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Texas love triangle murder suspect Caitlin Armstrong tried to start a new life in Costa Rica by dying and cutting her hair to conceal her identity, according to an arrest photo showing her dramatic transformation in front of U.S. marshals.
Armstrong, 34, was captured Wednesday in a remote coastal town after 43 days on the run for the alleged murder of her romantic rival, Moriah “Moe” Wilson, who police say was having an affair with her boyfriend, Colin Strickland.
The booking photo released by the Ministerio de Seguridad Pública de Costa Rica shows Armstrong from behind, wearing a pair of shorts and an orange T-shirt and sporting her freshly dyed brown locks, as she is escorted to a holding cell.
Wilson, 25, who was one of the top cyclists in the country, was shot dead on May 11 in Austin after going to dinner with fellow cycling pro Strickland — allegedly behind Armstrong’s back.
CAITLEEN ARMSTRONG MANHUNT: TEXAS LOVE TRIANGLE MURDER SUSPECT CAPTURED ON COSTA RICA BEACH, MARSHALS ANNOUNCE
Armstrong was questioned and released on May 12 – then fled to New York and finally to Costa Rica using a passport that was not hers, where she checked into a hostel in Santa Teresa Beach in the province of Puntarenas, authorities said.
A new booking photo, right, shows Caitlin Armstrong from behind after she died and had her hair cut. The photo on the left shows her appearance before she fled the country. (US Marshals/Ministerio de Seguridad Pública de Costa Rica)
“We knew he was in Costa Rica, where he thought it was a safe haven, where he was already trying to establish some sort of lifestyle,” Deputy U.S. Marshal Brandon Fila said in an interview with Good Morning America on Friday.
“She cut her hair a little shorter, around her shoulders. She painted it dark brown. She had some kind of bandage on her nose with some type of bruise fixed under her eyes.’
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He continued: “She was trying to create another way of life.” The type of yoga she studied had some connection to surfing, and she seemed to want to start teaching, officials said.
Armstrong was caught after local police in Costa Rica ran a background check on the name she gave them during a stop in the city and found no record of her entering the country, according to the DailyMail.
She then admitted her real name, which officials found in a database that revealed there was a high-priority arrest warrant for her, according to the news site.
Moriah “Mo” Wilson, left, and Caitlin Armstrong. (Wilson Family/ US Marshal Service)
U.S. Marshals said they knew Armstrong was in Costa Rica after receiving dozens of tips.
She boarded a United Airlines flight May 18 from Newark Liberty International Airport to San Jose, the nation’s capital, authorities said.
“The Marshals Service elevated the Kaitlyn Armstrong investigation to major case status early in this investigation, which likely played a key role in her capture,” U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Texas Susan Pamerleau said in a statement announcing the arrest. “This is an example of combining the resources of local, state, federal and international authorities to apprehend a fugitive who is violent, put an end to that escape and hopefully bring closure to the victim’s family.”
Colin Strickland seen outside his home in Austin, Texas on June 17, 2022 (MEGA)
Wilson was visiting Texas before a bike race and met Strickland for a swim and dinner at Pool Burger before returning to her friend’s apartment where she was staying. Moments after Wilson dropped her off, Armstrong’s SUV appeared on surveillance video outside, according to police.
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Armstrong allegedly used a gun that Strickland bought for her earlier this year to blow up Wilson, according to the arrest warrant.
The next day, she sold her black Jeep Grand Cherokee at a CarMax dealership around the corner from her house for $12,200 and flew to New York, the Marshalls said.
Wanted Poster for Alleged Murder Suspect Caitlin Armstrong (US Marshals Service)
An informant called the cops on May 14 to report that Armstrong was “frenzied and shaking with rage” after discovering that Strickland had been having an affair with Wilson.
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Strickland claimed in an interview with The Sun that he had an affair with Wilson in October 2021 during a break-up with Armstrong, his live-in girlfriend. But they had since reconciled and his relationship with Wilson was purely platonic, he said.
Haley Chi-Sing contributed to this report.
Rebecca Rosenberg is a veteran journalist and author of books focusing on crime and criminal justice. Send tips to rebecca.rosenberg@fox.com and @ReRosenberg.
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