AUSTIN, Texas (KEYE) — Nearly two years after her death, the family of Anna Moriah "Mo" Wilson filed a wrongful death lawsuit against her convicted killer, Kaitlin Armstrong.
Armstrong is currently serving a 90-year prison sentence for the murder of 25-year-old Wilson.
"When you shot Moriah in the heart, you shot me in the heart," said Karen Wilson when addressing Armstrong, moments after a jury sentenced her to decades in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Wilson, a semi-professional cyclist, was visiting Austin for a race when Armstrong fatally shot her, in what prosecutors called, a jealous rage.
"Whether they ever get compensated a single dollar won't bring their daughter back, so obviously their purpose in this case is not to try to make money over the loss of their daughter," said Randy Howry.
Howry is the attorney representing the Wilson family in this civil case.
He said the purpose of this suit goes beyond compensation-- in making sure Armstrong can't benefit from her story.
"The process is about getting a judgment against her such that if she gets a movie deal, a book deal, a TV deal, and money is coming into her account in some way or another, then our judgment will stand in the way of her getting that money and enjoying it to her personal benefit."
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Local attorney, James Wood, is unaffiliated with the case but followed the criminal trial closely.
He said the civil proceedings didn't come as a shock to him, considering the global attention around the case.
"We just have to wait and see if Kaitlin Armstrong doesn't answer this lawsuit and it goes to a default judgment, this is open and shut very quickly, possibly within a couple of months. On the other hand, if Caitlin Armstrong retains an attorney or fights this case herself, it could go on for another couple of years."
Howry said, while the Wilson family continues to mourn the loss of their daughter, they hope to find closure in the civil process.
"They're concerned about dredging up information and facts that they have already had to deal with. So my hope and desire is that we can get to the conclusion quickly that we can get to a conclusion that satisfies them."
Armstrong has about 20 days to respond to the lawsuit filed against her Wednesday afternoon.
Wood said, that since Armstrong is currently appealing her criminal sentence, he believes she will be willing to take on this civil suit next.
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