- Opening statements in the trial of Kaitlin Armstrong begin tomorrow
- She is accused of killing Moriah “Mo” Wilson in Austin in May 2022
- Armstrong fled to Costa Rica last year to avoid arrest; she was caught in July
- Earlier this month, she tried to escape prison guards while visiting a doctor
A jury of eight women and six men has been selected in the trial of Kaitlin Armstrong, the Texas yoga teacher accused of murdering her love rival and then going on the run last May.
Opening statements begin tomorrow at the Travis County Criminal Courthouse.
Armstrong, 36, has pleaded not guilty to murder. She is accused of fatally shooting Moriah “Mo” Wilson last May after Wilson returned home from dinner with Armstrong’s friend Colin Strickland.
Armstrong is accused of killing professional cyclist Moriah Wilson in Austin in May 2022, allegedly out of jealousy over her romance with Armstrong’s boyfriend Colin Strickland
Wilson was described by her fellow cyclists as “all light and laughter.” She was a cycling star who was called “America’s winningest woman.”
Armstrong was initially questioned by police but was released due to a paperwork issue when an officer incorrectly entered her date of birth on a form.
Once free, she fled first to New York and then to Costa Rica, where she evaded authorities for 43 days.
She even underwent facial plastic surgery to change her appearance.
The drama didn’t end once she was in custody. On October 11, as she neared trial, Armstrong tried to flee again while visiting a doctor’s office in Austin.
She had convinced prison guards to take her for an appointment with a specialist, claiming she had suffered a leg injury while exercising in custody.
As he was led back to the police vehicle from the doctor’s office, Armstrong ran toward it.
A bystander filmed her sprinting toward a fence in her black-and-white striped prisoner jumpsuit before being tackled by a guard.
US Marshals launched a massive manhunt for Armstrong after she fled
Prosecutors say she killed Wilson in a jealous rage after discovering she had been with Strickland.
Strickland, who went into hiding after the murder while Armstrong remained on the run, had hidden their arrangement from his girlfriend.
He and Wilson previously dated and had a mutual love of cycling.
The trial in Austin is expected to last at least two weeks. A camera will be allowed inside for opening statements and closing arguments, but the duration of the trial and most of the evidence will not be filmed, televised or live-streamed.
If convicted, Armstrong will spend the rest of her life in prison.