Two weeks before her trial is schedule to start, accused murderer Kaitlin Armstrong briefly escaped custody on Oct. 11 following a medical appointment, KXAN reports.
This time, however, Armstrong was only on the run for all of a ten-minute foot chase after which she was taken back into custody by the Travis County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO), KXAN states.
A short, yet dramatic, video was posted online by KXAN, showing Armstrong fleeing in striped clothing on a walking path, her pace quickening with an officer pursuing her. The officer trips and falls while she attempts to climb a fence with her hands still restrained. The video was sent in by Theresa Rangel, a bystander who caught the few seconds of the chase on her cell phone.
It was a brief taste of freedom for Armstrong, unlike the 43 days she previously spent on the run after allegedly shooting to death Mo Wilson, who was rumored to be having an affair with Armstrong’s boyfriend, Colin Strickland, according to a criminal affidavit. Wilson and Strickland were both pro-cyclists.
U.S. Marshals announced that they arrested Armstrong on July 29, 2022 in Costa Rica after tracking her from Austin to New York City, then to New Jersey before she hopped a flight out of the country.
Prosecutors allege that Wilson and Strickland’s affair enraged Armstrong to the point of murder. Wilson was staying with a friend in Austin, in town for a race she was a favorite to win, though on the night of May 11, 2022, the friend found Wilson shot dead on the bathroom floor of the home after Wilson had been out with Strickland, the affidavit says.
The day after being interviewed regarding the murder, Armstrong fled from Austin. U.S. Marshals pursued her for the next 43 days before catching up with her, Fox10 previously reported.
“For someone to attempt this is very uncommon, very uncommon,” TCSO senior spokesperson, Kristen Dark, told KXAN.
Dark explained that Armstrong was being transported to a medical appointment at Ascension Medical Group/Seton Orthopedics complex at 3707 S. 2nd Street for an issue that couldn’t be dealt with at the Travis County Correctional Complex. Two correctional officers were taking Armstrong back to the patrol unit after the appointment when she bolted.
“As they were leaving the facility she ran from those corrections officers and she made it in total about a block and a half. Both of the officers who were pursuing her on foot never lost sight of her. They could see her the whole time. They chased after her and ultimately caught up with her and were able to restrain her,” Dark continued. She added that she couldn’t comment on whether Armstrong resisted arrest or on how officers restrained her upon capture.
Dark did, however, comment on how rare it is for inmates to make this type of escape attempt, and that the incident with be thoroughly investigated, KXAN noted.
“This will be reviewed to look at the type of restraints that were used, whether or not any errors were made by our employees and what could be done better next time,” Dark said.
KNAX unearthed records that show the filing of three subpeona applications to obtain information from St. David's South Austin Medical Center, TSCO, & St. David's Austin Medical Center, where Armstrong was taken for a check up after being taken back into custody.
The Daily Mail revealed the stunning news that Armstrong actually turned down a plea deal in the weeks before her escape attempt, though the Mail states their “legal” source is an anonymous one due to a gag order on the case.
“She could have been released from prison in her 50s or 60s ... a heck of a lot sooner than if she’s convicted by a jury and gets life in prison. Against the advice of her attorney, she rejected the plea deal. She is insisting on trying that case, but for her to again flee ... it’s just insane,” the source said.
Armstrong faces a first-degree murder charge, with her trial set to start on Oct. 30, 2023, KXAN says. It isn’t clear yet how her newest escape attempt will impact her trial, but she will face new felony charges.