The Tragic Murder of Moriah Wilson: A Cycling Star's Untimely Death
The brutal murder of Mariah Wilson in Austin on May 11th, 2022, left investigators with a disturbing crime scene and numerous questions. When Kaitlyn Cash returned home to find her friend lying motionless in the bathroom with severe head wounds, she immediately called 911, triggering a rapid police response. Officers quickly determined that Wilson had been shot with such force that the bullets penetrated her skull, causing instantaneous death.
Initial investigation pointed toward a possible robbery, especially after Wilson's expensive $114,000 racing bike appeared missing. However, when police discovered the bike abandoned nearby, they recognized this was likely a calculated murder rather than a botched theft. As investigators collected shell casings and other evidence, they began focusing on Wilson's ex-boyfriend, Colin Strickland, who had reportedly spent the day with her before her death. With Cash cleared through gunshot residue testing, police turned their attention to unraveling what increasingly appeared to be a complex case involving personal relationships.
Key Takeaways
Mariah Wilson was found murdered in her friend's bathroom with fatal gunshot wounds to the head on May 11, 2022.
The discovery of Wilson's expensive racing bike abandoned nearby suggested a premeditated murder rather than a robbery gone wrong.
Investigators quickly focused on Wilson's ex-boyfriend Colin Strickland, who was reportedly the last person to see her alive.
Revelation of Anna Wilson's Murder
The discovery of professional cyclist Anna Wilson's death occurred on May 11, 2022, when her friend Caitlyn Cash returned home to find Wilson's body. The incident quickly transformed from what initially appeared to be a possible robbery into a complex investigation involving personal relationships and premeditated actions.
Colin Strickland Receives the News
Colin Strickland, a fellow professional cyclist, learned about Wilson's death through a phone call. The notification came as a complete shock to him.
"Do you know Anna Wilson? So there's really no easy way to say this, but apparently last night she passed away," the caller informed Strickland.
This brief but devastating conversation marked the moment Strickland discovered his ex-girlfriend had been brutally murdered just hours earlier. His reaction would later become an important element in the investigation as authorities began piecing together the events leading to Wilson's death.
The 911 Emergency Call
At approximately 1708 Maple Avenue, Caitlyn Cash made a distressing emergency call after discovering her friend's body:
Dispatcher: "Austin 911, what's your emergency?"
Cash: "My friend is staying with me and I just walked in and she's laying on the bathroom floor and there's blood everywhere."
During the call, Cash reported finding Wilson unresponsive with blood covering her face and the back of her head. The dispatcher immediately dispatched paramedics while keeping Cash on the line.
When police arrived at the scene, they observed cerebrospinal fluid on the floor, indicating the bullets had penetrated Wilson's skull and caused instant death. Cash explained to officers that Wilson had been with Colin Strickland earlier that day, around 5:00 PM, when they went swimming together. She mentioned returning home just minutes before placing the 911 call.
Initial evidence at the crime scene raised questions about Wilson's expensive racing bicycle, valued at $114,000, which was temporarily missing. Officers later discovered the bike deliberately placed in nearby woods, suggesting the killer might have attempted to mislead investigators by creating a false robbery scenario.
The police collected critical evidence including bullet shell casings that would help identify the weapon used in the murder. They also tested Cash for gunshot residue, which yielded negative results, eliminating her as a suspect.
Examining the Crime Scene Evidence
Early Robbery Suspicion
When first responders arrived at the scene where Anna Wilson was found, they initially suspected a robbery had gone wrong. The missing $114,000 racing bike seemed to support this theory, as expensive cycling equipment is often targeted by thieves. Officers noted that Kaitlyn Cash, who discovered Wilson's body, reported leaving the residence around 5:30 PM for dinner and returning just minutes before calling 911. The absence of the high-value bike near the front door where Wilson typically stored it prompted investigators to consider whether someone had waited for Wilson to be alone before attempting to steal the valuable equipment.
Revealing Evidence Uncovered
The robbery theory quickly unraveled when officers discovered Wilson's bike abandoned in nearby woods. Investigators recognized this as a potential red herring—deliberately placed to mislead the investigation rather than taken by an actual thief. This discovery shifted their focus toward a premeditated murder scenario. Crucial evidence collected at the scene included shell casings from the bullets used in the shooting, which would help identify the weapon involved. Officers also observed cerebrospinal fluid on the floor, indicating the bullets had penetrated Wilson's skull, causing instant death.
Officers conducted a gunshot residue (GSR) test on Kaitlyn Cash, which returned negative results. Given the confined space where the murder occurred, this helped eliminate Cash as a suspect. Through witness statements, investigators learned that Colin Strickland, Wilson's ex-boyfriend, was the last person known to have contact with her. The pair had reportedly gone swimming around 5:00 PM on the day of the murder, establishing a critical timeline and turning attention toward a possible personal motive rather than a random theft gone wrong.
Analyzing Emergency Call Information
Uncovering Mariah Wilson's Body
Kaitlyn Cash returned to her residence at 1708 Maple Avenue and made a disturbing discovery. Upon entering her bathroom, she found her friend Mariah Wilson lying unresponsive with blood surrounding her. Cash immediately contacted emergency services, reporting blood all over Wilson's face and the back of her head. During the call, the dispatcher confirmed Wilson wasn't breathing and dispatched paramedics to the scene.
Medical responders noted the presence of cerebrospinal fluid on the floor, indicating the bullets had penetrated Wilson's skull. This detail suggested Wilson died instantly from her injuries. Police officers arrived shortly after to begin their investigation and gather initial information from Cash.
Interview with the Emergency Responder
During the preliminary interview, Cash provided critical timeline details to the officers. She explained that Wilson was visiting from San Francisco for a cycling competition and was temporarily staying at her residence. According to Cash, Wilson had gone swimming with Colin Strickland, described as a cyclist and Wilson's friend, around 5:00 PM that day.
Cash stated she left her home at approximately 5:30 PM for dinner with friends and returned just minutes before placing the 911 call. During the questioning, officers learned Wilson owned a valuable racing bicycle worth $114,000, which was mysteriously missing from its usual storage location near the front door. The investigation took an unexpected turn when officers discovered the bicycle abandoned in nearby woods, suggesting it had been deliberately placed there as a diversion.
To eliminate Cash as a suspect, investigators conducted a gunshot residue test on her hands, which returned negative results. This finding, combined with the confined space where the shooting occurred, helped officers determine Cash was not involved in Wilson's death. The investigation then shifted focus to Strickland, who was identified as the last person known to have contact with Wilson before her death.
Evidence and Findings
Physical Items Recovered
The investigation team collected several critical pieces of evidence from the crime scene. Shell casings from the bullets were found on the bathroom floor, which would later help investigators identify the weapon used in Mariah Wilson's murder. Cerebral spinal fluid was observed by officers at the scene, indicating that the bullets had penetrated Wilson's skull, causing instantaneous death.
Wilson's high-value racing bicycle, worth approximately $114,000, was initially reported missing from the residence. This led investigators to initially suspect a robbery gone wrong. However, the bicycle was later discovered discarded in nearby woods, suggesting the killer may have intentionally placed it there as a diversionary tactic to mislead police.
The victim's text messages were also preserved as evidence, as they documented her plans with Colin Strickland on the day of her death, establishing a timeline for the investigation.
Developing Theories of the Crime
As investigators assembled the evidence, several theories began to emerge. The initial robbery theory was quickly abandoned after finding the expensive racing bicycle in the woods. Investigators determined this was likely a deliberate misdirection by the perpetrator.
The timeline established by Caitlyn Cash, who returned home around the time of the 911 call, helped narrow the window of the murder. Cash indicated she had left Wilson at approximately 5:30 PM, and Wilson had planned to meet Colin Strickland for swimming earlier that day.
Investigators conducted a gunshot residue test on Cash's hands, which returned negative results, eliminating her as a suspect. This shifted focus toward Strickland, who was identified as Wilson's ex-boyfriend and the last known person to see her alive.
The evidence began pointing toward a premeditated murder rather than a random act of violence. References to a "deadly love triangle" started to form part of the investigative theory, suggesting personal motivation behind the killing and that the perpetrator might be someone close to the victim.
Suspects and Incidents of Interest
Colin Strickland's Final Contact with Mariah
Colin Strickland was identified as the last person to see Mariah Wilson alive. According to Caitlyn Cash's statement to police, Mariah had arranged to meet Strickland for swimming around 5:00 PM on the day of her death. Cash confirmed this timeline through text messages on her phone.
When officers initially arrived at the scene, Cash immediately mentioned Strickland, telling them, "She was with her friend Colin Strickland." This information quickly established Strickland as a person of significant interest in the investigation.
The relationship between Strickland and Mariah appeared to have history, though the exact nature wasn't immediately clear to responding officers. Cash described Strickland as a cyclist from South Austin, indicating they shared a professional connection through cycling.
Cash's Alibi and Gunshot Residue Analysis
Caitlyn Cash provided police with a timeline of her movements on the day of the murder. She stated that she had left her residence at approximately 5:30 PM to have dinner with friends, returning only minutes before making the 911 call upon discovering Mariah's body.
Police conducted a thorough examination of Cash's potential involvement:
Cash was taken to the police station for a gunshot residue (GSR) test
The test results came back negative for gunshot residue on her hands
Given the confined space where the shooting occurred, investigators determined it would have been impossible to fire a weapon without leaving residue
Investigators explained the purpose of the test to Cash, noting: "If we don't do this to you, then in court they can say, 'What about this other person? Why didn't you do this part of the investigation?'" This procedural step effectively eliminated Cash as a suspect based on the physical evidence.
When discovered, Mariah had suffered fatal gunshot wounds to the head, with cerebral spinal fluid visible at the scene—indicating the bullets had pierced her skull and caused instantaneous death.
Exploring Possible Motivations
The High-Value Racing Equipment
The investigation initially focused on Mariah Wilson's extremely valuable racing bicycle, worth approximately $114,000. This professional-grade equipment represented a significant financial asset that could have attracted potential thieves. When officers discovered the bicycle was missing from its usual storage location inside the doorway of Caitlyn Cash's residence, they temporarily pursued a robbery-gone-wrong theory.
Police found the bicycle abandoned in nearby woods shortly after beginning their search. The placement appeared deliberate, suggesting the perpetrator might have discarded it as a diversion. This discovery led investigators to reconsider their initial hypothesis about theft being the primary motive, as genuine thieves would likely have taken such valuable equipment rather than abandoning it so close to the crime scene.
Relationship Complications
Another compelling avenue of investigation centered on Mariah Wilson's personal relationships, particularly her connection with Colin Strickland. Evidence gathered at the scene and through witness statements indicated that Wilson and Strickland had spent time together on the day of the murder, reportedly going swimming around 5:00 PM.
Text messages confirmed their planned meeting, and Strickland was identified as the last known person to have contact with Wilson before her death. Their relationship history created a significant point of interest for investigators. Cash described Strickland as Wilson's "friend" when questioned, though police later uncovered a more complex past between them as former romantic partners.
The timing of events raised additional questions. Cash had left the residence at approximately 5:30 PM for dinner with friends, potentially creating a window when Wilson would have been alone in the home. This sequence of events, combined with the personal connections involved, prompted detectives to explore potential relationship-based motives behind the killing.
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Further Investigation Steps
Tracking the Missing Bicycle
Officers immediately recognized the significance of Mariah Wilson's missing high-end racing bicycle, valued at $114,000. This expensive piece of equipment presented a compelling motive for a potential robbery gone wrong. When Caitlyn Cash confirmed the bicycle should have been just inside the door but was nowhere to be found, police prioritized locating it as their primary lead.
The search expanded to the wooded areas surrounding the residence. In a surprising development, officers discovered the bicycle abandoned nearby. Rather than providing clarity, this discovery complicated the investigation. The bicycle's condition and placement suggested it hadn't been stolen for its monetary value but deliberately moved to mislead investigators.
Misleading Evidence and Dead Ends
The abandoned bicycle's discovery quickly transformed the investigation's direction. Investigators determined the bike had likely been placed there as a deliberate distraction—a red herring intended to waste police resources and time. This tactical misdirection indicated they weren't dealing with a random robbery but potentially a premeditated murder by someone with enough forethought to attempt to confuse the investigation.
With their initial robbery theory unraveling, officers focused on collecting crucial forensic evidence from the crime scene. They identified and collected shell casings, which would prove vital in identifying the murder weapon. The calculated nature of the crime scene suggested a killer who was methodical and familiar with police procedures.
Caitlyn Cash's Statement and Testing
During her interview, Cash provided a timeline of events leading to her discovery of Wilson's body. She stated Wilson had gone swimming with Colin Strickland around 5:00 PM. Cash left for dinner at approximately 5:30 PM and returned home shortly before calling 911.
Investigators initially considered Cash as a potential suspect, following standard procedure. They administered a gunshot residue (GSR) test, which returned negative results. Given the confined space where the shooting occurred, this effectively eliminated Cash as the shooter. During her questioning, Cash revealed:
Wilson was visiting from San Francisco for a bike race
The last person known to be with Wilson was Colin Strickland
Wilson and Strickland had gone swimming earlier that day
Cash had no knowledge of any arguments between them
This information shifted the investigation's focus toward Colin Strickland, Wilson's ex-boyfriend, making him a significant person of interest due to being the last known person to see her alive before the murder.
