The Truth and Tragedy of Moriah Wilson: Documentary Review

Moriah Wilson was a full-time professional cyclist from Austin, Texas. In May 2022, at just 25-years old, she was fatally shot in a friend's house, leaving behind heartbroken loved ones and one big question: who did it? Who murdered Moriah Wilson?

Raised in a very athletic household, Moriah developed a passion for sports at an early age. Although she initially competed as a junior skier, she eventually made the switch to gravel cycling, where she quickly rose through the ranks and established herself as one of the sport's brightest stars. It was through the cycling world that she met Colin Strickland. Little did she know that, through meeting Colin, she was going to meet her demise. What began as a friendship eventually developed into a brief romantic relationship during one of the breaks in Colin's on-again, off-again relationship with his girlfriend, Kaitlin Marie Armstrong.

On November 16, 2023, Kaitlin Marie Armstrong was found guilty of the murder of Moriah Wilson and sentenced to 90 years in prison.

As it turns out, this was indeed just a crime of passion (or in this case, a crime of jealousy). Kaitlin Marie Armstrong was jealous of the relationship that Moriah had with Colin, and decided to end her life.

After Moriah was discovered dead with three bullet wounds on her body, Kaitlin Marie Armstrong was brought in and questioned by the police. Not long after, the police issued a statement for her arrest, but Kaitlin had already fled the United States using her sister's passport. She managed to stay in hiding for forty-three days, before being found and arrested in Costa Rica, where she was staying at a yoga retreat. Authorities also realised that she had undergone plastic surgery to look more like her sister and was using an alias.

The evidence was stone cold. CCTV footage captured her black Jeep arriving at the residence where Moriah was staying just before she was declared dead. Investigators also determined that the bullet casing recovered from the crime scene matched one from a weapon registered to Armstrong. When that evidence was paired with a compelling motive, there was little doubt in anyone’s mind that Kaitlin Marie Armstrong was the one responsible for Moriah’s murder.

Whilst held in custody, Kaitlin tried to escape from officers whilst being escorted to a medical appointment outside the jail. Shortly after that, she was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 90 years in prison, with eligibility for parole after 30 years. She is currently incarcerated at Dr. Lane Murray Unit in Gatesville, Texas.

This documentary differs from many other true-crime films in a lot of ways. There is very little focus on the investigation itself, on Kaitlin Marie Armstrong's flight to Costa Rica, or even on the trial. Instead, the focus remains firmly on Moriah. On who she was both as a person and a cyclist, on how much she meant to the people around her, and on everything that was lost when she died. It explores not only what can be taken away from someone who had their entire life ahead of them, but also what is taken from the loved ones left behind, who must carry the weight of that loss and learn to live with the grief that follows.

In his statement after the verdict, Moriah's father had some powerful words when addressing the press:

"This sad story is a perfect example of why integrity and honesty are crucial in our personal relationships, and how dishonesty can lead to unintended consequences."

And if there's something to be taken away from this tragic true story, it's definitely that.