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Austin cyclist's murder suspect released from custody due to birth date error, APD says

Officials believe Armstrong may have fled to New York.

AUSTIN, Texas — U.S. Marshals now believe Kaitlin Armstrong, the suspect in the murder of rising cycling star Moriah Wilson, flew from Austin to New York.

The U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force is assisting with the fugitive investigation of Armstrong, a 34-year-old Austin resident who is wanted in connection with Wilson's death on May 11 in East Austin. 

On Wednesday, the agency said investigators have learned that Armstrong may have fled to New York. Investigators believe she was at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on May 14, at approximately 12:30 p.m. She boarded a flight from Austin to Houston Hobby Airport and then boarded a connecting flight to New York LaGuardia Airport.

KVUE also learned that Armstrong’s case is now in federal court.

A criminal complaint filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas shows that Armstrong reportedly owned a pistol that was seized from her residence. Laboratory tests show that it fired spent shell casings that Austin police found at the scene of the crime.

Armstrong was initially arrested on May 12 in connection to an outstanding Class B warrant. She was then interviewed about Wilson's murder and said she heard about the death from Colin Strickland, a man she was reportedly in a relationship with. When confronted about why her vehicle was in the area of the crime scene, Armstrong was not able to explain the situation. An affidavit in the case said she did not make any denials about the statements presented to her.

She was soon released from custody after being interviewed because her date of birth in the report management system officials had did not match the birth date on the warrant, the Austin Police Department said Wednesday, causing a legal discrepancy. 

Armstrong is 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs approximately 125 pounds. She has long, curly, light brown hair and hazel eyes and was last seen on surveillance video wearing a blue denim jacket, a black shirt with a pink design on the chest, white jeans, black and white tennis shoes and a black facial covering. She could be carrying a yoga mat carrier on her shoulders.

Credit: U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force
Kaitlin Armstrong at the Austin airport.

Here's a short video of Armstrong in the airport:

Members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force are actively conducting a fugitive investigation and pursuing leads on Armstrong's whereabouts.

Investigators released a photo of Armstrong from May 7:

Credit: U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force
Kaitlin Armstrong is on the run after she was accused of killing a cyclist visiting Austin.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102 or submit a tip using the USMS Tips app. Tips may also be sent to the Capital Area Crime Stoppers at 1-800-893-8477.

Read our in-depth breakdown of what we know so far about this crime.

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