Kaitlin Armstrong, the woman accused of killing an elite cyclist in Texas, was captured in Costa Rica after more than 40 days on the run. But is she related to the disgraced former cyclist Lance Armstrong?
Contents
Who is Kaitlin Armstrong?
Kaitlin Armstrong, 34, is a yoga teacher and former professional cyclist who was in a long-term relationship with Colin Strickland, another pro cyclist. She is suspected of shooting and killing Moriah “Mo” Wilson, 25, on May 11 at the home of a friend in Austin, Texas. Wilson was also a professional cyclist and had been swimming and dining with Strickland earlier that day.
According to authorities, Armstrong fled the country using a fake passport that belonged to someone “closely associated” with her. She dyed her hair and used surfing injuries as an excuse to avoid detection. She was arrested on June 29 at a hostel on Santa Teresa Beach in Costa Rica’s Provincia de Puntarenas. She was deported to the United States on July 2 and is currently being held on $3.5 million bond. She pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in a Texas court on July 21.
Other than sharing the same last name, Kaitlin Armstrong and Lance Armstrong are not related in any way at all. Lance Armstrong, 49, is a former road racing cyclist who won seven consecutive Tour de France titles from 1999 to 2005 before being stripped of them for doping. He has also been banned from cycling for life and has faced several lawsuits and investigations for fraud and perjury.
Lance Armstrong has four children with his ex-wife Kristin Richard: Luke, Isabelle, Grace and Max. He also has two children with his former girlfriend Anna Hansen: Olivia and Edward. He is currently dating Anna Hansen.
What do we know about Kaitlin Armstrong’s family and parents?
Kaitlin Armstrong was born to Michael and Sharon Armstrong and grew up in Livonia, Michigan. Although there aren’t too many details about her parents, they have been making public appearances since the murder of Wilson. They have defended their daughter and insisted that she is not a killer. They have also accused Strickland of cheating on her with Wilson and claimed that he was abusive and controlling.
Michael Armstrong told Good Morning America: “I know her. I know how she thinks and I know what she believes. And I know that she just would not do something like this.” Sharon Armstrong told ABC News: “She’s not a murderer. She’s not capable of doing something like this.”
What is the motive behind the killing?
Investigators have said that romantic jealousy might have been a motivating factor in the killing. Strickland told police that he and Wilson had been friends for years and had recently become romantically involved. He said that he had broken up with Armstrong in April but they still lived together until May 10, when he moved out.
Strickland also said that he had received several threatening messages from Armstrong after he left their home. He said that she had accused him of cheating on her with Wilson and had warned him to “watch his back”. He said that he had blocked her number and deleted the messages.
Wilson was considered one of the best cyclists in the world by Strickland and others. She had won a series of races in California this spring before traveling to Austin for a race. She was also an environmental engineer who worked on water quality projects.
