Kaitlin Armstrong used 3 aliases while on the run to avoid capture, officials say

AUSTIN, Texas — The investigation into an Austin girl accused of killing a bike owner in May continues.

Kaitlin Marie Armstrong is suspected of killing skilled bike owner Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson in East Austin on May 11, earlier than evading authorities for greater than a month. She was arrested in Costa Rica on June 29 and extradited to the U.S. a number of days later. She is presently booked in the Travis County Jail on costs in reference to Wilson’s homicide. 

On Thursday, July 7, the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force and different regulation enforcement representatives hosted a press convention about Armstrong’s seize and her return to the U.S. The U.S. Marshals instructed KVUE forward of the press convention that it might principally be about crediting the companies concerned in the ongoing investigation.

However, a number of new particulars had been shared throughout the course of the convention. Brandon Filla with the U.S. Marshals Service mentioned there’s an lively investigation into the fraudulent use of a passport Armstrong used while on the run and the particular person it truly belongs to. Filla didn’t determine who the passport belongs to or what, if any, costs that particular person may face. But he did say it belonged to somebody “closely associated with her.”

According to a release from U.S. Attorney’s Office – District of New Jersey, Armstrong faces a cost of 1 depend of misuse of a passport in New Jersey, as well as to the costs she already confronted in reference to Wilson’s homicide.

Filla additionally mentioned Thursday that Armstrong used three totally different aliases while on the run: Beth Martin, Ari Martin and Liz. She reportedly used these names at totally different lodging institutions and yoga studios.

The U.S. Marshals additionally mentioned she had modified her look by slicing her hair and dying it brown. She was additionally discovered with a bandage on her nostril and instructed officials it was from a browsing accident, though it has raised questions on whether or not she had some type of surgical procedure to alter her look. Filla couldn’t verify if that was the case, saying officials would go away it at a browsing accident. 

What began as a case for the Austin Police Department changed into a federal investigation involving the U.S. Marshals, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Costa Rican authorities.

One of the questions many nonetheless have is how Armstrong was ready to keep underneath the radar for therefore lengthy earlier than being apprehended.

On May 14, she flew from Austin to New York. Four days later, she was seen arriving at the Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey – however there was no document of her leaving, on a flight or in any other case.

That’s when the Department of Homeland Security was ready to observe down that Armstrong had used another person’s passport to board a flight to Costa Rica. It was solely then {that a} warrant was issued for her arrest. 

She was discovered at a hostel in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, 43 days later. At that time, she was arrested for the fraudulent use of a passport and shortly after confessed her true id, Filla mentioned. 

Armstrong was deported to the U.S., the place she landed in Houston on July 2 and was taken to Travis County on July 5. 

Filla mentioned authorities acquired greater than 80 suggestions over the course of the investigation from round the U.S. in connection to Armstrong. 

“But that information assisted us in developing over 80 tips nationwide,” he mentioned Thursday. “Some of those tips were more credible than others but it did give us some type of traveling path on Kaitlin Armstrong.” 

Filla credited “old-fashioned police work” for Armstrong’s seize as officials in Costa Rica carried out door-to-door stops and interviews, in the end main them to the suspect.

“We also want to remember the victim in this case and hope this is the beginning stage of closure for the Wilson family,” he mentioned.

Armstrong’s first court docket look is scheduled for July 20.

Watch the press convention right here: 

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