“The Night Time Stopped”: Dateline Reports on Moriah Wilson Homicide December 19 2025

On Friday, December 19, Dateline NBC airs a two-hour investigation titled The Night Time Stopped, chronicling the killing of professional cyclist Moriah “Mo” Wilson and the events that followed. Correspondent Keith Morrison reports on the high-profile case, which gripped the sports world and the public when Wilson was found murdered just days before a major race. The broadcast explores the complex relationships, emerging evidence, and courtroom drama that led to the conviction of Kaitlin Armstrong, whose jealousy over a love triangle spiraled into a deadly confrontation.

The Rising Star: Moriah “Mo” Wilson

Moriah Wilson, a 25-year-old rising star in gravel bike racing, was known for her athletic excellence and character off the course. Raised in Vermont and a graduate of Dartmouth College, she had transitioned from competitive skiing to cycling and was rapidly climbing the ranks of her sport. Before racing full-time, Wilson worked as a demand planner at Specialized, a top-tier cycling brand. Her dedication and potential had made her a favorite to win the upcoming Gravel Locos race in Hico, Texas.

Wilson’s passion extended beyond racing—she was deeply connected to her family and community, often described as someone with quiet determination and thoughtful presence. Just before her death, she had made the leap to become a full-time professional cyclist, a dream she was beginning to realize.

A Love Triangle and a Targeted Murder

On May 11, 2022, Wilson was shot three times while staying at her friend Caitlin Cash’s home in Austin. She had spent the evening swimming and dining with fellow cyclist Colin Strickland, with whom she had a brief romantic relationship during a prior break in his relationship with Kaitlin Armstrong. Though Strickland claimed their connection had since turned platonic, evidence later showed he had kept the relationship hidden from Armstrong and continued to communicate with Wilson.

Surveillance footage captured Armstrong’s black Jeep near the scene minutes before the shooting. Investigators found that Armstrong was aware of the relationship between Strickland and Wilson and had expressed a desire to harm Wilson. Forensic evidence tied Armstrong’s SIG Sauer P365 handgun to a spent casing at the crime scene, and she had recently visited a shooting range with her sister to practice.

The International Manhunt and Capture

Armstrong was initially brought in on a misdemeanor warrant but released due to a clerical error. Days later, she disappeared. Authorities discovered she used her sister’s passport to fly to Costa Rica, where she assumed aliases, altered her appearance with plastic surgery, and attempted to establish a new life teaching yoga.

U.S. Marshals tracked her down using creative methods, including posting a decoy yoga instructor ad on a local Facebook group. After 43 days on the run, Armstrong was arrested in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, on June 29, 2022. Her altered appearance and possession of a plastic surgery receipt confirmed her efforts to evade detection.

Trial and Sentencing

Armstrong was extradited to the United States and pleaded not guilty to the murder of Moriah Wilson. After several pre-trial motions and delays, her trial began in October 2023. Just weeks before it started, she attempted to escape custody but was recaptured quickly.

During the trial, emotional testimony and forensic data presented a clear timeline of Armstrong’s movements. Cell phone records, surveillance footage, and ballistics evidence tied her to the crime. The prosecution argued that the murder was driven by jealousy, and that Armstrong had planned the killing in advance. After a two-week trial, she was convicted of first-degree murder on November 16, 2023, and sentenced to 90 years in prison.

The Aftermath: Grief, Justice, and Legacy

The verdict offered a sense of closure for Wilson’s family, who had endured intense media attention and courtroom testimony revealing the final hours of Moriah’s life. During victim impact statements, her parents and brother described the deep pain of losing a daughter and sister with so much promise. They remembered her vibrancy, her dedication to her sport, and the joy she brought into their lives.

In the months following the conviction, Wilson’s family filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit and were awarded $15 million in damages. A second suit followed when Armstrong transferred her assets to relatives and Strickland, moves the family claimed were fraudulent.

Wilson’s memory now lives on through the Moriah Wilson Foundation, which promotes healthy living and community engagement through cycling. A trail in Vermont, “Moriah’s Ascent,” was also created in her honor, symbolizing her enduring spirit and the impact she made in her short life.

A Story That Stunned and Stirred a Community

Dateline’s The Night Time Stopped brings viewers inside the heartbreak and complexity of a case that started with a promising athlete’s senseless death and led to an international manhunt and a lengthy prison sentence. Through courtroom footage, interviews, and emotional firsthand accounts, the episode explores the human cost of jealousy, the pursuit of justice, and the legacy left behind by a young woman who inspired so many.

The episode airs Friday, December 19, on NBC and is available to stream on Peacock.

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Ryan Gill

Ryan is a passionate follower of true crime television programs, reporting on and providing in-depth investigations on mysteries in the criminal world.

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