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- [00:01]
Vanessa Richardson
Hi Crime House community. It's Vanessa Richardson. And if you love digging into the most gripping true crime stories, then you need to listen to another Crime House original Crimes of with Sabrina Deanna Roga and Corinne Vien. Crimes of is a weekly series that explores a new theme each season from Crimes of Paranormal, unsolved murders, mysterious disappearances, and more. Sabrina and Corinne have been covering the true stories behind Hollywood's most iconic horror villains and and this month they'll be diving into the paranormal Listen to Crimes of every Tuesday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever you listen to podcasts. This is Crime House. We all get a little jealous sometimes. Whether it's seeing our crush flirt with someone else or hearing a colleague receive more praise than us at work. It's normal to want what someone else has or worry that what we have will be taken away. And most of us know how to keep those feelings in check. But not Caitlin Armstrong. In 2022, 34 year old Caitlyn couldn't handle it when her boyfriend, 35 year old Colin Strickland, started spending time with another woman, 25 year old Anna Mariah Wilson. Katelyn became fixated on their relationship and soon her obsession became fatal. The human mind is powerful. It shapes how we think, feel, love and hate. But sometimes it drives people to commit the unthinkable. This is Killer Minds, a Crime House original. I'm Vanessa Richardson.
- [02:04]
Dr. Tristan Engels
And I'm Dr. Tristan Engels. Every Monday and Thursday we uncover the darkest minds in history, analyzing what makes.
- [02:11]
Vanessa Richardson
A killer Crime House is made possible by you. Follow Killer Minds and subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts for ad free early access to each two part series. And if you can't get enough true crime, go search and follow Crime House daily. Our team's twice a day show bringing you breaking cases, updates and unbelievable stories from the world of crime that are happening right now. Before we get started, you should know this episode contains discussion of sexual violence and murder. Listener discretion is advised. Today we begin our deep dive on Caitlin Armstrong, the Austin based yoga instructor whose on again, off again relationship spiraled into something deadly in 2022. When Caitlin's jealousy became too much for her to bear, she took violent measures to hold on to the man she loved. And in the aftermath, she went to extreme lengths to avoid getting caught.
- [03:10]
Dr. Tristan Engels
And as Vanessa goes through the story, I'll be talking about things like how someone's lack of self confidence can manifest in toxic ways, what happens when toxicity spirals into delusion and and how a killer who's so detached from reason can also behave in calculated and methodical ways.
- [03:28]
Vanessa Richardson
And as always, we'll be asking the question, what makes a killer.
- [03:36]
Dr. Tristan Engels
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- [04:06]
Vanessa Richardson
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- [07:35]
Dr. Tristan Engels
What's happening here can have several psychological explanations and I know this is killer minds and we cover complex and atypical cases that do not represent the norm. But that being said, I would caution people ordinarily that experience something like this or witness something like this to not automatically assume that this behavior is manipulative or attention seeking, even if it may appear that way on the surface. Now, with regard to Caitlin, we are just starting to do our deep dive on her and we don't know too much about her yet or the source of her distress. But we do have two data points so far. First, Caitlin herself stated that she was there because she was running from something back home. And number two, some of the attendees felt she was doing this for attention. Like you said, that could be because of their own biases or assumptions or because they've seen a pattern that we haven't seen yet. And one such pattern might be that Caitlin lacks emotional regulation. That doesn't mean it's manipulative necessarily. It just means that she is seeking external sources to soothe her when she lacks the skills to do it herself. Also, when someone is under intense internal distress, Especially if they're suppressing that distress or living with it in secret, like she might be doing here. That psychological pressure can seek a physical outlet. The body and mind are deeply connected, so it's not unusual for it to manifest as a somatic reaction. Things like shortness of breath, trembling or even a rash can occur. She might have been having a genuine panic attack. And if she was truly running from something, then that stillness of a yoga environment could have had the opposite effect on her. It could have forced those emotions to the surface, triggering panic instead of peace.
- [09:19]
Vanessa Richardson
Caitlyn definitely had a hard time managing her emotions, but she still seemed to learn something at the retreat. Once she returned home, she put some of her training to practice and started teaching yoga. She continued working in real estate too, striking a balance between her career and her passion. Caitlin was starting to seem more sure of herself. But her path to self improvement wasn't complete yet. There was still one more thing. Caitlin was looking for. Love. In 2019, 32 year old Caitlyn started using dating apps to try and meet someone. Soon she stumbled upon 33 year old Colin Strickland. Colin was tall and handsome and like Caitlin, he cared a lot about his physical health. He was a bicyclist who competed in high level races for both professionals and amateurs. As soon as she met Colin, Kaitlin was smitten. However, he was apprehensive. Even though Colin found Kaitlin attractive, she didn't share his interests. He grew up on a farm, preferred to eat organic food and fixed his own clothes with a vintage sewing machine. Meanwhile, Caitlyn didn't know how to cook and shopped at fast fashion chains. She also didn't care about music and art as much as Colin did. But by the end of their first date, Colin decided he wanted to learn more about Caitlyn. So they kept seeing each other and soon he saw a loving and kind hearted side to her. They eventually became exclusive and Caitlyn's nurturing side showed itself to more. Once she even spent days helping Colin's mom figure out her unemployment benefits. Caitlyn also leaned on Colin to feel safe and secure. One summer night in 2020, she called him in a panic because there was a man banging on her apartment door. Caitlyn thought he might be drunk or high. Colin stayed on the phone with her to help her stay calm until the man left. Afterward, Caitlyn realized she could rely on Colin and wanted to find ways to be closer to him. So she immersed herself in the world of competitive cycling. She bought all the gear. And before long, Caitlin was entering amateur races on the weekends.
- [11:28]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Firstly, I just want to highlight that it is normal and healthy to take an interest in your partner's interests. That's part of how we build connection and shared meaning in a relationship. But there's a difference between sharing an interest and absorbing it as part of your identity. When someone's sense of self is fragile or overly dependent on external validation, they may start adopting their partner's interests, not just to connect, but to feel belonging or to feel worthy of love. And in Caitlin's case, it seems like cycling wasn't simply about trying something new. Because cycling represented Collins entire lifestyle, his community and his identity. And given that this is killer minds and we know where this ultimately leads, her interest went beyond shared meaning and supportiveness. She was trying to secure her place in his world. That's relational mirroring. When a person subconsciously molds themselves to reflect the person they're attached to. This can often happen in people with anxious attachment or who have a low self concept. They fear rejection, so they over adapt to maintain closeness. It's not necessarily manipulative, it's survival to them. And the problem is that partner reliance isn't sustainable. And when the relationship is threatened in any way to them, according to them, it can feel like an existential crisis which can lead to drastic reactions.
- [12:50]
Vanessa Richardson
It's worth mentioning that Caitlin actually took up cycling during the COVID 19 pandemic. Does that change the way you view her actions at all?
- [12:59]
Dr. Tristan Engels
So this is exactly why I wanted to normalize this to some degree. Because not every behavior is something to be pathologized and taking interests in other people's interests can be normal. There are often other very plausible and reasonable explanations for certain behaviors. I mean, I personally took up hobbies during the pandemic. I never previously were interested in and many people, all in an effort to adapt to the isolation and the magnitude of what was happening. I also cycled a lot during the pandemic, although it was on like a stationary bike, but it was a NordicTrack and it had those programs. So I could choose a program that would let me cycle across the world and that gave me a mental and physical escape. This could have absolutely contributed to her interest in cycling. However, you have to really look at why she was interested in cycling in the first place. Was it to cope with the pandemic only or was it to maintain closeness? I'd be curious to know if she found additional hobbies that were not interests of Colin's, because that would be really telling whether or not this was related to the pandemic or not.
- [14:05]
Vanessa Richardson
I did the same thing during the pandemic. Well, while Caitlin did love the thrill that came with cycling, she soon definitely felt left behind. For Colin, cycling wasn't just a hobby. He was a well known elite athlete. Caitlyn not only struggled to keep pace during their rides, but she felt like she was on the outskirts of the social life Colin had built within the cycling community. Those feelings of being excluded only grew stronger when Caitlin started taking peeks at Colin's phone. She saw that he was texting other women and it stung. Caitlyn confronted Colin about the texts and he claimed he was just friends with the women. She said she believed him, but that was a lie. Caitlyn kept spying on Colin's messages. Then one day, she started noticing texts from a new woman whose name she hadn't seen before. Colin had apparently met her at a race he recently attended. Caitlyn confronted him again. And just like before, Colin said they were just friends. He promised Caitlyn there was nothing to worry about. But she was was worried. And one day, while Colin was at a race, Kaitlin managed to get access to the pictures on his phone. That's when she found a photo of the same woman wearing only blue jeans and a bra. Kaitlin was livid. She saved the photo, then sent it to Colin from her own phone. She didn't include any text in the message. She just wanted him to know that he couldn't hide anything from her.
- [15:34]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Jealousy in relationships is common, and in small doses, it can even serve a protective function because it signals that something feels uncertain or what we value feels threatened. But when jealousy shifts into behavior that crosses boundaries, like invading someone's privacy, it stops being protective and it starts being controlling. Caitlin's actions here suggest a deep sense of insecurity and an inability to tolerate ambiguity in relationships. When someone lacks emotional regulation or has anxious or preoccupied attachment, uncertainty feels intolerable. The fear of being replaced or lied to can override reason and lead to impulsive, invasive acts that temporarily relieve anxiety but ultimately damage the trust in the relationship. And in this case, Caitlyn was invading his privacy in order to manage her anxiety through control. But this is a false sense of safety because the more she tried to secure the relationship through surveillance like this, the more emotionally distant and unsafe it's likely to become for the both of them. And clinically, this kind of behavior doesn't necessarily mean a severe mental illness is occurring, but it does point to poor distress tolerance Attachment deficits and possible obsessive or ruminative tendencies. It reflects a relational dynamic that's built more on fear. And once that pattern takes hold, both partners start reacting to the anxiety instead of relating to each other, which can create a very toxic cycle.
- [17:04]
Vanessa Richardson
Caitlin probably wanted to make Colin feel guilty by sending him the picture. But her actions ended up having the opposite effect. For the next few weeks, Colin distanced himself from her. Then, just after the New Year in 2021, he broke up with her. But soon, Kaitlin found a way back into his life. In February, an ice storm hit Austin and the pipes in Caitlin's apartment burst. She called Colin for help and he invited her to come over and stay with him. They agreed it would be tempor. But soon they were back together as a couple. This time, their relationship became more serious. Caitlyn's real estate career had been doing well, so the pair bought a house together and even launched a trailer restoration business called Wheelhouse Mobile. Caitlin managed the business side of things, which meant she had even more access to Collins phone and personal accounts. For a while, this didn't seem to create any problems. But then, in October 2021, Colin did something to trigger Caitlyn's jealousy again. They went on a road trip to Bentonville, Arkansas, where Colin was competing in a race. Kaitlin was looking forward to cheering him on. But when they got there, her cheerful mood turned sour. Caitlin noticed that Colin was being extremely friendly with a young woman she'd never seen before. The woman was also a cyclist. Soon, Kaitlin learned that the woman was 25 year old Anna Mariah Wilson, a rising star in the world of cycling who went by the nickname Mo. Collin and Mo had first met a month earlier at a race in Idaho. Even though he told Caitlin they were just friends, Caitlin didn't believe him. And her suspicions only intensified during the second day of the trip. That day, Colin went on a mountain bike ride with friends. But he didn't invite Kaitlin. He said that the ride would be too hard for her, but she thought the real reason was because Mo would be there. Caitlin was infuriated. She couldn't believe Colin was humiliating her like this again. No matter how hard she tried to keep her feelings under control, she was reaching a breaking point. And soon she would explode. The start of a new year is the perfect moment to stop dreaming and start doing. You've got the ideas, the skills, maybe even the perfect product in your mind. But nothing changes until you take that first step in 2026. That step is starting your business with Shopify. Shopify gives you everything you need to sell online and in person. So no matter how your customers like to shop, you're ready to Millions of entrepreneurs have already taken this leap. Building your store is simple. Choose from hundreds of beautiful templates, customize them to match your brand, and let Shopify's AI tools handle product descriptions, headlines and photo edits. Marketing is built in too. Email campaigns, social posts, all the ways to reach customers wherever they scroll. And as your business grows, Shopify grows with you handling more orders, new markets, and all of it from one dashboard. In 2026, stop waiting and start selling with Shopify. Sign up for your $1 per month trial and start selling today at shopify.com serial killer. Go to shopify.com serial killer that's shopify.com serial killer Hear your first this year with Shopify by your side.
- [20:40]
Dr. Tristan Engels
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- [21:03]
Vanessa Richardson
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Dr. Tristan Engels
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Vanessa Richardson
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- [21:12]
Vanessa Richardson
The fall of 2021, 34 year old Caitlin Armstrong was dealing with intense jealousy over her boyfriend Colin's friendship with Mo Wilson. After the event in Arkansas was over, Caitlyn and Colin drove back home to Austin, Texas. During the car ride, Caitlyn told Colin how she was feeling. She was hoping he'd apologize and promise not to talk to Mo anymore. Instead, Colin said something that shattered Caitlyn's world. He told her he couldn't be the partner she wanted him to be and that it would be best if she moved out. By the time they reached Austin, Caitlyn was struggling to process the sudden end of their relationship. As the days passed, Caitlyn's disbelief seemed to morph into denial. She didn't make any plans to move out. She told Colin that she wanted to move into one of the homes they'd been renovating and it wasn't ready yet, and Colin seemed to go along with it. He told Caitlyn she could stay in their house a while longer, but he reminded her that the romantic side of their relationship was over and that he still expected her to move out when the new place was ready.
- [22:22]
Dr. Tristan Engels
From a practical standpoint, it might not seem wise for Caitlin to stay with Colin and for Colin to allow that, especially given the tension in their relationship. But decisions like this often are made from financial or practical needs or, and likely in this case, an attachment need. When someone is in a fragile emotional state, proximity to the person they're attached to can feel like the only thing in keeping them stable, even if that closeness is not good for them or is painful. It's what we call proximity seeking behavior. But there's also repetition of a familiar dynamic emerging between them, which is the rescuer and the rescued. If you recall earlier in their relationship when they had first become exclusive, Caitlyn called him when someone was banging on her door and he stayed on the phone with her, making her feel safe and calm. Then, when they had split up and were still living separately at the time and her pipes froze in an ice storm, Colin had come to her aid. This brought them back together. So these experiences strengthened her emotional attachment to him. I believe Caitlin felt that he was her rescuer, and that can create a powerful bond, especially for someone who equates safety with love. So now when she says she wants to wait to move out until the home is renovated and he allows her to to stay temporarily, she may be unconsciously recreating that same scenario. She may have interpreted his willingness to help as proof that he still cares or that their relationship still has a future. That's black and white thinking and a misattribution of safety, in this case confusing an act of compassion or obligation with renewed intimacy rather than basic human decency. So for someone with anxious attachment or low self worth, those small acts can carry enormous meaning, reinforcing hope and making it even harder to realize that the relationship has changed. So while Colin may have intended to help out of kindness or practicality, for Caitlin, that act likely reignited the illusion of being chosen and rescued again.
- [24:29]
Vanessa Richardson
Caitlin may have wanted to keep tabs on Collins life, but soon she got more than she bargained for. Less than a week after the breakup, Caitlin found out that Mo was in Austin in she was there for a race and she was hanging out with Colin. When Caitlyn saw what they were up to on social media, she felt crushed. Colin was introducing Mo to all his friends, their relationship was barely over and he was apparently already moving on to another. Things only got worse when Caitlyn learned that Colin and Mo were going on a road trip together, just the two of them. Caitlyn Couldn't take it. She somehow got her hands on Mo's phone number and started calling her constantly, warning her to stay away from Colin. Eventually, Mo blocked Kaitlin's number. Now there was nothing Kaitlin could do except fester in her jealousy and anger. About a week later, Colin returned home and Mo was back in her home city of San Francisco. Now that she was gone, Kaitlin made her move. Over the next few days, few months, she and Colin rekindled their relationship. However, Colin eventually confessed something to Caitlin. During Mo's visit and their road trip, they'd been intimate. Kaitlin was extremely hurt. Not only that all of her fears about Mo were validated. But rather than ask herself whether she could truly trust Colin, Caitlin started leaning on him more than ever. She started telling Colin that whenever she went on bike rides alone, creepy men followed her. Everyone close with Colin knew that he believed all women should own guns. He thought it was unfair that women often felt unsafe in situations where men could feel completely comfortable. So in late December 2021, he took Caitlyn to arm herself.
- [26:20]
Dr. Tristan Engels
All right, stemming from my previous discussion, we're not really seeing that Caitlyn is seeking safety because she's genuinely afraid. Though, of course, women should always practice situational awareness for safety. But ra she's seeking rescue. It's another reenactment of dependency. Every time she recreates that victim rescuer dynamic, it reinforces the belief that closeness can be achieved through crisis. And that's conditioning. So instead of addressing her true fears, like insecurity, jealousy and shame, she's outsourcing safety to Colin with the underlying belief that as long as he keeps saving her, the relationship will stay intact and she will return to a state of calm because she'll remain relevant for him. What she really would benefit from is learning internal regulation. And if we look back at her behavior in Bali, the pattern was already there. Even then, she showed signs of poor emotional regulation. Her panic episode during the retreat, which some interpreted as attention seeking, could be viewed as another way of outsourcing safety, relying on the people around her to soothe her distress rather than learning how to do it herself. And of course, it's completely normal and even healthy to lean on others for support during times of emotional overwhelm. We all need that, but there's a time and a place for it. And what we're seeing here is something different.
- [27:39]
Vanessa Richardson
Why do you think people look for quick fixes to their mental health needs?
- [27:44]
Dr. Tristan Engels
That's a great question. Because what we often call a quick fix is really just a human response to distress. When people are in emotional pain, the instinct is to make that pain stop. Now, it's not necessarily about laziness or denial. It's about intolerance of discomfort. So the quick fix offers immediate relief, even if it is at times at the expense of others. And the brain simply is trying to restore equilibrium and end the internal tension as fast as possible. And in doing so, it prioritizes short term relief over long term resolution.
- [28:19]
Vanessa Richardson
Well, Caitlyn happily went along with Colin's idea. They rode their bikes to McBride's, a small family owned gun shop. Caitlyn picked up a 9mm Sig Sauer P3.365, which is a compact pistol built for concealed carry and personal defense. Colin thought that having a gun would help her feel safer. Instead, it added a dangerous new layer to an already fragile relationship. Things were good between Caitlin and Colin for the next few weeks. However, things went sour again when Caitlin saw a video that Colin posted on Instagram while he was at a race in another city. After this, Caitlyn's jealousy ran wild. She monitored Colin's phone, asked him pointed questions about Mo, and obsessively checked social media for any sign they were spending time together, whether it was her race results or photos with people who were Colin and Caitlyn's mutual friends. Caitlyn felt like Mo was showing off all the ways she was better than her and encroaching on her life life. Caitlyn tried to keep herself busy by spending time with friends in Austin, but the conversation always turned to Colin and whether he was cheating on her with Mo. On at least two separate occasions, Caitlyn told friends that she was so jealous she would kill Mo.
- [29:42]
Dr. Tristan Engels
So at this point, it appears Caitlyn is interpreting neutral information as personal attacks or taunts. When jealousy escalates like this, it's often a reflection of an underlying identity threat. It seems like Mo represents everything Caitlin fears she isn't, and because of that, everything Mo does subsequently becomes evidence that Mo is somehow winning a competition that only exists in Caitlin's mind, which is borderline delusional. Not psychosis in the clinical sense, but it is a distortion of reality that reinforces her narrative of betrayal. And it's also a projection of fear of abandonment and rejection. Now, saying she'd kill Mo reflects the intensity of that envy and pain. And it fits with her known pattern of coping because again, every time she feels anxious, rejected or unsafe, her instinct hasn't been to self reflect, it's been to find and label an external source for it. This spares Caitlin from the discomfort of confronting her own insecurities if she can convince herself that someone else's responsibility responsible for them. But the problem is, every time she externalizes her distress, she reinforces a worldview where other people are the source of her suffering. And that's the kind of thinking that can escalate into aggression.
- [30:57]
Vanessa Richardson
As far as we know, Caitlyn's not a violent person. I don't think she's ever committed a violent offense before. So why would something like this push her to feel so much rage and aggression to the point of just even entertaining the idea of murdering someone?
- [31:11]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Violence doesn't always emerge from a pattern of aggression. Sometimes it develops from a pattern of emotional instability or poor frustration tolerance that reaches its breaking point when someone experiences repeated feelings of rejection, humiliation, frustration, or betrayal. Especially without any healthy coping skills or outlets it can compound and have nowhere to go. Eventually, the individual's coping system, or lack thereof, collapses. And what we see as rage is often the explosion that happens when shame, fear, and helplessness compound together. Anger in that moment becomes a defense that feels powerful to them. So she was attempting to reclaim control when she'd felt she'd lost everything.
- [31:57]
Vanessa Richardson
Unfortunately, Caitlyn wasn't coping. She was diving headfirst into her obsession. Things only got worse in May 2022, when Caitlin learned that Mo was back in Austin for another race. By now, Colin had changed Mo's name in his phone as a way to hide their interactions from Caitlyn. But Caitlyn found other ways to keep tabs on what they were up to. On Wednesday, May 11, Caitlyn opened the workout tracking app Straa. She saw that Mo had recently gone on a bike ride in Austin. After that, Caitlyn checked Colin's messages and saw that after her ride, Mo sent lent him her location. It was an address in East Austin in a neighborhood called Cherrywood. She also saw that Colin and Mo were making plans to hang out later that day. This sent Caitlyn through the roof because Colin had told her that he was taking his motorcycle out for a long ride in the country. Caitlyn called Colin to see if she could catch him in his lie. But her call went straight to voicemail. So did her next call and the one after that. Caitlyn couldn't take it anymore. She was tired of sitting back and watching her relationship be destroyed. So she decided to strike first. Coca Cola for the big, for the small, the short and the tall. Peacemakers Risk takers for the optimists, pessimists for long distance love for introverts and extroverts, the thinkers and the doers for old friends and new Coca Cola for everyone. Pick up some Coca Cola at a store near you at New Balance. We believe if you run, you're a runner, However you choose to do it.
- [34:00]
Dr. Tristan Engels
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- [34:05]
Vanessa Richardson
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- [34:17]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Fan of true crime horror or creepy.
- [34:20]
Vanessa Richardson
Encounters, you've got to listen to Disturbed True Horror Stories. Each episode shares the terrifying experiences of real people retold by professional actors. I bit down on his hand and he pulled back, but he pushed the knife a little harder against my sweatshirt.
- [34:35]
Dr. Tristan Engels
I began to hear the breathing and growling of what could only come from a monster.
- [34:39]
Vanessa Richardson
Find Disturbed True Horror Stories wherever you enjoy your podcasts. On May 11, 2022, 34 year old Caitlin Armstrong discovered that her boyfriend, Colin Str. Strickland, had lied to her so he could hang out with Mo Wilson. Colin returned home around nine that night. @ the time, Caitlyn wasn't there. She arrived about 20 minutes later wearing workout clothes and carrying a yoga mat. The two sat down to have a drink together. The whole time, neither of them said anything about how Colin had been ignoring Caitlyn's phone calls that day. Then Caitlyn did something unusual. She initiated sex with Colin. On the surface, this wasn't out of the ordinary. They were in a relationship after all. But Caitlyn was being extremely forceful. Colin didn't think much of it at the time. It wouldn't be until later that he'd look back and realize how sinister Caitlyn's behavior really.
- [35:41]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Was. Yeah, this behavior is an extension of what I was just talking about with regard to her need to reclaim control. When someone like Caitlin, with her level of emotional dysregulation and attachment insecurity, feels deeply betrayed, sometimes the instinct is to reclaim control. Sex in this context appears to be about dominance and possession. By initiating sex right after she's been deceived, Caitlyn appears to be trying to transform rejection into control and then vulnerability into.
- [36:12]
Vanessa Richardson
Power. Do you think that her initiating sex could be a cover up? Maybe just to make Colin think nothing's wrong? Or does it come as a physical reaction from what she'd just.
- [36:21]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Done? Of course it could absolutely be that. In the past, when she called Colin multiple times like this and was upset, it often led to conflict or even a breakup. So this could have been her way of trying to preempt that. By acting as though everything was fine and initiating intimacy, she may have been trying to reset the dynamic before he could pull away again. Either way, no matter the reason, truly this behavior, especially the forcefulness of it that you described, served both emotional and tactical purposes. At the core, it's reclaiming control and protecting her.
- [36:55]
Vanessa Richardson
Ego. While Caitlin and Colin were getting intimate, a young woman named Caitlin Cash was returning home to her apartment. It was just before 10pm when Cash stepped inside, expecting to find her friend Mo Wilson, who was staying with her that week. But Cash didn't see Mo anywhere. She called out, out for her and got no response. Then Cash noticed the bathroom door was open. She walked closer, and when she looked inside the bathroom, she was met with a horrifying sight. Mo was lying on her back, unconscious in a pool of blood. Cash shook Mo, trying to wake her, but she couldn't. So she grabbed her phone and dialed 911. The dispatcher guided her through CPR until first responders arrived. Once they were there, Cash was quickly led outside. Pretty soon, medics and officers from the Austin Police Department realized there was no chance of saving Mo. She was already dead when they got a closer look at her body. Officers determined that Mo had been shot twice in the head and once in the chest. And as they examined the surrounding area, they quickly began uncovering clues to start. The position of Mo's body suggested that she'd been shot while she was already on the floor. Officers believed this meant that Mo had been deliberately targeted. Someone had stood over her and made sure she wouldn't get back up. They also found a cut on her right index finger and another one under her chin, which made them think there'd been a struggle before Mo fell. Finally, they found three. Three shell casings in the bathroom. Each appeared to have been fired from a 9 millimeter handgun. The police knew that whoever did this was probably covering their tracks at that very moment. With no time to waste, they went outside to speak with Cash in order to establish a general timeline. Distraught and in shock, Cash gathered herself so she could answer their questions and hopefully help them catch the killer. She said that Mo had left left her apartment around 5:30pm that day with plans to go swimming with a friend, a man named Colin Strickland. Officers immediately wondered if Colin was Mo's killer, but they needed to learn more before zeroing in on him. From there, Cash knew that Mo had returned to the apartment at 8:36pm, Cash had an app on her phone connected to the electric lock on her front door. She didn't know what happened after that. That but Mo had been killed sometime between that time and when Cash got home shortly before 10 o'. Clock. Now that investigators had a time frame, they prepared to canvas the area in search of surveillance footage or witness testimony. Before heading out, they spotted a bicycle lying in the bushes outside the apartment building. Cash confirmed that the bike belonged to Mo. This was extremely odd. Mo was a serious cyclist. She wouldn't have tossed her own bike to the side like that. This added to detectives theory that someone had come after Mo. And once they obtained security footage from the area, they got closer to figuring out who that person could be. First they discovered footage from a camera in the house containing chilling audio. Mo can be heard screaming before two gunshots go off in quick succession. Seconds later a third shot is fired. Then just two minutes after this audio was captured, investigators found video of a black Jeep Cherokee with a bike rack on it driving out of the neighborhood. While detectives couldn't make out the license plate number, they did a little digging and realized the direction the Jeep traveled was toward Colin Strickland's home. The next morning, detectives Richard Spitler and Jason Ayers went to Collins House to bring him in for questioning. When they arrived, something in the driveway immediately stood out. A black Jeep Cherokee with a large bike rack on the back. They thought they might be about to catch their guy. Then when Colin opened the door and the detectives told him Mo had been killed, Colin seemed genuinely stunned. However, Kaitlin was standing nearby and her expression remained completely blank even as Colin left with the officers. A little later, Colin's friend Lance showed up at the house. He was there to borrow a bike part from Colin. Caitlyn told Lance she could help him and invited him in. Once Lance was inside, Caitlin casually brought up the news about Mo. Then she asked him if he thought Austin was becoming a violent city. Lance tried to reassure her. He said that kind of violence wasn't normal there. But then she asked another question. Is Cherrywood a bad neighborhood? Lance kept trying to make her feel better. However, after he left the house and the shock of Mo's death began to fade, he wondered how did Caitlin know where Mo was when she.
- [42:00]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Died? Caitlyn's line of questioning with Lance is a form of probing because she is testing what he knows and to subtly gauge whether suspicion might fall on her. This kind of behavior can also serve as self reassurance by framing the event as Just another instance of random violence in a, quote, dangerous city. She's externalizing blame again, aligning the narrative with something impersonal rather than taking ownership. And that fits with her established pattern of deflecting internal distress outward. But also she's subtly redirecting attention. She's planting the idea that the crime was related to Mo's neighborhood, that it was random or opportunistic, seemingly an attempt to steer suspicion away from her. She's also information gathering, testing what others know and how they're interpreting events. That's a common behavior among offenders who are still trying to control the story and the narrative. And so her calmness is about managing perception in real time, both to self soothe her own self and to influence how others will see.
- [43:04]
Vanessa Richardson
Her. So in a lot of our episodes, we see situations where killers don't think through their actions. They don't think they'll be caught, and then they say or do things that just increase the likelihood of them getting caught. Is there a link between a person's willingness to take someone else's life and then their sense of confidence or assurance about getting away with.
- [43:24]
Dr. Tristan Engels
It? Yes, there's often a link between someone's willingness to take another person's life and their confidence, or more precisely, their perceived ability to get away with it. But the psychology behind that confidence varies. So for some individuals, especially those with antisocial or narcissistic traits, the belief that they're smarter, more strategic, or less detectable than others creates a sense of entitlement and invincibility. They convince themselves the rules don't apply to them or that they can outthink everyone else. That distorted self assurance lowers inhibition against violence because they don't anticipate real consequences and they don't fear real consequences. For others, especially those with intense emotional states like jealousy or betrayal, the confidence often comes from rationalization. They attempt to justify their actions as necessary or even inevitable. But either way, whichever the cause, the confidence also comes with a lack of accountability as.
- [44:21]
Vanessa Richardson
Well. Caitlyn's comments were extremely suspicious. And by now, Lance wasn't the only one wary of her. At Austin police headquarters, Detectives Spitler and Ayers were starting to learn more about the past drama between Colin, Mo and Kaitlin. Colin also explained everything he and Mo had done before he dropped her off at home the night before. He said he'd picked Mo up on his motorcycle around 6pm and they went for a swim at a popular pool in Austin. Then they grabbed dinner before he dropped her back off at Caitlin Cash's apartment around 8:30pm after that, he went straight home. The detectives asked if anyone could confirm his timeline and Colin said no. His girlfriend Caitlin didn't get home until about 9:20 that night. With this, detectives Spitler and Ayers asked Colin to hang tight. Then they left him alone in the interrogation room. For over an hour, they watched on camera as Colin slumped against the wall and wrapped his arms around himself. He was clearly distraught, but he didn't seem panicked. The detectives wanted to get more of Colin's reaction, so when they finally returned, they told him they had surveillance footage of a black Jeep with a bike rack on it driving near Cash's apartment right around the time Mo was killed. Killed. Then they revealed something else. They also had footage of him riding his motorcycle down the highway away from Cash's apartment and toward his own House at 8:48pm on the 1 hand, Colin was relieved to hear authorities had evidence that he wasn't guilty. But on the other hand, that would mean Caitlyn had been driving the Jeep near the crime scene. Colin told Spitler and Ayers that he couldn't fathom Caitlin being responsible. Responsible? She wasn't a violent person. When they pressed him harder, he said that if he thought Caitlyn was truly capable of murder, he wouldn't be with her. The detectives seemed convinced that Colin really meant what he said. So as they continued speaking with him, other investigators began digging into Caitlin's background. While they didn't have enough evidence to arrest her for Mo's murder, they did have something else. An outstanding misdemeanor charge from 2018. Apparently, Caitlyn had not paid for a Botox treatment. She was later charged with theft of service, but she was never arrested. This would be enough to bring her into the station. At the same time, officers obtained search warrants for Caitlyn and Collins house and their phones. They went back to the house the same day. Caitlyn was still there and she appeared emotionless when they discovered her gun and when she handed over her phone. Phone. Then they told Caitlyn she was under arrest for her 2018 theft charge. She cooperated as they handcuffed her and brought her in. In the interrogation room, she claimed she never knew that she'd been charged. Then she requested an attorney. At that point, a knock at the door interrupted the interview. Apparently, the date of birth on Caitlyn's arrest warrant didn't match the one in their system, which meant the warrant wasn't valid and they had had nothing to hold her on. The detectives made a last Ditch effort to get Kin to talk about Colin and Mo. They even told her about the footage of the Jeep, but she refused to say anything. Eventually, they had to let her go. Caitlyn Armstrong went home and waited for Colin Strickland to return. He came back that night, and Kayin immediately broke down. She told Colin how scared she was. He tried to make her feel better. By now, they had both hired lawyers. So Colin said all they could do was stay calm and cooperate. But then Kaitlin became more frantic. She even wondered out loud if their house was bugged. At that point, Colin said they should get some sleep and talk things through in the morning. Kaitlin finally agreed. The next morning, Kaitlin was still afraid their conversations were being recorded. So they they went to a nearby coffee shop to talk. Caitlyn told Colin that during the time of Mo's murder, she had gone to yoga and then a waxing appointment. Colin listened carefully. Whether or not he really believed her, Caitlyn at least thought he did. Then, after they left the cafe, they heard from their lawyers, who advised them to separate while the investigation was underway. Caitlyn and Colin both agreed. But then Kaitlin began to fret over how they'd stay in touch. Since the police had their phones, Colin suggested they buy temporary ones, which Caitlyn said she didn't even know how to do. So he took her with him to buy some at Walmart. Then, around 10:30am on May 13, 2022, two days after Mo Wilson's murder, Kaitlin climbed into her Jeep, backed out of the driveway and drove away. As the house she shared with Colin grew smaller in her rear view, Caitlyn likely knew she wouldn't see him again for a very long time. Meanwhile, police confirmed Colin's alibi and ruled him out as a suspect, which meant investigators were solely focused on Caitlyn. The evidence against her was still largely circumstantial, especially since the footage of the Jeep was grainy and they couldn't confirm Caitlyn was actually the driver. However, word was beginning to spread around the cycling community about what had happened to Mo, including the fact that police had questioned Colin and Caitlyn. And that's when investigators received a tip from one of Caitlyn's own friends saying that Caitlyn had once said she wanted to kill Mo. As police continued speaking with people, they learned just how much jealousy and rage Caitlyn had exhibited toward Mo. From there, they also learned that Caitlyn had gone to the shooting range with her sister after buying her gun. But while all of this painted a damning picture, it still wasn't concrete evidence. However, now that they'd gotten some help from the public, authorities decided they should continue to tap that well, so they made an announcement regarding Mo's murder. They said the crime did not appear to be random and that a person of interest had been identified, but they didn't say who. Finally, they asked for people to share any information that could help with the investigation. Police didn't have to say Caitlyn's name publicly for her to understand that she was now their main suspect. Shortly after leaving her house on the morning of the 13th 13th, Caitlin drove to a carmax about a mile from her and Collins house. There she sold her Jeep for $12,200. Her whereabouts for the rest of the day are unknown. But a day later, on May 14, Caitlin headed to Austin Bergstrom International Airport and boarded a plane to New York, where her sister.
- [51:23]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Lived. For someone who is really emotionally dysregulated, she certainly is showing really calculated steps to escape. And at the root of that is actually a need for control in both of those situations. So previously, when she felt powerless with Colin, she portrayed herself as helpless or victimized. And that helplessness was a way to elicit rescue, reassurance, and proximity, all of which helped regulate her emotionally. But once that situation went far beyond her control and Colin's attention shifted elsewhere, she shifted from emotional manipulation to logistics. What looks like a contradiction is really a defense mechanism in two forms, emotional manipulation and chaos. When control still feels possible through others and calculation, when control can only be restored through action, it's the same pattern just manifesting.
- [52:14]
Vanessa Richardson
Differently. Caitlyn's passion is yoga. She's, she's a yoga instructor. She's, you know, lives by the principle of nonviolence in this, you know, yogic way. How could she live with herself after killing.
- [52:26]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Someone? Well, let's start by exploring what likely drove her to yoga to begin with, given what we know about her so far. I mean, you mentioned it earlier. She was drawn to the calmness, the peacefulness, and the self control of it. People who struggle with emotional regulation are often attracted to structured external systems that look like peace because they offer a sense of order that they can't create internally. In Caitlyn's case, given her pattern of finding external sources to regulate her emotions, yoga probably represented another form of external regulation. It gave her a manual for serenity using breathing, posture and ritual that also gave her the ability to mimic peace. But she can't create peace for herself unless she also does the internal work, which, from what we can tell, she avoids. So for someone like Caitlin, yoga likely felt like a way to maintain an image and contain her emotions emotions rather than to understand them. So for her to reconcile her actions with her yoga training and principles would mean she would have to integrate those principles to begin with. And I think it's clear that that didn't really.
- [53:34]
Vanessa Richardson
Happen. Well, around the same time Caitlyn made her escape, investigators realized how cold and calculated she actually was when forensic tests proved that her gun was the murder weapon. Weapon. As soon as they made this discovery, the Austin Municipal Court issued a warrant for Caitlyn's arrest on a charge of first degree murder. But when they tried to take her into custody, Caitlyn was nowhere to be found. Little did they know she was about to take her escape plan to unprecedented extremes. Thanks so much for listening. Join us next time for the conclusion of our deep dive into the murder of Mo.
- [54:28]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Wilson. Killer Minds is a Crime House Original Powered by Pave Studios. Here at Crime House, we want to thank each and every one of you for your support. If you if you like what you heard today, reach out on all social media rimehouse and don't forget to rate, review and follow Killer Minds wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback truly makes a difference.
- [54:50]
Vanessa Richardson
And to enhance your listening experience, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get every episode of Killer Minds ad free, along with early access to each thrilling two part series and exciting bonus content. Killer Minds is hosted by me, Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristan Engels and is a Crime House original. Powered by Pave Studios. This episode was brought to life by the Killer Minds team. Max Cutler, Ron Shapiro, Alex Benedon, Lori Marinelli, Natalie Pertzofsky, Sarah Camp, Sarah Batchelor, Heather Dundas, Sarah Tardif and Keri Murphy. Thank you for listening. Looking for your next Crime House listen? Don't miss Clues with Morgan Absher and Kaylin Moore. Every Wednesday, Morgan and Kaylin take you deep into the world of the most notorious crimes ever. Clue by clue, it's like hanging out with your smart true crime obsessed with friends. Listen to clues on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever you listen to podcasts.