The Jealous Fugitive: How One Man Discovered His Girlfriend Was a Cold-Blooded Killer

Introduction

On a quiet May evening in Austin, Texas, a brutal murder would ignite a scandal that rocked the cycling world and stunned all who knew the victim and those closest to her. Mariah Wilson, a promising professional cyclist, was found dead in her friend’s home—her life cut short by gunfire. The investigation that followed would unravel a tangled web of jealousy, obsession, and betrayal. At its heart was Colin Strickland, a man who would come to realize, in the most horrifying way imaginable, that the woman he loved harbored a deadly secret.

This is the true crime story of how a love triangle spiraled into violence, how a cunning killer evaded justice, and how relentless detective work finally exposed the truth. It is a tale of heartbreak, obsession, and the darkness that can lurk beneath the surface of even the closest relationships.

The Discovery

On May 11th, 2022, Austin police received a frantic call from Kaitlyn Cash, who had just returned home to find her friend Mariah Wilson lying motionless in the bathroom, blood pooling around her head.

“My friend is staying with me and I just walked in and she’s laying on the bathroom floor and there’s blood everywhere,” Kaitlyn sobbed as she spoke to the 911 operator.

Paramedics rushed to the scene, but it was already too late. Mariah had been shot in the head, and the presence of cerebrospinal fluid indicated the bullets had pierced her skull, killing her instantly. There was nothing anyone could do to save her, but the hunt for her killer began immediately.

A Crime of Passion or Opportunity?

At first, police considered robbery as a motive. Mariah was in Austin for a bike race, and her $14,000 racing bike was missing. Had someone targeted her for her valuable equipment? Had she resisted a thief and paid with her life?

But the evidence quickly pointed elsewhere. The bike was found dumped in nearby woods, suggesting it was a red herring meant to mislead the investigation. The killer was clever—smart enough to try to cover their tracks and throw police off the scent.

The First Suspects

With Kaitlyn Cash’s alibi and gunshot residue test clearing her, police turned their attention to Mariah’s ex-boyfriend, Colin Strickland. According to Kaitlyn, Mariah had spent the day with Colin, and he had dropped her off only minutes before she was killed.

Colin became a person of interest. Investigators needed to know what had happened between him and Mariah, and whether he could have been involved in her death. But before they interviewed Colin, they noticed something odd in the neighborhood: several homes had CCTV cameras.

The Breakthrough

Reviewing the footage, detectives made a crucial discovery. A black Jeep had driven directly to Kaitlyn Cash’s home on the night of the murder. Moments later, a neighbor’s doorbell camera captured the chilling audio of gunshots and Mariah’s screams.

The killer escaped in the Jeep, but the footage was grainy and did not reveal the driver’s identity. Days later, when police visited Colin’s home, they saw the same black Jeep parked outside, complete with a bicycle rack matching the one seen at the crime scene.

Colin Strickland was now the prime suspect. But as police questioned him, they quickly realized the story was more complicated than it seemed.

Colin’s Interview

Colin was visibly shaken when told of Mariah’s death. Police intentionally withheld details of how she died, watching his body language for signs of guilt or deception. He struggled to meet their gaze, which could have been shock—or fear.

As detectives probed his relationship with Mariah and his girlfriend, Caitlyn Armstrong, a tangled web of jealousy and secrecy emerged. Colin admitted to having an affair with Mariah during a brief breakup with Caitlyn. He had changed Mariah’s name in his phone to avoid provoking Caitlyn’s jealousy, a move that spoke volumes about the tension in their relationship.

Colin’s timeline was solid. He had dropped Mariah off at Kaitlyn’s house around 8:30 p.m., texted Caitlyn as he left, and returned home. His phone records and texts backed up his alibi. He provided details about Caitlyn’s whereabouts, but couldn’t confirm her exact movements that night.

The Jealous Girlfriend

With Colin cleared, police turned their attention to Caitlyn Armstrong. She had separated from Colin in October 2021, but they reconciled a month later. During their breakup, Colin had a month-long romantic affair with Mariah, and continued to see her even after getting back together with Caitlyn.

Detectives discovered that Caitlyn was intensely jealous of Mariah. She hated Colin’s friendship with his ex, and her possessiveness was a known source of conflict. When police ran the plates on the black Jeep, they found it was registered to Caitlyn, not Colin.

Now, Caitlyn was the main suspect. But her movements on the night of the murder were unaccounted for, and police needed more evidence.

The Interrogation

Police brought Caitlyn in for questioning, using a minor warrant as a pretext to detain her. The detective maintained a casual demeanor, trying to lull Caitlyn into a false sense of security. But Caitlyn was noticeably tense and evasive, repeatedly asking for an attorney and refusing to answer questions about Mariah’s murder.

The warrant turned out to be invalid, and Caitlyn was free to leave. Detectives tried to convince her to talk, dropping hints about the evidence against her, including the presence of her vehicle at the crime scene. But Caitlyn refused, knowing she could walk out at any moment.

The Fugitive

With mounting evidence, police moved to arrest Caitlyn. But she had already vanished. Using a fraudulent passport in her sister’s name, Caitlyn fled the country, booking a one-way ticket to Costa Rica.

Authorities tracked her to a hostel in Santa Teresa Beach, where she was working as a yoga instructor. To lure her out, police posted an ad for a yoga teacher. Caitlyn replied and agreed to meet, but her attempts to disguise herself with cosmetic surgery failed. Police recognized her by her eyes and arrested her, flying her back to the United States.

The Escape Attempt

Even in custody, Caitlyn tried to evade justice. In October 2023, she attempted to escape during a doctor’s appointment outside jail, fleeing through a bathroom window. This time, she was caught almost immediately.

The Case Against Caitlyn

As the investigation continued, police gathered overwhelming evidence. Ballistic analysis matched the gun Colin had bought for Caitlyn to the shell casings found at the murder scene. Cell phone data, surveillance footage, and witness testimony mapped Caitlyn’s movements on the night of the murder, confirming she had stalked Colin and Mariah before killing Mariah in a fit of jealous rage.

Colin’s phone data placed him far from the scene at the time of Mariah’s death, clearing him of any involvement. The only person who could have committed the murder was Caitlyn Armstrong.

The Web of Lies

The investigation uncovered more damning details. Caitlyn had tried to cover her tracks by dumping Mariah’s bike in the woods, hoping to mislead police into thinking the murder was a robbery gone wrong. Surveillance footage showed her Jeep circling the neighborhood, and cell phone records placed her near the crime scene at the exact time of the murder.

Colin’s testimony revealed the depth of Caitlyn’s obsession and jealousy. He described her possessiveness, her anger over his friendship with Mariah, and her tendency to check his phone for signs of infidelity. He had even bought her a gun for self-defense, unaware it would become the murder weapon.

The Psychological Profile

Detectives and psychologists analyzed Caitlyn’s behavior, looking for signs of obsessive traits and instability. Her actions—stalking Colin and Mariah, fleeing the country, altering her appearance, and attempting multiple escapes—painted a picture of a woman driven by jealousy and desperation.

Colin, for his part, was horrified by the revelation. He had loved Caitlyn, never imagining she was capable of such violence. The shock of discovering her deadly secret left him reeling, betrayed by the person he thought he knew best.

The Trial

The trial was a media sensation. Prosecutors presented a mountain of evidence: the black Jeep, the gun, the surveillance footage, the cell phone data, and Caitlyn’s flight from the country. Colin Strickland and other witnesses testified to Caitlyn’s obsessive jealousy and her anger toward Mariah.

Despite her attempts to escape and her refusal to cooperate, Caitlyn was convicted of first-degree murder. On November 16th, 2023, she was sentenced to 90 years in prison for the cold-blooded killing of Mariah Wilson.

Aftermath

For Colin Strickland, the nightmare was finally over—but the scars remained. He had loved Caitlyn Armstrong, never imagining she was capable of such violence. The revelation that his girlfriend was a murderer left him horrified and betrayed.

The cycling community mourned the loss of Mariah Wilson, a talented athlete with a bright future. Her death was a senseless act of jealousy, a reminder of the darkness that can lurk beneath the surface of even the most familiar relationships.

Epilogue: Lessons Learned

The murder of Mariah Wilson is a cautionary tale about jealousy, obsession, and betrayal. It shows how love can turn toxic, how secrets can fester, and how even those closest to us can harbor deadly intentions.

Thanks to the relentless work of law enforcement, justice was served. Caitlyn Armstrong will spend the rest of her life behind bars, but the pain she caused will echo for years to come.

For Colin Strickland, and for everyone touched by this tragedy, the lesson is clear: sometimes, the greatest danger comes from those we think we know best.

The Human Cost

The story is not just about crime and punishment; it’s about the human cost of obsession and betrayal. Mariah Wilson’s life was full of promise, cut short by someone’s inability to let go. Colin Strickland’s world was shattered, left to grapple with the reality that the woman he loved was a killer.

For Caitlyn Armstrong, the descent into obsession led to a lifetime behind bars. Her attempts to escape justice, her manipulation of evidence, and her cold-blooded actions ensured she would never walk free again.

Reflections on Justice

The case stands as a testament to the power of forensic science, surveillance technology, and determined police work. It also serves as a warning about the dangers of unchecked jealousy and the importance of recognizing red flags in relationships.

In the end, justice prevailed—but at a terrible cost.