IA - Mollie Tibbetts, 20, Poweshiek County, 19 Jul 2018 *Arrest* #42

[otto]

Sounds to me like a pretty good life compared to where he came from. Jmo

He spent a third of his life in Iowa. How is living in a cage better than the life he carved out in Iowa?

 

[cluciano63]

I do think some degree of a sex assault took place or is suspected...especially as the judge mentioned possible sex offender status. If her clothes were removed, that may be enough to add some degree of sex assault. But even if they do not charge him for sexual assault, I think it will be implied in the minds of the jurors. When women are attacked by male strangers, it will always be in the minds of jurors. But his sentence will life life without parole regardless. Jmo

 

[MsBetsy]

The “me too” thing resulted in public figures and politicians getting called out and employers scrambling to tighten up their conduct policy before they got put on blast. I don’t see that the young men who want say harassing and even downright vulgar things to women they encounter in public are affected by it in the least.

Yeah, I see that whole thing being an issue with people who are in power taking advantage of their position. Not really anything comparable to guys driving around in cars in small towns trying to pick up women!

 

[Jeng1810]

I don't believe that anyone prefers life in a cage over poverty. The suspect had everything going for him, but he has a screw loose. He had a good job, a home, a family, and the freedom to hunt joggers. He did not choose life in a cage over the life he had. He simply arrogantly assumed that everyone was too stupid to figure out that he is a murderer.

Very likely and IMO probably true. I wasn’t referring to poverty. I have never wanted for any material things in my life. I’ve always had more than most. Imo he didn’t do this to Mollie to end up in prison but I don’t think he cared either that he would. JMO

 

[jillycat]

His employer described CR as even-tempered?

One thing I’d question is how closely the owner of the dairy operation worked with CR or associated with him. I’m thinking not much because in larger commercialized operations, a farm manager is hired to manage the daily grit work and the owner involves himself with other higher level matters, well beyond milking the cows.

He worked at the farm for 4 years and his employer said he got along with his co-workers, showed up to work, did his job. This sounds "even-tempered" to me in daily routine life, which is to say that no one who knew him or had opportunity to observe him over time is reporting that he had anger issues or blind rages. Maybe he did.

But I don't think that had to be true for him to abduct and kill Mollie. But then I also don't think he doesn't remember how he abducted her, how she came to be in his trunk, and that he stabbed her multiple times. I frankly think he has remarkable control of his emotions. Police said there was no "fight" and that he was "cooperative".

We may find out if this is not his first crime, though it may be the first time he's been caught and charged. There's obviously a lot missing in the story of this crime for it to go from running after her on a jogging route to her being so brutally killed. I don't think we know enough to assign blind rages to his personality. He may just simply lack a conscience and did what he had to gain control of her to sexually assault her or whatever his agenda was.

I can buy that he didn't necessarily set out to kill her, but the point is he was willing to in the end. And if SA was the goal, he had to. So that may simply not be a moral decision he struggled with on that very short timeline.

 

[MsBetsy]

What I'm saying is that the act of violence provides the thrill, and the thrill can include sexual gratification.

Yes, that's exactly what I meant but as usual you said it better. Guess the point I was trying to make also was that there doesn't have to be sex involved at all. Jmo

 

[Jaclin]

Ok. Seems some folks have an issue with using the descriptive term STALKING.

What does that mean to you?

Following her

Once

Twice

For a week?

For a month?

a lion typically stalks its prey once before it becomes dinner, so I don't think you can put a minimum amount of time on it.

 

[SharonNeedles]

Yeah, I see that whole thing being an issue with people who are in power taking advantage of their position. Not really anything comparable to guys driving around in cars in small towns trying to pick up women!

The only thing I’ve found that helps young women not get harassed by young men - is an old man they don’t want to mess with that’s not in the mood to deal with it. I don’t mind hanging out by the fields when my daughters are working out, the boys see me and leave them alone.

 

[MistyWaters]

To get her into his car, I think it is safe to assume that he most likely assaulted her, hence the blood on the side of her head, and abducted her. JMO

I’ll admit this is where I lose any sequence to a timeline because it’s beyond my imagination that someone planning an abduction would take their intended victim to a cornfield.

 

[Seattle1]

His employer described CR as even-tempered?

One thing I’d question is how closely the owner of the dairy operation worked with CR or associated with him. I’m thinking not much because in larger commercialized operations, a farm manager is hired to manage the daily grit work and the owner involves himself with other higher level matters, well beyond milking the cows.

The spokesperson for the dairy (Owner or whoever) told media that CR was long-term employee in good standing, came to work on time, and was liked by his co-workers. I believe 4 years would be sufficient time to know CR in this capacity, and don't believe he would have been retained if proven otherwise. Also, I don't recall any comments by spokesperson regarding CR's temper...

 

[Seattle1]

The only thing I’ve found that helps young women not get harassed by young men - is an old man they don’t want to mess with that’s not in the mood to deal with it. I don’t mind hanging out by the fields when my daughters are working out, the boys see me and leave them alone.

And thanks for being there Dad!

 

[otto]

There seems to be some tendency to lean towards that idea that Mollie was jogging when along came a nice, hard-working farm-hand who asked her on a date. He politely jogged alongside her, and she did the unthinkable. Mollie threatened him. Then, he took her away to have sex, and then he had no choice but to kill her to eliminate the witness.

This all seems to be based on the idea that he merely wanted a "hook-up", and when she threatened him, he lost all sense of time and apparently he had a hook-up anyway, but she was injured so he left her in a cornfield.

If we were to view this through Mollie's eyes, is that what she saw and experienced?

 

[otto]

Very likely and IMO probably true. I wasn’t referring to poverty. I have never wanted for any material things in my life. I’ve always had more than most. Imo he didn’t do this to Mollie to end up in prison but I don’t think he cared either that he would. JMO

Under what circumstances does a young farmhand with a family, job, home, and future in Iowa not care about spending life in a cage?

 

[MistyWaters]

Maybe...hindsight is 20/20. LE said no threat to the public (which they have to ) and dad thinks it’s someone she knew. So....not as likely as one would think. IMO

In this case it doesn’t matter so much because the perp confessed to his involvement. However I’m not so sure everyone who come out of the woodwork after the fact to tell their story via the media is entirely credible. Maybe because it reminds me too much of Nancy Grace.

 

[SharonNeedles]

And thanks for being there Dad!

Sometimes they complain that I scare the boys. I tell them that’s the point.

 

[Seattle1]

That's what I'm wondering. It seems to hold little importance in the grand scheme of things. (name that case!) He had no regard for her life, he freaking murdered her. It's so very far beyond 'did he blame her".

"Rapists nurture a lot of rage against their targets, habitually referring to them disdainfully and abusively, almost dehumanising them as a base object of desire. They have an insatiable sadistic desire to enact their sexual fantasies, mostly violent, bloody outrage; this sets them apart from a normal person. A normal person may indulge in wild fantasies of lurid sexual encounters, it’s only the rapist who works tirelessly towards realising it."

Newslaundry | Sabki Dhulai

I believe it more likely he blamed his Mum.

 

[TL4S]

I’ll admit this is where I lose any sequence to a timeline because it’s beyond my imagination that someone planning an abduction would take their intended victim to a cornfield.

That's where I'm at, too. If it was planned, there had to be somewhere less inconvenient and where a farmer wouldn't be harvesting in a couple months.

 

[MsBetsy]

He spent a third of his life in Iowa. How is living in a cage better than the life he carved out in Iowa?

Its not! Imo. That's why I said it sounds to me his life was pretty good, at least the last 7 years or so. Probably better than Mexico.

 

[Ragnarok]

The only thing I’ve found that helps young women not get harassed by young men - is an old man they don’t want to mess with that’s not in the mood to deal with it. I don’t mind hanging out by the fields when my daughters are working out, the boys see me and leave them alone.

My dad used to follow in a car when my sister ran along the road. Now she carries a spray.

 

[MistyWaters]

I do think some degree of a sex assault took place or is suspected...especially as the judge mentioned possible sex offender status. If her clothes were removed, that may be enough to add some degree of sex assault. But even if they do not charge him for sexual assault, I think it will be implied in the minds of the jurors. When women are attacked by male strangers, it will always be in the minds of jurors. But his sentence will life life without parole regardless. Jmo

Yes, it’d be very difficult for the prosecution to convince a jury that CR caused her death by inflicting multiple sharp force injuries for any reason other than death was intentional, as opposed to a plan to commit sexual assault. The only way I can see additional SA charges is if there’s evidence that occurred before death.

In Iowa, considering the sentence for 1st degree murder is life without parole, no earlier eligibility whatsoever, is it common for the State to add lesser charges?