Detective addresses Kaitlin Armstrong’s online searches in days, weeks after Wilson’s death

Brianna Hollis
·4 min read

AUSTIN (KXAN) — As the murder trial for Kaitlin Armstrong, accused of shooting and killing pro cyclist Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson on May 11, 2022, continues, the State began Wednesday with addressing video footage of the victim from hours before she was killed.

The owner of the restaurant across from Pool Burger began testimony Wednesday about surveillance video near Wilson and Strickland — Armstrong’s now-former boyfriend — as Wilson and Strickland spent the afternoon together on May 11.

Detective Richard Spitler took the stand Monday and was in the middle of his testimony, but the court did not continue with him Wednesday morning due to a scheduling conflict for Spitler. His testimony will resume from the point it left off at another time. So far he has addressed his work the night of Wilson’s murder as well as his questioning of Armstrong’s former boyfriend Colin Strickland the following morning.

CATCH UP: Colin Strickland’s testimony

During the course of his official interview with Strickland, Spitler determined Armstrong needed to be brought in for questioning. Spitler said that was due to the combination of learning the black Jeep with the bike rack at Strickland’s house belonged to Armstrong and the knowledge he gained during the interview from Strickland that there were guns inside the home.

You can follow live updates from KXAN’s Brianna Hollis below on the social media platform “X.”

Last week, the State displayed several surveillance videos that showed what prosecutors say is that Jeep near the murder scene in east Austin. One of the Defense’s main arguments during opening statements was the notion that none of that video captures Armstrong herself, just the car.

Kaitlin Armstrong Day 2: State plays doorbell video where gunshots are heard

KXAN will update this article throughout the day.

Lead homicide detective goes through electronic records tied to Armstrong, shows online searches for ‘Kaitlin Armstrong’

As Spitler resumed his testimony Wednesday, he addressed ballistic, GPS, DNA and electronic evidence he said he used in his investigation into Armstrong.

“Armstrong’s DNA was actually found on Ms. Wilson’s bicycle that was taken from the apartment and put into the bushes,” Spitler said on the stand.

He said GPS data from Armstrong’s Jeep matches with surveillance video of a black SUV with a bike rack driving in the east Austin neighborhood Wilson was killed around the time of the murder.

The State presented a series of pieces of phone and email records tied to the case. Spitler said he issued “25-30” search warrants related to this type of information.

Below is a list of what Spitler said investigators found in those records:

  • A recently deleted note from Armstrong’s notes mobile application with the address 1704 Maple Avenue. Wilson died at 1708 Maple Avenue.

  • Google subscriber information from Armstrong’s records indicating the creation of a new email address in the days after Wilson’s murder. Below are the records find sent to that email.

    • Uber receipt from Armstrong’s home to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

    • A Southwest Airlines itinerary email with “Kaitlin Armstrong’s trip” written in the subject line.

    • An email about a prepared Visa card addressed to “Kaitlin”

    • Reservation for a flight from Newark to Costa Rica with the traveler information listed as “Christie Armstrong.” Armstrong’s sister’s full name is Christine.

    • VPN purchase

    • Skype purchase

    • From information listed in the Google subscriber “search folder,” records showed searches for English/Spanish translations, and searches for “Kaitlin Armstrong” that yielded news coverage results.

History of the case

On May 11, 2022, Austin police found Wilson with a gunshot wound at an east Austin home. She ultimately died at the scene. Wilson, originally from Vermont, was in town for a race in Texas.

Police said Armstrong’s Jeep was in the area of the home where authorities found Wilson dead around the time of the shooting. On May 14, surveillance video captured Armstrong at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. On May 17, APD issued a murder warrant for Armstrong.

She eventually made her way to Costa Rica, where U.S. Marshals found and arrested her on June 30, 2022. Police said she cut and dyed her hair and had a bandage on her nose and bruised eyes.

WATCH: Video appears to show murder suspect Kaitlin Armstrong running from corrections officers

There is currently a gag order on the case, so no one connected to it can comment on the proceedings until the trial concludes.

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