The woman accused of killing pro cyclist Mo Wilson tracked her on a fitness app, prosecutors say

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A murder trial in Texas is underway in the fatal shooting of pro cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson. Kaitlin Armstrong faces up to 99 years in prison in the May 2022 slaying.

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Kaitlin Armstrong enters the courtroom during the first day of her trial at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, in Austin, Texas.. Armstrong is charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of pro cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman via AP, Pool)

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Judge Brenda Kennedy listens to opening arguments during the first day of Kaitlin Armstrong’s trial at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, in Austin, Texas. Armstrong is charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of pro cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman via AP, Pool)

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State attorney Guillermo Gonzalez enters the courtroom before opening arguments during the first day of Kaitlin Armstrong’s trial at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, in Austin, Texas. Armstrong is charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of pro cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman via AP, Pool)

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Kaitlin Armstrong, right, sits with her defense after pleading not guiltyduring the first day of her trial at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, in Austin, Texas. Armstrong is charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of pro cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman via AP, Pool)

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FILE - Kaitlin Armstrong makes a pre-trial appearance at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center in Austin, Texas, on Thursday, April 20, 2023. The murder trial for the woman charged in the shooting death of pro cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson is starting Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP, File)/Austin American-Statesman via AP, File)

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Defense attorney Geoffrey Puryear gives opening arguments during the first day of Kaitlin Armstrong’s trial at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, in Austin, Texas. Armstrong is charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of pro cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman via AP, Pool)

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Attorney for the state of Texas, Rickey Jones, sits after giving the opening arguments during the first day of Kaitlin Armstrong’s trial at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, in Austin, Texas. Armstrong is charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of pro cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman via AP, Pool)

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Caitlin Cash, right, is embraced during the first day of trial during the first day of Kaitlin Armstrong’s trial at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, in Austin, Texas. Armstrong is charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of pro cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman via AP, Pool)

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Travis County prosecutor Rickey Jones, delivers the opening arguments during the first day of Kaitlin Armstrong’s trial at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, in Austin, Texas. Armstrong is charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of pro cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman via AP, Pool)

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Travis County prosecutor Rickey Jones claps his hands to imitate a gunshot sound as he delivers the opening arguments during the first day of Kaitlin Armstrong’s trial at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, in Austin, Texas. Armstrong is charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of pro cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman via AP, Pool)

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Travis County prosecutor Rickey Jones gestures as he delivers the opening arguments during the first day of Kaitlin Armstrong’s trial at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, in Austin, Texas. Armstrong is charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of pro cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman via AP, Pool)

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FILE - This undated photo provided by the U.S. Marshals Service shows Kaitlin Marie Armstrong. The murder trial of Armstrong, accused of gunning down rising pro cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson and then fleeing the country until she was tracked down in Costa Rica, begins Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023 in Texas, three weeks after authorities said she tried to escape from custody.(U.S. Marshals Service via AP, File)

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Caitlin Cash, right, is embraced during the first day of trial for State of Texas v. Kaitlin Armstrong at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, in Austin, Texas. Armstrong is charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of pro-cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson. Armstrong has pleaded not guilty to murder. Cash, a friend of Wilson, found her body after her murder. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman via AP, Pool)

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Christine Armstrong, middle, sister of Kaitlin Armstrong, arrives for the first day of trial for the State of Texas v. Kaitlin Armstrong at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, in Austin, Texas. Kaitlin Armstrong is charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of pro-cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman via AP, Pool)

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By JIM VERTUNO

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The murder trial of a woman accused of gunning down rising pro cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson and fleeing the country began Wednesday with Texas prosecutors telling jurors they would hear Wilson’s final screams and the shots that killed her.

Kaitlin Armstrong, 35, has pleaded not guilty to murder and faces up to 99 years in prison in the May 2022 slaying of Wilson, a competitive gravel and mountain bike racer. Wilson had been shot in the head and chest when she was found at a friend’s home before a race that she was among the favorites to win.

“The last thing Mo did on this earth was scream in terror,” Travis County prosecutor Rickey Jones told jurors in opening statements.

He said nearby surveillance equipment captured the screams.

“Those screams are followed by ‘Pop! Pop!’” Jones said, smacking his hands together for emphasis. “You won’t hear any more screams after that.”

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Seconds after those shots, Jones said, “Kaitlin Armstrong stood over Mo Wilson and put a third shot right into Mo Wilson’s heart.”

In a short opening statement, defense attorney Geoffrey Puryear said Armstrong was caught in a “web of circumstantial evidence.”

No video evidence or witnesses can put Armstrong at the scene of the shooting, Puryear said.

Police have said Wilson, a 25-year-old Vermont native, had previously dated Armstrong’s boyfriend, Colin Strickland, who also was a competitive gravel racer, and had gone swimming with him earlier in the day. The trial began three weeks after authorities said Armstrong tried to escape from custody.

Prosecutors said they will show that Armstrong tracked Strickland’s communications with Wilson — as well as Wilson’s whereabouts — in the weeks and days before the shooting. Armstrong was able to track Wilson’s location because Wilson had not turned on a safety feature on a phone app.

Armstrong’s SUV was seen at the apartment where Wilson was staying the night she was killed. Police also said shell casings found at the scene matched a gun found at Armstrong’s home.

Investigators quickly cleared Strickland. Prosecutors said Wednesday that video and cellphone calls, texting, and location data will confirm that he was nowhere near the shooting.

Among the first witnesses were Caitlin Cash, the friend who found Wilson covered in blood and not breathing when she returned home from dinner and several police officers who arrived on the scene. The jury heard a recording of Cash’s emergency call and the sound of her counting through chest compressions on Wilson. They later watched body camera footage from the first police officer who arrived and took over resuscitation efforts.

Wilson’s family left the courtroom for the 911 call, and her parents kept their heads down to avoid watching the body camera footage. Cash was next to them during the footage that showed her pressing Wilson’s chest when police arrived.

The case drew international headlines when Armstrong fled the country after her initial meeting with police, leading to a 43-day search. Investigators said she sold her vehicle for $12,000 and fled the country using her sister’s name, email, credit card and passport.

Federal authorities tracked Armstrong to Costa Rica, where prosecutors said she spent $6,425 for surgery to change her appearance and used several aliases while attempting to establish herself as a yoga instructor. She also had cut and darkened her hair, and had a bandage on her nose and discoloration under her eyes when arrested at a beachside hostel.

Armstrong told police when she was arrested that she was injured in a surfing accident.

Armstrong’s attorney suggested the sudden flight out of the country was not an attempt to escape justice.

“She would have no reason to know about any (arrest) warrant, You will hear Kaitlin is passionate about travelling and passionate about yoga,” Puryear said.

The case took another turn when authorities said Armstrong tried to escape from two officers who escorted her to a medical appointment outside of the jail on Oct. 11.

Cellphone video recorded in the parking lot showed Armstrong, handcuffed and in striped jail clothes, running from an officer and trying to climb a fence. Authorities have said Armstrong appeared to plan her escape by complaining of an injury to get the outside medical appointment and have her leg restraints removed.

She faces an additional felony escape charge punishable by up to 20 years in prison.