Judge orders Kaitlin Armstrong to pay $15 million to family of murder victim Moriah Wilson
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Convicted murderer Kaitlin Armstrong has been ordered to pay $15 million to the family of Anna “Mo” Wilson as part of a civil lawsuit, a judge ruled Monday.
KXAN reported in May that Wilson’s parents filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit against Armstrong. Judge Daniella DeSata Lyttle granted $5 million each to Karen and Eric Wilson for “mental anguish, including emotional pain, torment and suffering from the death of [their] daughter,” according to court documents.
Both parents were also granted $2.5 million each for exemplary damages, “in an amount which the court determines sufficient to deter the same or similar actions which gave rise to this suit by [Armstrong] in the future.”
The judge entered a default judgement after Armstrong didn’t respond to the lawsuit or “make an appearance in this case” by the deadline, documents state. The judgment is appealable.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Parents of slain cyclist file lawsuit against Kaitlin Armstrong
There wasn’t an attorney listed to represent Armstrong in the lawsuit, according to online court records.
Wilson family’s attorney: ‘Make sure Kaitlin Armstrong doesn’t financially benefit from her acts’
Randy Howry represented the Wilsons in this lawsuit. He said it had nothing to do with Wilson’s parents Karen and Eric wanting to make a profit, but rather making sure Armstrong never benefits from her crime via a potential future book or movie-type deal. He believes such offers could arise given how much attention the case garnered.
“If there’s ever an opportunity for her to financially benefit from this crime, this judgment will prevent her from getting any of that money until my clients are properly compensated,” he said.
Police issued an arrest warrant for Armstrong on May 17, 2022, six days after she shot and killed Wilson, a professional cyclist, at an east Austin apartment. Wilson was staying with a friend in town ahead of a Central Texas gravel race.
Armstrong was found guilty of Wilson’s murder by a Travis County jury in November 2023 and was sentenced to 90 years in prison.
“As a family, we are broken, incomplete, and will forever suffer the void of her presence on this earth. The empty chair at the family dining table, where she once sat, haunts every holiday and family get-together,” Karen Wilson wrote in an affidavit as part of the lawsuit.
Eric Wilson echoed that sentiment in his own affidavit, saying, “Rather than looking forward to sharing in her life and successes, we are faced with an emptiness hard to describe. There will be no cycling career, no future wedding or grandkids, only thoughts of wishing things could be different, wondering why this happened, and how we are going to live through the remaining years of our lives with this emotional pain.”
Howry also addressed previous legislation – called the “Son of Sam” laws – which prohibit criminals from making future profits directly. However, Howry said, loopholes exist that could allow friends or family to receive money on a criminal’s behalf, which is what the lawsuit aims to prevent.
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