAM AND MORIAH'S AUNT
ACTUALLY WAS A TWO-TIME OLYMPIC
NORDIC SKI RACER.
>> AND IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT
MORIAH WAS DRAWN TO OUTDOOR
ENDURANCE SPORTS.
SHE WAS RAISE IN THE NORTHERN
VERMONT NEXT TO KINGDOM TRAILS.
>> THAT WAS HER PLAY GROUND.
>> MORIAH DANIELED BURKE
MOUNTAIN ACADEMY, AN ELITE SKI
SCHOOL THAT PRODUCED GOLD
MEDALISTS LIKE MIKAELA SHIFFRIN.
SHE SWITCHED SPORTS.
>> SHE USED CYCLING AS A WAY OF
REHABBING AND BUILDING BACK HER
STRENGTH.
WHAT WAS FASCINATING TO ME WAS
SHE THEN WENT ON TO DARTMOUTH.
SHE GOT AN ENGINEERING DEGREE.
AND AFTER DOING THAT, SHE WENT
TO HER MOTHER AND SAID, HEY,
MOM, IT I WANT TO BE A
PROFESSIONAL CYCLIST.
>> AND MORIAH TOLD THE PODCAST,
WE GOT TO HANG OUT, THAT SHE
WANTED TO DO MUCH MORE THAN JUST
WIN RACES.
>> HOW CAN I INSPIRE PEOPLE?
HOW CAN I GIVE BACK TO THE
CYCLING COMMUNITY?
HOW CAN I BRING MORE PEOPLE INTO
THE SPORT?
HOW CAN I MAKE IT MORE
INCLUSIVE?
I WANT TO FIND MEANING AND
PURPOSE IN CYCLING.
>> MORIAH EVENTUALLY MOVED TO
SAN FRANCISCO WHERE SHE FOCUSED
ON CYCLING AND QUICKLY ROSE TO
THE TOP OF THE SPORT.
>> MORIAH WAS FORGING HER OWN
PATH.
SHE KNEW WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO.
AND SHE WAS WORKING HARD TO
PURSUE IT.
>> ON MAY 10th, 2022, JUST ONE
WEEK BEFORE HER 26th BIRTHDAY,
MORIAH ARRIVED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS,
TO PREPARE FOR THE GRAVEL LOCOS
BIKE RACE, A RACE SHE WAS
FAVORED TO WIN.
MORIAH STAYED WITH A CLOSE
FRIEND IN THIS AUSTIN APARTMENT.
BUT THE NEXT EVENING, JUST
BEFORE 10:00 P.M., THE FRIEND
RETURNED HOME AND DISCOVERED
MORIAH WHO HAD BEEN SHOT
MULTIPLE TIMES.
SHE CALLED 911 --
>> SHE'S LAYING ON THE BATHROOM
FLOOR AND THERE'S BLOOD
EVERYWHERE.
>> MORIAH'S FRIEND TRIED CPR BUT
IT WAS TOO LATE.
>> IT STARTED OFF NEAR THE DOOR
AND WENT BACKWARDS LIKE SHE WAS
TRYING TO GET AWAY OR THERE WAS
SOME SORT OF A STRUGGLE.
>> AUSTIN POLICE OFFICERS MARC
McLEOD AND JONATHAN RILEY WORKED
THE CASE FROM THE BEGINNING.
>> WHOEVER SHOT HER AT THAT
POINT STOOD OVER THE TOP OF HER
AND SHOT HER AT LEAST ONCE.
>> INVESTIGATORS WONDER, WHO
COULD HAVE MURDERED THIS
PROMISING YOUNG ATHLETE?
AS THEY CANVASSED THE IMMEDIATE
AREA, POLICE DISCOVERED A
POSSIBLE CLUE.
MORIAH'S EXPENSIVE RACING
BICYCLE HAD BEEN DISCARDED IN
THE BUSHES.
>> SO AT THAT POINT, OKAY, IS
THIS A BURGLARY?
A ROBBERY GONE WRONG?
>> BUT THAT THEORY WAS QUICKLY
DISMISSED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO
SIGN OF A BREAK-IN.
THEN POLICE LEARNED HOURS BEFORE
MORIAH WAS FOUND MURDERED, ABOUT
8:30 P.M., SHE HAD BEEN DROPPED
OFF BY ANOTHER PROFESSIONAL BIKE
RACER NAMED COLIN STRICKLAND.
>> SO THE FOCUS WOULD BE WHO IS
THIS COLIN STRICKLAND?
>> COLIN STRICKLAND WAS A VERY
GOOD GRAVEL RACER.
HE WAS AT THE TOP ECHELON.
>> COLIN STRICKLAND WHO WAS 35
WAS CONSIDERED A PIONEER IN THE
SPORT.
HE HAD WON SOME OF THE MOST
PRESTIGIOUS RACES AND WAS
SPONSORED BY THE INDUSTRY'S TOP
BRANDS LIKE RED BULL.
>> MY NAME IS COLIN STRICKLAND.
I AM A BICYCLE RACER AND GENERAL
ENTERTAINER.
>> IN 2020, HE APPEARED IN AN
ONLINE VIDEO CALLED WAHOO
FRONTIERS ABOUT HIS LONG AND
SUCCESSFUL CAREER.
>> PRETTY EARLY ON I LOOKED UP
TO COLIN.
>> PLEASE WELCOME --
>> CHRIS TOLLEY IS FRIENDS WITH
STRICKLAND.
>> HE LOVED TO CREATE A SHOW
AROUND BIKE RACING.
SELLING BIKE RACING.
HE WAS REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT
IT.
>> AND TOLLEY THAT ALTHOUGH HIS
FRIEND HAD BEEN POPULAR WITH
WOMEN, HE EVENTUALLY BECAME
SERIOUS WITH A WOMAN NAMED
KAITLIN ARMSTRONG.
IN A SOCIAL MEDIA POST AFTER THE
CRIME, STRICKLAND WROTE, ABOUT
SIX MONTHS BEFORE MORIAH'S
MURDER DURING A SHORT BREAK-UP
WITH ARMSTRONG, HE DID HAVE A
BRIEF ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP WITH
MORIAH THAT SPANNED A WEEK OR
SO.
HE SAID THAT IT ENDED AND THEIR
RELATIONSHIP HAD TURNED INTO A
PLATONIC AND PROFESSIONAL ONE.
>> HE JUST WANTED TO BE FRIENDS
WITH SOMEONE WHO WOULD DO GREAT
THING IN CYCLING.
>> THE DAY AFTER MORIAH'S
MURDER, POLICE VISITED AND SPOKE
TO COLIN STRICKLAND AT HIS HOME.
>> MY PERSONAL TAKE WAS HE WAS
BEING VERY COOPERATIVE, BEING
VERY FORTHCOMING.
OBVIOUSLY HE WAS IN SHOCK.
>> BEING VERY TRANSPARENT.
>> YEAH.
>> AND INVESTIGATORS SAY WHEN HE
AGREED TO GO DOWN TO THE POLICE
STATION TO BE INTERVIEWED, HE
DIDN'T SEEM TO HOLD BACK WHEN
TELLING THEM ABOUT THE DAY HE
SPENT WITH MORIAH.
A DAY THAT WOULD END UP BEING
HER LAST.
>> THAT DAY IN MAY, IT WAS HOT.
IN THE 80s.
THIS STORY STARTED WITH A SWIM
RIGHT HERE.
IT IS A FAMOUS OUTDOOR POOL AND
COLIN STRICKLAND SAID HE TOOK
THE VICTIM, MO WILSON, ON THE
BACK OF HIS MOTORCYCLE TO COOL
OFF.
>> THEY WENT SWIMMING AND THEY
GOT FOOD.
>> MORIAH AND STRICKLAND ARE
SEEN HERE ON THE RESTAURANT'S
SECURITY CAMERA.
>> I KNOW HE'S BEING TRANSPARENT
AT THIS POINT DURING THIS
TESTIMONY.
WHAT HE'S SAYING IS STARTING TO
SOUND A LOT LIKE A DATE.
>> 100%.
>> INVESTIGATORS HAD A LOT OF
QUESTIONS, AND THEIR PRIOR VISIT
TO STRICKLAND'S HOME HAD RAISED
EVEN MORE.
ON THE NIGHT OF MORIAH'S MURDER,
POLICE DISCOVERED AN IMPORTANT
CLUE ON VIDEO FROM A NEIGHBOR'S
SECURITY CAMERA.
THE VIDEO WAS TAKEN JUST ONE
MINUTE AFTER MORIAH WAS DROPPED
OFF.
>> IT WAS A VIDEO FROM A RING
DOOR BELL CAMERA THAT CLEARLY
SHOWS A BLACK SUV WITH A BIKE
RACK.
YOU CAN'T SEE THE LICENSE PLATE
BECAUSE OF THE BIKE RACK ON IT.
>> SO WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THIS.
>> AND A VEHICLE THAT FIT THAT
DESCRIPTION WAS OUTSIDE
STRICKLAND'S HOUSE.
WHO WAS DRIVING THE BLACK SUV
WITH THE BIKE RACK?
THE ANSWER WOULD LEAD DIRECTLY
TO ANOTHER WOMAN.>>> THE DAY AFTER MORIAH
WILSON'S MURDER, INVESTIGATORS
QUICKLY HAD AN ANSWER TO WHO
COULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING THAT
BLACK JEEP THAT WAS SEEN ON
SECURITY CAMERAS SHORTLY BEFORE
HER DEATH.
INVESTIGATORS HAD SPOTTED A
SIMILAR-LOOKING JEEP IN COLIN
STRICKLAND'S DRIVEWAY WHEN THEY
SPOKE TO HIM.
>> THEY SEE A BLACK REGIME WITH
THE BIKE RACK ON THE BACK OF IT.
AT THAT POINT WE RUN THE LICENSE
PLATE AND IT COMES BACK THAT IT
IS REGISTERED TO KAITLIN
ARMSTRONG.
>> KAITLIN ARMSTRONG, COLIN
STRICKLAND'S GIRLFRIEND.
CHRIS TOLLEY SAID HE KNEW HER
VERY WELL.
>> WE CONNECTED PRETTY EARLY ON.
KAITLIN AND I BECAME FRIEND.
>> THEY WERE BOTH FROM THE
MIDWEST.
>> WE HAD A SIMILAR UPBRINGING
SO I THINK THAT KIND OF HELPED
US BECOME EVEN BETTER FRIENDS.
SHE WOULD COME OVER TO PARTIES I
WOULD HAVE.
>> ARMSTRONG HAD A BACKGROUND IN
FINANCE AND LOVED YOGA.
>> SHE HAD A REALLY STRONG LOVE
FOR TRAVEL.
YOU KNOW, SHE SPENT TIME PRETTY
MUCH GLOBE-HOPPING AROUND THE
WORLD.
AN INTERESTING PERSON.
>> ARMSTRONG GOT CERTIFIED AS A
YOGA INSTRUCTOR IN BALI.
AFTER SHE MET COLIN STRICKLAND
IN 2019, SHE ALSO GOT INTO
CYCLING.
>> HE WAS VERY WILLING TO SHOW
HER WHAT HIS PASSIONS WERE AND
HOW PASSIONATE HE WAS WITH
CYCLING AND GET HER INVOLVED
WITH IT AND SHE ALSO BECAME KIND
OF ADDICTED TO CYCLING ALONG
WITH COLIN.
>> ARMSTRONG EVEN STARTED RACING
ON AN AMATEUR LEVEL.
>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT
SEEMED LIKE THEY HAD A PRETTY
NORMAL RELATIONSHIP.
THEY WOULD RIDE BIKES TOGETHER,
DO FUN STUFF.
THEN 2020 HAPPENED AND THE
PANDEMIC STARTED.
SO EVERYONE WAS KIND OF FORCED
INTO CLOSE QUARTERS WITH THEIR
SIGNIFICANT OTHERS.
>> THE COUPLE EVENTUALLY MOVED
IN TOGETHER.
>> THE MOMENT I SAW THE
RELATIONSHIP BECOME MORE
SERIOUS, THEY TALKED ABOUT THEY
PURCHASED A HOUSE TOGETHER
RECENTLY, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS A
PRETTY BIG INDICATION THAT IT IS
A SERIOUS RELATIONSHIP.
>> THEY ALSO STARTED A BUSINESS
TOGETHER.
RSTORING CLASSIC TRAILERS.
>> I THINK SHE WAS HELPING WITH
THE FINANCE SIDE OF THINGS.
COLIN WAS DOING A LOT OF THE
OPERATIONS.
THEIR RELATIONSHIP WENT FROM
JUST A NORMAL COUPLE TO ALSO
OWNING A BUSINESS TOGETHER.
>> BUT THING GOT BUMPY IN LATE
2021.
>> THE BREAK-UP, I PERSONALLY
DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE SPLIT UP
AT THE TIME.
NEITHER OF THEM MENTIONED
ANYTHING TO ME.
>> IT WAS DURING THIS TIME THAT
COLIN STRICKLAND AND MORIAH
WILSON HAD BRIEFLY DATED.
ALTHOUGH STRICKLAND SAID THEY
HAD BROKEN IT OFF, MORIAH SEEMED
CONFUSED IN THE AFTERMATH.
PILAR MELENDEZ COVERED IT WITH
THE "DAILY BEAST."
>> AROUND THIS TIME SHE
LITERALLY WROTE, THIS WEEKEND
WAS STRANGE FOR ME.
IF YOU JUST WANT TO BE FRIENDS,
THAT'S COOL.
HONESTLY, MY MIND HAS BEEN GOING
IN CIRCLES.
IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE WHO IS IN
HER EARLY 20s WHO JUST WANTS TO
KNOW THE STATUS OF HER
RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE THAT
IS CONFUSING HER AND IT SEEM
TOTALLY REASONABLE THAT SHE
MIGHT BE CONFUSED.
>> STRICKLAND HAD A LOT TO SAY
ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH
KAITLIN ARMSTRONG.
>> HE STARTS TO PORTRAY HER AS
BEING THE JEALOUS TYPE.
EVEN SAYING THINGS LIKE, I CAN'T
KEEP PEOPLE IN MY PHONE.
LIKE MO IS NOT IN MY PHONE AS
MO.
>> STRICKLAND TOLD INVESTIGATORS
HE KEPT MORIAH'S PHONE NUMBER
UNDER AN ALIAS IN HER CONTACTS
AND ON THAT EVENING AFTER HE HAD
BEEN OUT WITH MORIAH AT THE
POOL, HE TEXTED ARMSTRONG THAT
HE HAD BEEN RUNNING AN ERRAND.
THAT HIS PHONE HAD DIED.
THAT WAS NOT TRUE.
INVESTIGATORS SAY THERE WERE
OTHER CLUES POINTING TOWARD
KAITLIN ARMSTRONG.
>> ON THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER,
KAITLIN ARMSTRONG'S PHONE WAS
NOT CONNECTED TO A CELL NETWORK.
>> NOT CONNECTED.
>> CORRECT.
WHETHER SHE POWERED IT OFF,
WHETHER SHE PUT IT IN AIRPLANE
MODE, SOMETHING HAPPENED THAT
HER PHONE WAS NOT COMMUNICATING
WITH ANY CELL PHONE TOWERS.
>> DO YOU THINK THIS WAS ON
PURPOSE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IN THIS DAY AND AGE, IF YOUR
PHONE IS OFF AND NOT CONNECTED
TO A NETWORK, YOU'RE EITHER THE
VICTIM OF A CRIME OR YOU'RE
PROBABLY COMMITTING ONE.
>> A SILENT PHONE SPEAKS LOUDER
IN SOME CASES THAN ACTIONS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> STRICKLAND ALSO SHARED THAT
HE HAD BOUGHT HANDGUNS FOR
ARMSTRONG AND HIMSELF FOR
PERSONAL SECURITY.
>> HE TALKS ABOUT HOW THEY
PURCHASED GUNS, AND THAT THERE
ARE THESE TWO GUNS AND SHE HAS A
GUN.
THEY'VE TAKEN LESSONS.
THAT THESE GUNS ARE BACK AT THE
HOUSE.
AND SO A FEW THINGS LIKE THAT
START TO PAINT A PICTURE OF THIS
KID, IT COULD DEFINITELY BE HER.
>> POLICE WORKED QUICKLY.
THAT SAME DAY, INVESTIGATORS
PICKED KAITLIN ARMSTRONG UP ON
AN OLD WARRANT FOR FAILING TO
PAY FOR A BOTOX TREATMENT.
>> SHE WAS JUST KIND OF SITTING
THERE.
SHE'S NOT SHOWING VERY MUCH
EMOTION AT ALL.
>> WHAT WERE YOU DOING
YESTERDAY?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE, I
THINK.
>> TYPICALLY WHEN WE SEE THIS
INTERVIEW GOING ON, IF YOU
DIDN'T DO IT, LIKE YOU'RE GOING
TO BE LIKE, NOT ME, NOT IT.
I WANT OUT OF THIS ROOM.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW SO YOU
DON'T COME BACK LOOKING FOR ME,
AND THERE WAS NONE OF THAT.
>> IS THERE ANY EXPLANATION AS
FAR AS WHY THE VEHICLE WOULD BE
OVER THERE?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE NOW.
>> SHE WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY
DISINTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT
THE DETECTIVES HAD TO SAY.
>> SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A
BIG RED FLAG IMMEDIATELY.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> BUT INVESTIGATORS HAD TO LET
ARMSTRONG GO.
THERE WAS A PROBLEM.
ARMSTRONG'S BIRTHDAY DID NOT
MATCH THE DATE ON THE WARRANT SO
THE WARRANT WASN'T VALID.
AND POLICE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TO
CHARGE HER WITH ANYTHING ELSE.
TWO DAYS AFTER THAT INTERVIEW,
POLICE GOT AN UNEXPECTED CALL.
IT WAS FROM A FRIEND OF KAITLIN
ARMSTRONG.
POLICE SAY THE CALLER TOLD THEM
THAT ARMSTRONG WAS SO ANGRY
ABOUT STRICKLAND'S RELATIONSHIP
WITH MORIAH THAT SHE WANTED TO
KILL HER.
IT WAS YET ANOTHER INDICATION
THAT THEY WERE ON THE RIGHT
TRACK.
A FEW DAYS LATER AN ARREST
WARRANT WAS ISSUED.
WHEN POLICE WENT LOOKING FOR
KAITLIN ARMSTRONG --
VANISHED, U.S. MARSHALS GOT THE
JOB OF TRACKING HER DOWN.
>> PLAIN AND SIMPLY, THE
MARSHALS ARE MANHUNTERS.
>> CHRIS GODSICK PRODUCES A
SHOW.
>> THIS IS CHASING EVIL.
>> HIS PODCAST TELLS THE STORIES
OF SOME OF THE U.S. MARSHALS'
BIGGEST CASES, INCLUDING THE
HUNT FOR KAITLIN ARMSTRONG.
>> NOBODY THOUGHT KAITLIN
ARMSTRONG WOULD RUN AND SHE
SURPRISED THEM ALL.
SHE DISAPPEARED.
>> KAITLIN ARMSTRONG RAN FROM A
MURDER CHARGE.
BUT THE U.S. MARSHALS' LONE STAR
FUGITIVE TASK FORCE HAD A
DIFFERENT PLAN.
>> SO TAKE ME THROUGH THIS.
WHERE DO YOU BEGIN WHEN YOU'RE
LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY THAT DOES
NOT WANT TO BE FOUND?
>> IT DEPENDS ON THE CASE,
HONESTLY.
WE LOOK FOR FRIENDS.
SOMETIMES WE LOOK FOR FAMILY.
>> ONE OF THE THING THAT I DID
WAS COLLECT AS MANY PHOTOS AS I
COULD.
>> DAMIEN FERNANDEZ AND EMIR
PEREZ JOINED JONATHAN RILEY AND
MARC McLEOD ON THE CASE.
THE TEAM BASED IN TEXAS IS KNOWN
AS THE LONE STAR FUGITIVE TASK
FORCEFUL WITH NO SIGN OF KAITLIN
ARMSTRONG, THE TASK FORCE
SUSPECTED SHE MAY HAVE HEADED TO
UPSTATE NEW YORK TO HER SISTER'S
PLACE.
>> WE WERE THINKING MAYBE SHE
WAS DRIVING ACROSS COUNTRY.
WE DIDN'T KNOW.
>> THEIR INSTINCTS WERE RIGHT.
IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, ANOTHER
DEPUTY MARSHAL MANAGED TO TRACK
DOWN ARMSTRONG'S SISTER.
>> WHAT DID THE SISTER SAY?
>> SHE SAID HER SISTER HAD COME
TO STAY WITH HER A COUPLE DAYS
BUT SHE HAD DROPPED HER OFF AT
THE AIRPORT IN NEWARK.
AND LAST SHE HEARD, SHE WAS
GOING TO BOARD A FLIGHT BACK TO
AUSTIN, BUT THEN CALLED HER BACK
LATER AND SAID THAT SHE DECIDED
THAT SHE WAS GOING TO DRIVE
BACK.
IT MADE NO SENSE TO ANY OF US
THAT YOU WOULD DRIVE BACK.
>> WHEN THE TASK FORCE CHECKED
OUTBOUND FLIGHTS AT NEWARK
AIRPORT, NO RESERVATIONS HAD
BEEN MADE IN KAITLIN ARMSTRONG'S
NAME.
>> WE NEVER GOT A HIT ON KAITLIN
ARMSTRONG'S PASSPORT.
>> THE TEAM HAD A HUNCH.
BECAUSE CHRISTIE TOLD THE DEPUTY
MARSHALL IN NEW YORK THAT SHE
DIDN'T KNOW WHERE HER PASSPORT
WAS SO THEY CHECKED WITH HER
CONTACT AT HOMELAND SECURITY.
>> WITHIN MINUTES OF REACHING
OUT, HE GOT BACK TO ME SAYING
WE'RE SHOWING SHE CHECKED OUT OF
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON A
ONE-WAY FLIGHT TO COSTA RICA.
>> YOU KNEW IT.
>> I SAID THERE'S NO WAY THE
SISTER LEFT AND WE'RE LOOKING
FOR HER AND WE CAN'T FIND
KAITLIN?
NO.
THAT'S KAITLIN.
>> THE MARSHAL SUSPECTED THAT
KAITLIN ARMSTRONG HAD USED HER
SISTER'S PASSPORT TO FLEE.
CHRISTIE ARMSTRONG LATER
EMPHASIZED TO AUTHORITIES SHE
DID NOT GIVE HER SISTER THE
PASSPORT.
SHE HAS NEVER BEEN CHARGED WITH
ANY CRIME RELATED TO THIS CASE.
>> AND THIS IS WHERE KAITLIN
ARMSTRONG LANDED.
COSTA RICA.
GEM OF CENTRAL AMERICA.
HOME TO MOUNTAINS, TROPICAL RAIN
FORESTS AND WHITE SAND BEACHES
AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE.
BUT SHE DIDN'T SPEND MUCH TIME
HERE IN SAN JOSE.
SHORTLY AFTER ARRIVING, KAITLIN
ARMSTRONG DISAPPEARED AGAIN AND
SHE HAD A HUGE LEAD ON THE U.S.
MARSHALS.
>> MARSHALS EMIR PEREZ AND
DAMIEN FERNANDEZ ARRIVED IN
COSTA RICA A MONTH AFTER
ARMSTRONG.
>> THIS IS YOU GUYS NOW ON THE
HUNT.
HOW INTENSE IS IT ONCE YOU TOUCH
DOWN IN COSTA RICA?
WHAT HAPPENS?
>> YOU'RE ON A TIME LINE.
>> I HEAR TIME LINE AND I HEAR
THE PRESSURE IS ON.
>> THE PRESSURE IS ON.
>> WE WERE SITTING IN THE PLANE
TALKING.
WHAT'S THE GAME PLAN?
>> ALTHOUGH THEY WOULD HAVE HELP
FROM THE COSTA RICAN AUTHORITIES
AND U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
OFFICERS ON THE GROUND, THEY
KNEW FINDING ARMSTRONG WAS GOING
TO BE A BIG CHALLENGE.
>> WE HAD OTHER INTELLIGENCE
INDICATING THAT SHE WAS STAYING
IN HOSTELS IN COSTA RICA.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT COSTA RICA BUT
COSTA RICA HAS A LOT OF HOSTELS.
AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF
HOSTELS.
>> THE MARSHALS WOULDN'T TELL US
EXACTLY HOW THEIR INTELLIGENCE
GATHERING WORKED BUT THEIR TEAM
BACK IN THE STATES HAD MANAGED
TO TRACK DOWN THE PHONE NUMBER
FOR AN AMERICAN BUSINESSMAN THEY
BELIEVED HAD CONNECTED WITH
KAITLIN ARMSTRONG AT SOME POINT.
>> WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT CITY HE
WAS IN.
WE DECIDED, LET'S JUST COLD-CALL
HIM.
WE CALL HIM AND WE'RE IN THE
CONFERENCE ROOM.
HEY, IT'S THE U.S. MARSHALS.
MY NAME IS MARK.
AND HE SAID I DON'T WANT ANY.
CLICK.
JUST HANGS UP LIKE A
TELEMARGARETER.
>> AFTER THREE OR FOUR CALL
ATTEMPTS THE BUSINESSMAN FINALLY
STAYED ON THE LINE TO ANSWER THE
MARSHAL'S QUESTIONS.
>> AND WE ENDED UP SENDING A
PICTURE OF KAITLIN WHILE WE'RE
ON THE PHONE WITH HIM.
HE LOOKS AT IT AND SAYS YES, BUT
SHE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THAT AND
SHE'S NOT USING THAT NAME.
>> DID HE TELL YOU HER NEW NAME?
>> HE DID.
>> IT WAS BETH.
GOING BY BETH.
>> AND THE BUSINESSMAN SAID,
ARMSTRONG NO LONGER LOOKED LIKE
THIS.
SHE HAD CUT HER HAIR AND CHANGED
ITS COLOR.
>> BROWN INSTEAD OF RED.
>> THE BUSINESSMAN TOLD THE
MARSHALS, HE HAD NO IDEA THAT
THE WOMAN WHO CALLED HERSELF
BETH WAS ACTUALLY KAITLIN
ARMSTRONG.
BUT HE DID TELL THEM WHERE THEY
MIGHT FIND HER.
>> HE WAS LIKE, I MET HER AT A
YOGA STUDIO IN JACO.
>> THIS IS JACO.
A POPULAR TOURIST DESTINATION
KNOWN FOR ITS NIGHT LIFE AND ITS
BEACHES AND THE PERFECT PLACE TO
HIDE.
IT WAS THE MARSHAL'S FIRST REAL
TIP SO THEY RUSHED OUT HERE.
THEY CANVASSED THE AREA, COMBED
THROUGH HOURS OF SURVEILLANCE
VIDEO, BUT COULD NOT FIND A
SINGLE SIGN OF KAITLIN ARMSTRONG
ANYWHERE.
IT WAS A BUST.
>> THE MARSHALS HAVE ONE MORE
SOLID LEAD.
AND THAT TAKES THEM TO A
BEAUTIFUL TOURISTY BEACH TOWN, A
ONE-STREET TOWN CALLED SANTA
TERESA.
>>> ONE MONTH AFTER KAITLIN
ARMSTRONG DISAPPEARED, THE U.S.
MARSHALS WERE IN HOT PURSUIT OF
HER.
AND ANOTHER AREA OF COSTA RICA.
A SOURCE HAD SUGGESTED SHE MIGHT
HAVE GONE TO A SMALL VILLAGE ON
THE PACIFIC COAST.
>> THE MARSHALS TOOK A FERRY
LIKE THIS ONE TO REACH A REMOTE
PENINSULA.
ONCE THERE THEY DROVE BY CAR
THROUGH THOSE MOUNTAINS TO THE
TINY TOWN OF SANTA TERESA.
THEY FINALLY ARRIVED, THEY RAN
INTO AN UNEXPECTED PROBLEM.
SANTA TERESA, WAS IT EASY TO
FIVE HER THERE FROM THE OTHER
PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE?
>> I THINK FROM THE GET-GO, WE
WRE TOLD, YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN
FOR A SURPRISE.
A LOT OF THE WOMEN IN SANTA
TERESA LOOK JUST LIKE KAITLIN.
A LOT OF THEM.
>> AND IT TURNS OUT THAT ADVICE
WAS RIGHT.
THE TOWN WAS FULL OF FOREIGN
TOURISTS.
DEPUTY MARSHALS FERNANDEZ AND
PEREZ ARRIVED IN SANTA TERESA
AFTER DARK.
>> SO WE GET THERE AND HE STARTS
WALKING DOWN A MAIN STRIP THAT'S
DOWN THE STREET.
>> THERE'S ONLY ONE ROAD IN THAT
TOWN.
A MAIN ROAD.
>> HE SEES A GIRL AND HE SAYS
THAT LOOKS JUST LIKE HER.
WELL, A COUPLE MINUTES LATER WE
SEE ANOTHER ONE.
AND IT IS LATE AT NIGHT.
THAT'S TWO.
AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER ONE.
>> AS THE MARSHALS TRY TO FIND
ARMSTRONG, THEY EVEN HAD ONE OF
THEIR FEMALE OPERATIVES START
GOING TO YOGA CLASSES TO SEE IF
THEY COULD SPOT HER.
>> SHE ACTUALLY DID THREE
DIFFERENT CLASSES FOR US.
>> Reporter: AND THEY TAPPED
INTO LOCAL CONTACTS.
>> WE MADE FRIENDS WITH PEOPLE
THAT WOULD SEND US PICTURES.
OH, LOOK, I THINK I SAW HER AT
THIS RESTAURANT YESTERDAY.
SHE'S IN THE BACK.
IN THE BACK ROW OF A PHOTO THAT
I TOOK.
STUFF LIKE THAT.
>> IN FACT, PEOPLE HAD SEEN
KAITLIN ARMSTRONG AT LOCAL SPOTS
IN SANTA TERESA BUT THEY DIDN'T
REALIZE WHO SHE WAS.
ARMSTRONG WAS HIDING IN PLAIN
SIGHT, USING DIFFERENT NAMES.
>> SHE HAD LIKE MULTIPLE NAMES.
>> YEAH.
SHE CAME IN --
>> BETH --
>> WASN'T BETH.
>> ARI.
RIGHT.
ARI.
>> GREG HABER IS AN AMERICAN
FROM THE NEW YORK AREA WHO OWNS
A RESTAURANT CALLED KOOKS
SMOKEHOUSE AND BAR IN SANTA
TERESA.
>> ARI.
WHAT DID ARI LOOK LIKE?
DID SHE STAND OUT TO YOU.
>> PRETTY.
INTRODUCED HERSELF AS A YOGA
TEACHER WHICH IS BASICALLY
ANYBODY ELSE DOWN HERE.
HEY, I MOVED HERE.
TEACHING YOGA DOWN THE STREET
AND THAT WAS IT.
>> WHAT WAS HER GENERAL VIBE
LIKE?
>> SHE DEFINITELY SEEMED LIKE
SHE WAS TRYING TO ESTABLISH
ROOTS HERE.
LIKE THIS WOULD BE HER NEW HOME.
>> Reporter: AND ABLER SAID ONE
DAY HE NOTICED SOMETHING
DIFFERENT ABOUT HER.
>> I SAW HER ON THE BEACH.
I WALK MY DOG ON THE BEACH EVERY
NIGHT AT SUNSET.
WALKING THROUGH, I SAW THE
BANDAGE ON HER FACE.
WHAT HAPPENED?
A SURFBOARD HIT ME IN THE FACE.
IT HAPPENS TO EVERYBODY AT LEAST
ONCE.
YOU WOULDN'T EVEN QUESTION THAT
STORY HERE.
YOU SEE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.
>> IT TURNS OUT THAT BANDAGE
WOULD LATER PROVE TO BE AN
IMPORTANT PART OF THE STORY AND
ONE OF THE REASON THE MARSHALS
SAY ARMSTRONG WAS SO HARD TO
FIND.
>> SO YOU'RE THIS CLOSE TO
GIVING UP.
>> FINALLY, THEY DECIDED ON ONE
LAST THING.
THEY TURNED TO A LOCAL FACEBOOK
PAGE.
>> WE DECIDED TO PUT AN AD OUT
FOR A YOGA INSTRUCTOR.
>> SO THIS IS THE EQUIVALENT OF
CRAIGSLIST.
>> A LITTLE BIT.
HEY, WE'RE AT THIS HOSTEL.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR A YOGA
INSTRUCTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
PLEASE CACTUS AT THIS NUMBER.
>> AFTER ALMOST A WEEK OF
HUNTING, OOMS EVEN THAT DIDN'T
SEEM TO BE WORKING.
>> SUNDAY WE DECIDED, WE HAVEN'T
GOTTEN ANY RESPONSE BACK.
>> NOTHING.
>> SO SUNDAY, OKAY, WE'RE DONE.
NONE OF THEM HAVE PANNED OUT.
SO WE'RE GOING BACK TO SAN JOSE.
>> NOW BACK IN SAN JOSE, THE
MARSHALS WERE GETTING READY TO
HEAD HOME WHEN SUDDENLY --
>> WE GOT A BITE.
SOMEBODY THAT IDENTIFIED HERSELF
AS A YOGA INSTRUCTOR AND SAID
THEY WANTED TO MEET WITH US AT A
PARTICULAR HOSTEL.
AND WE SAID THIS IS OUR CHANCE.
>> DEPUTY MARSHALS PEREZ AND
FERNANDEZ RUSHED BACK TO SANTA
TERESA JUST AHEAD OF A TROPICAL
STORM.
WAS NOT CARLOS SOLANO'S TEAM
HELPED THEM IN THEIR SEARCH FOR
ARMSTRONG.
THEY DID SURVEILLANCE ON A
HOSTEL CALLED DON JOHN'S WHERE
THE YOGA INSTRUCTOR, THE ONE WHO
ANSWERED THE ONLINE AD, WAS
BELIEVED TO BE.
>> SO THERE IS THIS MASSIVE
INTERNATIONAL MANHUNT AND OF ALL
PLACES IN THE WORLD, IT ENDS IN
THIS VERY DISCREET HOSTEL.
>> IT WAS NOW TIME FOR THE
MARSHALS TO MAKE THEIR MOVE.
>> SO I WALKED UP AND I GOT IN.
>> THEY DECIDED THAT DEPUTY
MARSHAL PEREZ WOULD APPROACH THE
WOMAN ALONE.
THEY DIDN'T WANT TO SCARE HER
OFF.
HE WOULD PRETEND TO BE A TOURIST
AND TRY TO GET A REALLY GOOD
LOOK AT HER FACE.
>> AND I SAW TWO INDIVIDUALS
SITTING THERE AT A TABLE OFF TO
THE LEFT AS SOON AS I WALKED IN.
>> HE SAYS ONE WAS A WOMAN.
>> SHE LOOKED LIKE KAITLIN.
BUT NOT 100%.
SO I THOUGHT, HOW CAN I APPROACH
HER OR GET CLOSE ENOUGH?
WHERE I STARTED ASKING
QUESTIONS, WHERE SHE DOESN'T
SUSPECT SOMETHING.
SO I DECIDED THAT I WOULD SPEAK
TO HER IN SPANISH.
SO I SPOKE TO HER IN NOTHING BUT
SPANISH.
>> SO YOU'RE COMMUNICATING.
SHE GOES TO USE HER PHONE FOR
GOOGLE TRANSLATE --
>> I GOT A LITTLE CLOSER.
I SAW SHE WAS TRYING TO GET TO
GOOGLE TRANSLATE ON HER PHONE.
SHE WOULD RAISE IT UP TO ME AND
I GOT EVEN CLOSER.
I NOTICED THAT SHE HAD A BANDAGE
ON HER NOSE AND POSSIBLY HER
LIPS WERE SWOLLEN.
AND I SAW HER EYES.
THE EYES ARE THE EXACT SAIL ONES
THAT I SAW IN THE PICTURE.
THIS IS HER 100%.
>> HE GETS IN THE CAR AND HE'S
LIKE, THAT'S HER.
SHE'S IN THERE.
>> LOCAL POLICE MOVED IN TO MAKE
THE ACTUAL ARREST.
AND SOON, THE MARSHALS
DISCOVERED WHY ARMSTRONG HAD
BEEN SO HARD TO FIND.
SHE HAD BEEN GETTING PLASTIC
SURGE WHEN THEY FIRST ARRIVED IN
SANTA TERESA AT THE HOSTEL THEY
FOUND A RECEIPT.
>> THE RECEIPT FOR SURGERY.
>> IN THESE SIDE BY SIDE PHOTOS
YOU CAN SEE SHE CHANGED THE
SHAPE OF HER NOSE.
THE DEPUTY MARSHAL SAID THE
FEMALE OPERATIVE, THE ONE THEY
SENT TO YOGA CLASSES TO FIND
ARMSTRONG SAID ARMSTRONG'S NEW
LOOK WOULD HAVE TRICKED HER.
>> SHE SAID IT IF I WOULD HAVE
RUN INTO HER AT THE YOGA STUDIO,
I DON'T THINK I WOULD AVE
RECOGNIZED HER.
>> WOW!
IT ALMOST WORKED.
>> IT ALMOST WORKED.
>> THE MARSHALS TOOK ARMSTRONG
BACK TO TEXAS WHERE SHE WAS
CHARGED AND HELD IN JAIL.
BUT JUST WEEKS BEFORE SHE WAS
DUE TO STAND TRIAL FOR THE
MURDER OF MORIAH WILSON, KAITLIN
ARMSTRONG ESCAPED AGAIN.
>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE
INVESTIGATORS' UNDERCOVER
>>> ALMOST THREE WEEKS BEFORE
HER TRIAL, FORMER FUGITIVE
KAITLIN ARMSTRONG SOMEHOW
MANAGED TO ESCAPE FROM CUSTODY.
>> SHE WAS AT A DOCTOR'S
APPOINTMENT AND TRIED TO ESCAPE
AS THEY WERE WALKING OUT.
>> PILAR MELENDEZ SAID ARMSTRONG
DIDN'T GET FAR BEFORE DEPUTIES
CAUGHT HER.
>> IT WAS PRETTY ASTONISHING
THAT SHE DID THAT GIVEN THAT SHE
HAD TRIED TO ESCAPE PROSECUTION
PRIOR.
>> THIS WAS JUST MORE EVIDENCE
OF HER GUILT.
>> JOSE GARZA IS TRAVIS COUNTY'S
DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
HE SAYS HIS TEAM OF PROSECUTORS,
RICKEY JONES AND GUILLERMO
GONZALEZ, WERE MORE THAN READY
TO TRY THE CASE.
>> WHEN WE LEARNED THAT SHE HAD
TRIED TO ESCAPE, IT JUST ADDED
TO OUR CONFIDENCE LEVEL IN THE
FACTS OF THIS CASE THAT WE WOULD
BE ABLE TO SECURE JUSTICE FOR
MORIAH AND HER FAMILY.
>> ON HAVE NO 1st, 2023,
ARMSTRONG'S TRIAL BEGAN.
>> THE LAST THING MO DID ON THIS
EARTH WAS SCREAM IN TERROR.
>> IN OPENING STATEMENTS, JONES
TOLD THE JURY ABOUT CHILLING
AUDIO FROM A SECURITY CAMERA
THAT CAPTURED THE LAST MOMENTS
OF MORIAH'S LIFE.
>> THOSE SCREAMS WERE FOLLOWED
BY -- POW, POW, TWO GUNSHOTS.
PUT A THIRD SHOT RIGHT IN MO
WILSON'S HEART.
>> PROSECUTORS SAID ARMSTRONG
HAD BEEN TRACKING MORIAH WILSON
USING A SPORTS APP.
>> KAITLIN PRIOR TO THE MURDER
HAD BEEN FOLLOWING HER ON THE
STRAVA APP THAT TRACKS A
RUNNER'S MILES AND BIKING.
SHE KNEW EXACTLY WHERE SHE WAS.
>> THEY SAID THAT ARTICLE STRONG
ON THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER WAS
MOST LIKELY TRACKING COLIN
STRICKLAND AS WELL.
>> SHE DID HAVE THE ABILITY TO
MONITOR HIS COMMUNICATIONS.
SHE HAD ACCESS TO ALL OF HIS
PASSWORDS.
SHE HAD ACCESS TO HIS INSTAGRAM
ACCOUNT.
>> I BELIEVE THAT WHEN MO SENT
COLIN A TEXT, LETTING HIM KNOW
THE ADDRESS WHERE SHE WAS, I
BELIEVE THAT KAITLIN ARMSTRONG
WAS AT HOME ON COLIN
STRICKLAND'S LAPTOP.
SHE SAW THAT MESSAGE.
>> AFTER MURDERING MORIAH AND
BEFORE LEAVING THE SCENE, JONES
TOLD THE JURY THAT ARMSTRONG
TOOK MORIAH'S BIKE AND DISCARDED
IT IN THE BUSHES JUST YARDS AWAY
FROM WHERE HER JEEP WAS PARKED.
>> I BELIEVE SHE MAYBE STAGED IT
TO LOOK LIKE A ROBBERY OR
SOMETHING, OR ANOTHER THEORY IS,
MO WILSON'S BIKE IS A TOOL OF
HER TRADE.
IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN LIKE THE
BULLET SHOT IN THE HEART.
I'M GOING TO SHOOT YOU IN THE
HEART.
I'M GOING TO THROW AWAY YOUR
BIKE.
>> BUT THEY SAID ARMSTRONG MADE
ONE BIG MISTAKE.
SHE LEFT HER DNA BEHIND ON THE
HANDLEBARS AND SEAT OF MORIAH'S
BIKE AND THAT'S NOT ALL THE
EVIDENCE PROSECUTORS HAD AGAINST
ARMSTRONG.
THERE WAS THAT RECEIPT THAT
SHOWED ARMSTRONG HAD RECEIVED
PLASTIC SURGERY WHITE HIDING OUT
IN COSTA RICA.
>> EVERYTHING SHE DOES, IT IS
ALL CONSISTENT WITH TRYING TO
EVADE AUTHORITIES.
>> WHEN IT WAS THE DEFENSE'S
TURN, THEY SAID THERE WAS NO
DIRECT EVIDENCE, INCLUDING
SECURITY FOOTAGE THAT ACTUALLY
SHOWED ARMSTRONG WAS AT THE
SCENE OF THE CRIME.
>> NOT ONE WITNESS SAW KAITLIN
ARMSTRONG ALLEGEDLY COMMIT THIS
MURDER.
>> THEN WHY WOULD ARMSTRONG FLEE
AND HIDE FROM AUTHORITIES?
THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY POINTED THE
FINGER AT COLIN STRICKLAND.
>> WAS SHE SCARED?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
DO YOU THINK THAT SHE MAY HAVE
BEEN CONCERNED A LITTLE BIT THAT
HER BOYFRIEND HAD KILL SOMEONE?
FEAR RESULTS IN FIGHT OR FLIGHT.
IT WAS FLIGHT.
>> BUT JONES SAID THERE WAS A
BIG PROBLEM WITH THIS THEORY
BECAUSE STRICKLAND HAD NOTHING
TO DO WITH THE MURDER OF MORIAH
WILSON.
>> IN FACT, AT THE TIME OF THE
MURDER, HE WAS ACTUALLY ON THE
PHONE SPEAKING WITH SOMEONE.
IT WASN'T COLIN STRICKLAND.
>> ARMSTRONG'S DEFENSE TEAM DID
NOT RESPOND TO OUR REQUEST FOR
AN INTERVIEW.
AFTER A TWO-WEEK TRIAL --
>> THE DEFENDANT WILL PLEASE
RISE.
>> IT TOOK THE JURY AROUND TWO
HOURS TO DECIDE ARMSTRONG'S
FATE.
>> WE THE JURY FIND THE
DEFENDANT KAITLIN ARMSTRONG
GUILTY OF THE OFFENSE OF MURDER.
>> AS A PROSECUTOR, THE FIRST
ROW RIGHT BEHIND YOU IS THE
FAMILY.
AND YOU BEGAN TO FEEL THEIR PAIN
AND THEIR DESIRE FOR A JUST
OUTCOME FOR THEIR LOVED ONES.
>>> ONE DAY AFTER HER
CONVICTION, ARMSTRONG WAS
SENTENCED TO 90 YEARS BEHIND
BARS.
>> YOU MAY BE SEATED.
>> BUT BEFORE THE CASE CAME TO
AN END, JUDGE BRENDA KENNEDY
ALLOWED CAITLYN CASH, MORIAH'S
CLOSE FRIEND WHOSE APARTMENT SHE
HAD BEEN STAYING AT, WHO FOUND
THE BODY, TO TAKE THE STAND AND
SPEAK DIRECTLY TO ARMSTRONG.
>> SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM
HAVE LOST SO MUCH.
I'M ANGRY AT YOU, AT THE UTTER
TRAGIC NATURE THAT WAS
SENSELESSNESS AT NOT BEING ABLE
TO HEAR MO'S VOICE AGAIN.
I FEEL DEEP SADNESS FOR THE ROAD
AHEAD.
>> THEN IT WAS MORIAH'S MOTHER'S
TURN.
>> I HATE WHAT YOU DID TO MY
BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER.
IT WAS VERY SELFISH AND
COWARDLY.
A VIOLENT ACT.
IT WAS COWARDLY BECAUSE YOU
NEVER CHOSE TO FACE HER WOMAN TO
WOMAN IN A CIVIL CONVERSATION.
SHE WOULD HAVE LISTENED.
SHE WAS AN AMAZING LISTENER.
SHE WOULD HAVE CARED ABOUT YOUR
FEELINGS.
>> BUT DESPITE THE PAIN, KAREN
WILSON CLOSED WITH WORDS OF LOVE
AND OPTIMISM BECAUSE SHE SAID,
THAT'S HOW MORIAH WOULD HAVE
WANTED IT.
>> YOU KILLED HER EARTHLY BODY
BUT HER SPIRIT IS SO VERY MUCH
ALIVE.
AND YOU CAN NEVER CHANGE THAT.
>> TODAY IN KINGDOM TRAILS IN
NORTHERN VERMONT, A PLACE SACRED
TO MORIAH, A TRAIL WAS BUILT IN
HER HONOR.
IT'S CALLED MORIAH'S ASCENT.
>> MORIAH WAS A VERMONTER.
SHE WAS GIVING, SHE WAS
HARD-WORKING, SHE WAS HONEST,
SHE WAS CARING.
AND SHE CAME FROM A WONDERFUL
FAMILY AND THAT FAMILY REALLY
WANTS THAT LEGACY AND ALL OF HER
GOOD QUALITIES TO INSPIRE
OTHERS.
>>> A GOOD FAMILY MAN
DISAPPEARS.
>> I KNEW SOMETHING BAD WAS
LAPPING.
>> THEN A HIGH-SPEED CHASE
REVEALS CLUES.
>> IT WAS LIKE THE SCENE OUT OF
A MOVIE.
>> AND A POWERFUL MOTIVE.
REVENGE.
>> I HAD NO IDEA THE TYPE OF
EVIL