Fatal Obsession: The Yoga Instructor Who Killed for Love
Among the core tenets of yoga is Ahimsa, the principle of non-violence—a philosophy that demands a life free from harm toward others. But on May 11, 2022, yoga instructor Kaitlin Armstrong shattered this sacred ideal in the most horrifying way imaginable.
That evening, inside a quiet home in Austin, Texas, Armstrong fired three fatal shots into the body of pro cyclist Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson, a woman caught in the storm of a love triangle gone terribly wrong. A year later, forensic evidence and witness testimony sealed Armstrong’s murder conviction, exposing a chilling tale of jealousy, betrayal, and an obsessive rage that spiraled into bloodshed.
The Love Triangle That Turned Deadly
Armstrong’s relationship with pro cyclist Colin Strickland began in 2019, but by 2021, cracks had already started to show. During a brief breakup, Strickland became involved with Wilson—a talented cyclist he met on the racing circuit. When he later rekindled his romance with Armstrong, the shadow of his past relationship loomed over them. Armstrong knew about Wilson but had no idea Strickland was still in contact with her.
Behind the scenes, Strickland was hiding more than just texts. He changed Wilson’s name in his phone, deleted messages, and meticulously covered his tracks to avoid Armstrong’s wrath. But secrets rarely stay buried, and Armstrong was growing increasingly suspicious. She called Wilson directly, warning her to stay away, and even blocked Wilson’s number on Strickland’s phone. Still, Strickland and Wilson continued their clandestine friendship, meeting in secret and exchanging affectionate gestures that blurred the lines of their so-called platonic relationship.
Armstrong, meanwhile, was tightening her grip. She managed Strickland’s racing finances, had access to his phone and computer passwords, and even carried a semiautomatic pistol he had gifted her for protection. But instead of protection, it became a weapon of vengeance.
The Night of the Murder
On May 10, 2022, Wilson arrived in Austin to prepare for an upcoming race, staying at a friend’s house. The next day, hours before her murder, she met Strickland for a swim and dinner. Unbeknownst to Wilson, Armstrong was watching—and waiting.
Strickland, aware of how dangerous Armstrong’s jealousy had become, ignored her calls and texts that night, later sending her a message claiming his phone had died. But his deception came too late. At 8:30 p.m., he dropped Wilson off at her friend’s home, and minutes later, Armstrong arrived. A neighbor’s security camera captured the chilling sounds of Wilson’s screams, followed by three gunshots. She had been shot twice in the head and once in the chest.
Investigators quickly uncovered damning evidence. Another neighbor’s camera recorded Armstrong’s SUV pulling up to the house just moments after Strickland left. Ballistics testing later confirmed that the bullets that killed Wilson likely came from Armstrong’s gun. When questioned by police, Armstrong could offer no explanation for why her car was seen at the crime scene.
A Fugitive on the Run
Realizing the net was closing in, Armstrong vanished. Days before police could arrest her, she sold her SUV, withdrew thousands in cash, and used her sister’s passport to flee to Costa Rica. In a desperate bid to conceal her identity, she cut and dyed her hair and even spent $6,000 on a nose job. But no disguise could erase her past. On June 29, 2022, U.S. Marshals tracked her down to a remote hostel and brought her back to Texas to face justice.
Even behind bars, Armstrong’s hunger for escape didn’t wane. In October 2023, just weeks before her trial, she attempted a daring prison break during a routine medical visit. She ran for freedom, but officers quickly subdued her, adding yet another charge to her growing list of crimes.
The Trial That Shocked the Nation
Armstrong’s trial was nothing short of a courtroom spectacle. Prosecutors presented a mountain of evidence, including surveillance footage, ballistic reports, and chilling testimony from two of Armstrong’s friends who revealed she had openly expressed her desire to kill Wilson. Perhaps the most damning piece of evidence was Armstrong’s digital footprint—she had allegedly used the fitness app Strava to track Wilson’s location in the hours leading up to the murder.
On November 16, 2023, the jury delivered its verdict: guilty of murder. Armstrong was sentenced to 90 years in prison, her attempts to appeal already seen as a longshot by legal experts.
A Crime of Passion or Premeditated Murder?
Kaitlin Armstrong’s downfall was fueled by a toxic mix of love, obsession, and control. What should have been a tragic but ordinary case of unrequited love turned into a brutal execution, leaving Wilson’s promising life cut short and Armstrong’s own future locked away behind bars.
In the end, the woman who once preached peace and mindfulness became the very embodiment of the darkness she sought to escape. And for Moriah Wilson, a young woman with the world at her feet, her only crime was loving the wrong man at the wrong time.
