Kaitlin Marie Armstrong, the Austin woman accused of murdering professional cycling star Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson, returned to the state capital on Tuesday and is now in custody at the Travis County Jail, authorities told Austin-based media outlets.
The 34-year-old Armstrong was previously held at the Harris County Jail after her arrival at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston on Saturday, Austin Journal reported citing Austin NBC affiliate KXAN.
Investigators allege Armstrong, who is also a cyclist, fatally shot Wilson at a residence on the east side of Austin on May 11 and subsequently fled the country for Costa Rica.
According to Austin ABC affiliate KVUE, authorities charged Armstrong with first-degree murder and theft of service.
Aside from a homicide charge, Austin Journal reported, Armstrong is accused of using a fake American passport while departing Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in the New York City area for Costa Rica on May 18.
The U.S. Marshal Service’s Costa Rican counterparts assisted in nabbing the suspect, to which Susan Pamerleau, U.S. marshal for the Western District of Texas, told KVUE capped “a 43-day run.”
KXAN reported that county jail records indicate no bond for Armstrong.
Authorities said that Armstrong sported an altered appearance when she was apprehended on Thursday.
“That physical appearance changed slightly,” Deputy U.S. Marshal Brandon Filla said, KXAN reported. “Would it have changed more as she started to create that, you know, type of foundation for herself there in Costa Rica? Possibly.”
A native of California, the Vermont-born Wilson was in Texas for the Gravel Locos race in Hico that was held on May 14, Austin Journal reported.
The 25-year-old was looking to add to her first-place finish at the Belgian Waffle Ride in her home state.
“We’d like to thank the Austin Police Department, Detective Spitler, Jacqueline Berrelleza, the U.S. Marshalls and all other parties and individuals involved for their diligence in locating and apprehending Kaitlin Armstrong,” the Wilson family said in a statement. “We’re relieved to know this phase of uncertainty is now behind us, and we trust that justice will prevail. We’d like to ask for the media to respect our privacy at this time, as they have over the last six weeks.”
The Austin law firm Cofer & Connelly is representing the suspect.
