A suspect has been arrested and charged with the murder of missing Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts. During a press conference, officials from the Iowa Bureau of Investigation said they’ve arrested Cristhian Bahena Rivera, 24, with first-degree murder.
“SCOOP: Iowa investigators have made arrest in Mollie Tibbetts murder, and the suspect has a fed immigration detainer, meaning likely in the country illegally,” Nick Miroff, national security reporter for The Washington Post, tweeted before the press conference.
SCOOP: Iowa investigators have made arrest in Mollie Tibbetts murder, and the suspect has a fed immigration detainer, meaning likely in the country illegally https://t.co/uwCy6FEbzx via @CleveWootson
— Nick Miroff (@NickMiroff) August 21, 2018
During the press conference, authorities said they estimate Rivera has been in the United States for anywhere from four to six years.
Where was Mollie Tibbetts found?
Officials confirmed that they found Tibbett’s body dumped in a field near 460th Avenue in Guernsey, Iowa, a rural area about 15 minutes away from Brooklyn, Iowa. She was last seen running near the home of her boyfriend’s brother on July 18.
She hasn’t been heard from since.
Since then, Tibbetts’ family — and numerous others — have joined in the search for her that focused on several areas near Brooklyn, including a car wash and a truck stop.
Mollie Tibbetts’ body was found soon after her father, Rob Tibbetts, flew home to California on the advice of Iowa law enforcement.
“We’ll still find Mollie and bring her home, and I still feel that way. We all still feel that way,” he said on Saturday. “That’s why it’s difficult for me to leave, knowing that there’s a good chance we’re going to bring her home, and I want to be there when she arrives.”
Who is Cristhian Bahena Rivera?
Cristhian Bahena Rivera is cooperating with authorities, officials said during the press conference.
He reportedly approached her during her run, but police declined to give further details on what happened between her abduction and her death. An autopsy is planned.
Few other details about Cristhian Bahena Rivera are confirmed at this time, other than the confirmation that he is being held on an immigration detainer and had been in the country illegally for several years. He reportedly lived in rural Poweshiek County and is being held on $1,000,000 cash bail. If convicted, he faces life in prison without parole.
