In a dramatic turn of events, the former boyfriend of yoga teacher-turned-accused-killer Kaitlin Armstrong took the stand on Friday, providing a detailed account of their tumultuous relationship and shedding light on the events leading up to champion cyclist Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson's tragic death in May 2022. Colin Strickland, a champion cyclist himself, described Armstrong as a jealous and "passive aggressive" girlfriend who had access to all his electronic devices and social media accounts. Strickland, who had a complicated on-again-off-again relationship with Armstrong, testified that he was one of the last people to see Wilson alive before her murder.

During his testimony, Strickland revealed that he and Wilson had remained friends after a brief fling, but he concealed their friendship from Armstrong, even going to the extent of deleting messages and saving Wilson's contact under a pseudonym in his phone. He testified that Armstrong had a habit of snooping on his messages and was suspicious of his interactions with other women. In one instance, Strickland posted a video on Instagram of a race finish, where Wilson could be seen in the background. Armstrong left a comment under the video, saying, "Send my love to Mo," which Strickland described as "extremely passive aggressive."

The day of Wilson's death, Strickland met up with her for a swim, lying to Armstrong about running errands instead. After dropping Wilson back at a friend's house, Strickland noticed Armstrong's black Jeep waiting outside on CCTV footage. Prosecutors allege that Armstrong then ambushed Wilson, shooting her multiple times in a murder that was captured on audio. Strickland testified that Armstrong managed his career and therefore had access to all his social media accounts, electronic devices, and bank accounts. He described her as having a jealous streak not only towards Wilson but also towards other women he interacted with.

Strickland's testimony took a dark turn when he recounted the events following Wilson's murder. He mentioned that Armstrong allegedly sold her car, used her sister's passport to flee to Costa Rica, and underwent extensive plastic surgery before she was captured 43 days later. Strickland appeared “defeated” and “sad” as he testified, keeping his head low and his hands and elbows on the witness stand, according to reports from the courtroom.

Prosecutors have alleged that Armstrong specifically targeted Wilson due to a love triangle involving Strickland. Strickland confirmed these allegations during his testimony, describing his relationship with Armstrong as “tumultuous” and stating that he was unsure if they were compatible as long-term partners. Despite multiple breakups, Armstrong continued living with Strickland, even during the periods when they were not together.

Strickland also revealed that Armstrong displayed jealous behavior and invaded his privacy. He testified that Armstrong became paranoid about road rage incidents and the large homeless population near their home, leading them to purchase two guns together. He mentioned an incident where Armstrong sent him a semi-nude picture of another woman that she had obtained from his private texts, causing him to lose trust in her.

The love triangle between Strickland, Armstrong, and Wilson intensified when they became romantically involved. Strickland described Wilson as an exceptional female racer and wanted to support her career, which further fuelled Armstrong's jealousy. The couple's relationship ended after a fight when Strickland went on a bike ride with other female cyclists, excluding Armstrong.

However, Strickland and Wilson remained in contact, and their friendship eventually turned romantic. Meanwhile, Armstrong dated other men while still living in Strickland's home but in a separate bedroom. Strickland testified that Armstrong had control over his passwords, social media accounts, and financial records, admitting that she was more technologically sophisticated than he was.

On the fateful day of Wilson's murder, Strickland had planned to meet up with her after a bike ride. He picked Wilson up from a friend's apartment, and they went for a swim at Deep Eddy pool. Strickland testified that they made plans to see each other again and hugged before parting ways. He did not disclose these plans to Armstrong and texted her a fabricated story about delivering marijuana when he arrived home.

The next morning, detectives arrived at Strickland's home to inform him about Wilson's murder. He informed Armstrong about the news, and she appeared shocked. Strickland spent the following days being interviewed by the police, purchasing a new phone, and discussing the need for an attorney with Armstrong. However, he never saw her again as she allegedly sold her car, used her sister's passport to flee the country, and went into hiding.

Armstrong was captured in Costa Rica after 43 days on the run and has been charged with Wilson's murder. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges and could face up to 99 years in prison if convicted. Strickland is set to continue his testimony on Monday, providing further insight into the events that unfolded leading up to Wilson's tragic death.