Kaitlin Armstrong Charged With Murder After Hiding Out In Costa Rica

Kaitlin Armstrong, a fugitive murder suspect who was apprehended by U.S. Marshals in Costa Rica, was returned to Austin, Texas and has been charged with first-degree murder of Annah Moriah Wilson, a professional cyclist. She was also hit with a lesser charge of theft of service.

The Austin Police Department said Armstrong, 34, is being held in custody at the Travis County Jail in Austin with a reported $3.5 million bond.

Wilson was visiting Austin for a race, and in the past had a brief relationship with Armstrong’s boyfriend Colin Strickland. She was found dead on May 13, and Armstrong’s vehicle was seen by the house Wilson was staying in. Armstrong was briefly taken into custody by police, but was released due to a clerical error.

Authorities have said that Armstrong traveled out of the U.S. with a “fraudulent passport,” and had been in Costa Rica since May 18, alluding capture for 43 days before being arrested at a hostel on Santa Teresa Beach.

Investigators had known that Armstrong made it to Newark Airport before losing her trail because they weren’t able to find a flight in her name. A Deputy U.S. Marshal, Brandon Filla, said that they conducted “boots on the ground” interviews in Costa Rica, surveyed several areas, and collaborated with international law enforcement to be able to Armstrong.

Austin Police will be holding a press conference on Thursday afternoon to provide more information regarding Armstrong’s arrest.