Inside timeline of fugitive Kaitlin Armstrong’s last movements in US and mistakes that led to her escape to Costa Rica
A FUGITIVE yoga teacher wanted for the murder of a pro cyclist she allegedly killed in a jealous rage has been captured by authorities after last being seen over a month ago in a New York City airport.
Kaitlin Armstrong, 34, was arrested at a hostel on Santa Teresa Beach in Provincia de Puntarenas, Costa Rica, on Wednesday after 43 days on the run, US Marshals announced.
The US Marshals released a statement saying Armstrong will be deported from Costa Rica and will return to the US.
The Marshals Service also revealed that Armstrong had been using a fraudulent passport and arrived in Costa Rica on May 18 after flying from Newark, New Jersey.
Armstrong is believed to have sold her car in Texas for more than $12,000 on May 13, just one day before she departed Austin.
Officials also believe she flew from Austin to Houston on May 14 before boarding a flight to Newark.
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The woman then received transportation back to Newark on May 18, authorities learned through questioning.
“The Marshals Service elevated the Kaitlin Armstrong investigation to major case status early in this investigation, which likely played a key role in her capture after a 43-day run,” said US Marshal for the Western District of Texas Susan Pamerleau.
“This is an example of combining the resources of local, state, federal and international authorities to apprehend a violent fugitive, bring an end to that run and hopefully a sense of closure to the victim’s family.”
Armstrong is accused of shooting Moriah Wilson, 25, in Austin, , on May 11, 2022.
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Wilson was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds hours after she went swimming with Armstrong's boyfriend, fellow cyclist Colin Strickland, whom she briefly dated last fall.
Armstrong was brought in for questioning by police on May 12, 2022, but was released on a technicality.
She was last seen on May 14 leaving LaGuardia Airport in - three days before a warrant was issued for her arrest.
However, there were no outbound flights made with reservations under her name, according to the US Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force.
JEALOUS RAGE
Armstrong is believed to have shot Moriah multiple times in a jealous rage after learning that she met up with fellow cyclist Strickland, 35, who had been dating Armstrong at the time.
Moriah and Strickland had a brief fling last year while Strickland’s relationship with Armstrong was on a break.
They remained friends after the relationship ended and still spent time with one another.
Cops said Strickland told Armstrong that he was going out to deliver flowers but his phone battery had died, so he would be unable to contact her.
But he was actually taking a dip with Moriah at the Deep Eddy pool - which police believe motivated Armstrong to pursue deadly revenge.
It is thought she may have discovered the duo's location after finding Moriah's public account on the Strava fitness app.
Moments after an SUV was picked up on a Ring camera, Moriah's friend returned home to find her shot dead in a pool of blood.
Yoga teacher Armstrong then returned home to Strickland after allegedly murdering the 25-year-old and was apprehended by cops - before vanishing.
ARMSTRONG'S DISAPPEARANCE
With no trace of Armstrong since she was located at the airport, private investigator Jason Jensen told The US Sun that he believes the fugitive may be using an alias to avoid detection and has likely altered her appearance.
According to documents obtained by Jensen, which have been viewed by The US Sun, three days after Armstrong was last sighted, a person identifying themselves as "Christine Armstrong" registered for a driver's license in New York.
The address listed on that license appears to be the location of a Haven For Humanity wellness center in Livingston Manor, New York.
Christine is listed as a communications representative on Haven for Humanity's website.
A request for comment left with Christine went unanswered.
However, a spokesperson for Haven for Humanity confirmed to The US Sun that Christine is a volunteer for the company and is currently staying at its Camp Haven compound in New York.
The spokesperson declined to confirm when Christine arrived at the wellness center.
LAST 'SIGHTING'
It's also unclear whether Christine has relocated from Austin to New York permanently, and whether she has had any contact with her sister since she vanished.
But an unnamed camper claimed to on Wednesday that he had seen Kaitlin Armstrong at Camp Haven around a month ago, and has previously seen Christine at the campsite too.
"She was [here] a while back," the man said of Kaitlin. "Right before the whole thing blew up."
PI Jensen has compared the case to the hunt for , who went on the run after murdering his girlfriend during a 2021 cross-country road trip before being found dead several weeks later.
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"They've basically created this Brian Laundrie scenario for themselves; they could've put a couple of officers on her to watch her closely but they haven't and now they got to invest all these resources, manpower, and other assets trying to track her down all the way across the country - just like they did with Laundrie."
Anyone with details on where Armstrong could be is asked to call the US Marshals Service Communications Center at (800) 336-0102 or submit a tip using the USMS Tips app.
