The U.S. Marshals Service Lone Star Fugitive Task Force confirmed that authorities have located and arrested murder suspect Caitlin Marie Armstrong in Costa Rica. [Armstrong was wanted for felony first-degree murder in connection with the May 11 shooting death of Moriah Wilson in Austin, Texas. [A 43-day fugitive manhunt ended at a hostel in Santa Teresa Beach, Costa Rica, where the U.S. Marshals Service's International Operations Division, the Department of Homeland Security's Bureau of Investigation, and the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security, working with Costa Rican authorities, located Armstrong at a hostel in Santa Teresa Beach, Puntarenas on June 29, He was arrested.

Authorities confirmed that Armstrong would be deported and returned to the United States.

"Armstrong is currently in the custody of Costa Rican authorities awaiting deportation to the United States," U.S. Deputy Marshal Brandon Fila told Cycling News. At this time, there is no timetable for Armstrong's extradition. The next step is to await information from the Costa Rican government regarding a deportation date. If Armstrong is able to leave the country, she will be able to be deported at ...... She will wait for the U.S. Marshals Service to receive her in the United States. Armstrong will then be deported to Austin, Texas.

According to a press statement sent to Cyclingnews, members of the U.S. Marshall-led Lone Star Fugitive Task Force and the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Investigations have confirmed that Armstrong used a fraudulent passport to leave Newark International Airport at 5:09 pm EST on May 18 He boarded United Airlines Flight 1222 from Newark International Airport at 5:09 p.m. EST on May 18 and arrived in San Jose, Costa Rica at 8:27 p.m. EST on the same day.

"Marshals Service elevated the Caitlin Armstrong investigation to a major case early in this investigation, which likely played a key role in her arrest after 43 days on the run," said Susan Pamerleau, US Marshal for the Western District of Texas.

"This is an example of the combined resources of local, state, federal, and international authorities to apprehend a violent fugitive, put an end to her escape, and hopefully bring a sense of closure to the victim's family."

U.S. Marshals assisted the Austin Police Department (APD) in the murder investigation and conducted another fugitive investigation in the month-long search for Armstrong.

The U.S. Marshals tracked Armstrong to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on May 14, three days after the Wilson shooting. They believe she then boarded a flight to Houston Hobby Airport and later connected to a flight to LaGuardia Airport in New York.

They suggested that she was dropped off at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on May 18, the day after APD obtained a warrant for her arrest.

However, a search of outbound flights at this airport revealed that she was not booked under the name Caitlin Marie Armstrong. At this point, investigators obtained another arrest warrant for Armstrong from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

Authorities have now confirmed that she used her passport fraudulently to board a flight to Costa Rica; Filla told Cyclingnews that it is unclear at this time how Armstrong obtained the fraudulent passport, but that in Costa Rica continued to use a false name, he said. Because of the ongoing murder investigation, Filla did not reveal the name of the passport's owner.

"The passport was issued to someone else and the physical characteristics were very close and she could really use it because she looked like that person. The passport] was issued to a specific individual, so it was not fraudulent per se, but she used that plane the day after she knew there was a warrant out for her arrest."

"All of the agencies (mentioned above) cooperated in various aspects of the investigation. The National Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) assisted in providing passport information," he said. Inside Edition (opens in new tab) reports that after Armstrong's arrest, two passports were found in a locker at the location, one belonging to Armstrong and the other to a family member, along with a $6,350 receipt for cosmetic surgery under another name.

In a new press conference on FOX 7 (opens in new tab), Phila confirmed that Armstrong had changed her appearance by cutting her hair and changing her hair color to dark brown." She wore a bandage on her nose, where she claimed to have recently been involved in a surfboarding incident."

During the investigation, authorities recently located a black Jeep Grand Cherokee believed to have belonged to Armstrong in connection with Wilson's death. The task force learned that Armstrong had sold the vehicle to a Carmax dealership in south Austin for US$12,200 on May 13, the day before he was believed to have fled Austin, Texas.

Authorities upgraded the case to a "major case" and offered $21,000 for information leading to Armstrong's arrest, along with an anonymous donation.

Fila said at the press conference that the marshals had more than 80 tips in the case, some of which provided background, but none of which identified her location in Costa Rica. She was detained for violating immigration laws when she used a fraudulent passport to enter Costa Rica."

Fila confirmed that Armstrong is charged on a murder investigation arrest warrant with APD regarding Wilson's death, along with a federal warrant for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. He confirmed that, at this time, no other individuals have been taken into custody in the pursuit of Armstrong. 10]

"We don't know how much planning she had, but based on what we know now about this investigation and from the 43-day investigation of Caitlin Armstrong Based on what we know now about this investigation and what we have learned from the 43-day investigation of Caitlin Armstrong, we can say that she was able to quickly arrange a means of escaping the United States."

Wilson's family issued a statement after Armstrong's arrest, saying they were "relieved that this uncertain phase has passed and trust that justice will prevail."

Cycling News pieced together a timeline of how authorities believe this crime unfolded, based on legal documents. Cycling News will provide additional information as authorities obtain more information through this investigation.