Found Deceased IA - Mollie Tibbetts, 20, Poweshiek County, 19 Jul 2018 *Arrest* #48

[Seattle1]

CBR was a predator who not only was rejected by Mollie but his "good life" in Iowa was threatened and it infuriated him. MOO

 

[PommyMommy]

Nicole Agee on Twitter
By my count, Vileta is state's 15th witness.@KristinRogersTV
says the state listed 20 witnesses during jury selection. They don't have to call all of them, but we know we'll hear from an expert on Mollie's autopsy based on the state's exhibit list.@KCRG
9:55 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

 

[Seattle1]

WATCH: Cristhian Bahena Rivera murder trial resumes

May 24, 2021

Witnesses return to the stand Monday in the Cristhian Bahena Rivera murder trial.

During Friday's proceedings, witness testimony focused on DNA evidence in the case.

[..]

DCI criminalist Amy Johnson said Tibbetts' body was covered in corn stocks and some of her clothing was found 24 feet away. Johnson also examined Bahena Rivera's Chevy Malibu and testified that four stains found in the truck tested presumptive positive for blood.

Tara Scott, with the Iowa Crime Lab, confirmed that some of that blood matched Mollie Tibbetts.

Prosecutors presented DNA evidence, surveillance video showing Bahena Rivera's Chevy Malibu driving near where Tibbetts was running and Bahena Rivera's partial confession to build their case.

The defense tried to cast doubt, including pointing the finger at Tibbetts' boyfriend. Legal analysts said that this is likely to be a failed strategy for the defense. They said the prosecution presented strong evidence that will be difficult for the defense to overcome.

Testimony resumes at 8:30 a.m. in Davenport. Watch the trial on KCCI's website, mobile app, YouTube or Facebook. KCCI's Chris Gothner will be providing updates on Twitter .

 

[JudgeJoe]

Rivera has appeared to be completely disinterested throughout the whole trial. His facial expressions barely ever change. It makes me wonder if there is much at all going on in his head.

I keep remembering Romero asking if he felt bad about killing Mollie & his response “no”. I think he looks indignant most of the time- as if he is the victim here. Jmo

 

[Seattle1]

Mollie Tibbetts trial: Blood in suspect's trunk came from slain Iowa woman, DNA analyst says

May 24, 2021

DAVENPORT, Iowa -- Blood found in the trunk of a farmhand's car was an exact match for a University of Iowa student who was abducted and killed while out for a run in 2018, a DNA analyst told jurors Friday.

Tara Scott, a criminalist in the DNA section of Iowa's crime lab, said she analyzed a swab taken from a bloodstain found on the trunk seal of Cristhian Bahena Rivera's Chevy Malibu after investigators recovered the body of Mollie Tibbetts.

[..]

Investigators say Bahena Rivera, who faces life in prison if convicted, led them to the cornfield where Tibbetts' body was found in the early morning of Aug. 21, 2018. He told an officer at the scene that he approached Tibbetts while she was running and fought with her after she threatened to call the police. He said he didn't remember how he killed her but that he hid her bloody body in the field underneath cornstalks, former officer Pamela Romero testified.

Bahena Rivera's defense lawyers made the case Friday that the confession was false and coerced as a result of sleep deprivation and harsh interrogation techniques. They played videos for jurors showing their client sleeping during the 11-hour interrogation.

 

[PommyMommy]

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Cross continues. Talking about Dalton Jack interviews.
10:06 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Frese asked what the next step of the investigation would be based on Dalton's admission of a sexual relationship w/another girl. Agent Vileta says the girl was likely interviewed but not sure. Says Mollie knew but "had forgiven [Dalton]."
10:08 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Frese now asking about affair. Vileta:My recollection was that it was no surprise to Mollie and that she forgave him Frese: Were you aware that it happened again? Vileta: Yes. -- it was my perception that she knew about the entirety & had forgiven him@KCCINews #BahenaRiveraTrial
10:09 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

 

[PommyMommy]

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"Is it your assertion that Mollie was killed on 385th St?" Vileta: Not sure where she was killed.
10:10 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Vileta agrees the crime was "violent" and force was used. State objects to question on if it was done in rage.
10:11 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Frese asks about motivation of crime. Agent Vileta says he'd have to speculate but there are many reasons people act as they do. Agrees anger could be one.
10:13 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Lots of objections in this line of questioning. Frese asks about Dalton Jack's history of anger.
10:13 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

 

[PommyMommy]

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"As case agent, you would want to know if this man who was close to Mollie had anger problems?" "Yes." Frese asks about how often victims are killed by known person. "High percentage of time victim knows the attacker."
10:14 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Frese asks about relevance of Tibbetts wanting to break up with Dalton a month before disappearance. "Yes but I also thought they were talking about getting engaged that weekend, weekend after."
10:16 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"You ruled him out because his boss told you [Dalton was in Dubuque?]" "His boss and his roommate." Frese asks if Agent Vileta recalls Dalton's interview that the roommate was out of the room "until five in the morning smoking pot?"
10:17 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Frese: If #MollieTibbetts talked about severing the relationship, that would be relevant, right? Vileta: Yes.
10:17 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Frese now pressing Vileta on Jack's presence in Dubuque during the time of #MollieTibbetts' disappearance. Questions why Jack had no receipts from Dubuque.
10:18 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Frese: "Nothing from (DJ's) bank records showed him in Dubuque that night?" Vileta: "That's not true at all."
10:19 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Kristin Rogers on Twitter
Jack testified he was outside a hotel in Dubuque playing bags & drinking beer the night Mollie went missing. Frese asked: “His testimony here at trial was different than what he told officers?” Agent Vileta says: “It was my understanding that he was in his room that night.” @KCRG
10:22 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

 

[PommyMommy]

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Frese asks about inconsistent stories between what Dalton told police (in his room watching movies) and testimony Wed (playing yard games, drinking beer). Wants to know if surveillance was viewed. "I don't think the hotel had surveillance video," Agent Vileta says (did ask).
10:20 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Now asking about another suspect/person of interest: Peksa.
10:21 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Frese says records indicate a tip about Ron Peksa came in July 22nd. "I know his name and I know we've been out to his house," Agent Vileta says. "I know when we got leads like that they were assigned and run out."
10:23 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Angenette Levy on Twitter
Chad Frese now asking about Wayne Chaney another man named Ron Peska (sp?). Two men they received tips about. Chaney leaved in the southeast portion of the county where MT's body was found. @LawCrimeNetwork
10:22 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

The defense clearly wants to the jury to believe Dalton Jack had the opportunity to return from Dubuque where he was working that night. They have already brought up the fact that MT was thinking about breaking up with him and Dalton had had an affair @LawCrimeNetwork
10:23 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

 

[PrairieWind]

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"Is it your assertion that Mollie was killed on 385th St?" Vileta: Not sure where she was killed.
10:10 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Vileta agrees the crime was "violent" and force was used. State objects to question on if it was done in rage.
10:11 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Frese asks about motivation of crime. Agent Vileta says he'd have to speculate but there are many reasons people act as they do. Agrees anger could be one.
10:13 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Lots of objections in this line of questioning. Frese asks about Dalton Jack's history of anger.
10:13 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

This is an absolutely improper line of questioning. The only person that testify to this is the defendant and they wont call him. The judge is allowing it to continue but he could cut this off. Judge is giving the defense all the leeway right now. Not going to give them appeal issues.

 

[geevee]

Love that answer "I'd say Cristian Rivera cleared Ron Peska".

 

[PommyMommy]

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"I can confidently say Ron Peksa's name was talked about a lot after that tip came in," Agent Vileta says. Not sure an official interview was done.
10:26 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Canvas report says Peksa "harmed women and children in the past." "Yes, the report here says there was a hidden room," Agent Vileta confirms of Peksa's home.
10:28 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

"Ron Peksa's body was quarter mile from where Mollie was found?" Frese says. "That'd be close, yes," Agent Vileta says. "You didn't talk to Ron Peksa after Mollie's body was found?" "We didn't need to. [...] I'd say Christian Rivera cleared Peksa."
10:29 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

 

[PommyMommy]

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"This is all speculation provided by someone else," Scott Brown objects to question about 'torture room' in Peksa's home.
10:31 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

"We didn't find a torture room or anything like that," Agent Vileta says, but agrees there is no report on that.
10:32 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

"Are there other people you interviewed that you didn't create a report on?" Vileta: "No." Interviewed hundreds, says it wasn't really an interview but more of a canvas. Says they didn't tell Peksa why they were there "he kind of guessed why we were there."
10:33 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Nicole Agee on Twitter
A tip on August 1 said this man's home had a hidden room and he had threatened his ex-wife's life in the past. He lived about a quarter mile from where Mollie was found. Vileta said he wasn't interviewed after the body was found... @KCRG
10:30 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

...because Bahena Rivera cleared him in the case. @KCRG
10:30 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

 

[JudgeJoe]

Oh for Pete’s sake! Now cemetery cell ping dude is friend of DJ? So implication is DJ hired him as a hit man? This questioning is driving me nuts.

 

[PommyMommy]

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
On to another suspect/person of interest: Jackson Eichorn (sp?)
10:35 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

"When he was interviewed he admitted he was in the cemetery, correct? He gave some excuse, explanation I should say, he was helping a friend mow?" Frese asks. Y. Vileta agrees Eichorn stopped the interview, then changed story in next interview.
10:36 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Frese now asking about other people who knew Mollie who were interviewed, asking about their stories.
10:38 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Nicole Agee on Twitter
Frese also questioned Vileta about a teenager who was in the cemetery on the east edge of Brooklyn on July 18. He continues to ask about various people investigators "looked at" during the case. @KCRG
10:39 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

 

[PommyMommy]

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Now asking about a man named Curtis Laver (sp?) -- whom Vileta says had friends at a pool party who might have met #MollieTibbetts there. Also Timothy Tometich (sp?), whom Vileta says had done some "unusual things" around the disappearance. @KCCINews #BahenaRiveraTrial
[URL='https://twitter.com/CGothnerKCCI/status/1396853109884850185']10:38 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Now Frese is asking about Michael Scott, whose car broke down in Brooklyn, and bought a new one, which Vileta says was unusual "How did you exclude him" "He made it out to Omaha." "There were only a couple we excluded, we revisited ppl several times." @KCCINews #BahenaRiveraTrial
10:40 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
One man drove into Brooklyn, car broke down, he "bought another one and kept on traveling," Frese asks. Agent Vileta says it was unusual but that man was cleared. Says there were only a couple cleared and many revisited several times. "Except Dalton Jack?" Frese asks.
10:40 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

"We did revisit Dalton Jack," Agent Vileta says.
10:41 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Frese asks if Mollie's Macbook was investigated. Agent Vileta says they didn't "dump or copy" it but they were on it every day and had software engineers to analyze.
10:43 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App
[/URL]

 

[TL4S]

Oh for Pete’s sake! Now cemetery cell ping dude is friend of DJ? So implication is DJ hired him as a hit man? This questioning is driving me nuts.

That's where I wonder if the defense is going with DJ... not that he left Dubuque, but that he had somebody else do it.

 

[PommyMommy]

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Frese asks about a penpal Mollie had. "Wasn't there some concern Mollie was sharing personal information with this penpal?" "I can't remember exactly. [...] We tried to figure out everybody in Mollie's life." Says might be a better question for FBI.
10:45 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Agent Vileta says the purpose of looking for blood in trunk was to verify CBR's statement about taking her out of trunk when she was bleeding.
10:47 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Agent Vileta says DNA wasn't found on Tibbetts' body because she was "very decomposed."
10:48 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Frese: When did #MollieTibbetts investigation end? Vileta: When we were able to corroborate all the statements from CBR. Frese: Were you aware of 3 different people's DNA in the trunk. Vileta: We looked for DNA in trunk bc he said she was in there. @KCCINews #BahenaRiveraTrial
10:47 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Vileta: CBR didn't say anyone else helped him. Frese: Would you agree that CBR's DNA was found on #MollieTibbetts body? Vileta: It was too decomposed at that point.. @KCCINews #BahenaRiveraTrial
10:48 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"Getting the buccal swabs was purely for identification purposes. [...] Took very careful steps that it wasn't about immigration," Agent Vileta says of why they got DNA from all Yarrabee workers. Says this is a migratory population that sometimes uses false names to work under.
10:50 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Frese asks what other workers said about CBR. "I just don't remember hearing anything negative, I guess."
10:51 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

Nicole Agee on Twitter
Vileta said they took DNA from all employees at Yarrabee Farms (where Bahena Rivera worked) in case they would leave area. They said it was the most reliable way to identify the employees, some of whom were working under false names (including Bahena Rivera). @KCRG
10:51 AM · May 24, 2021·Twitter Web App

 

[JudgeJoe]

Summary thus far:
Defense thinks LE should have continued investigating all 40+ county RSOs plus DJ, plus travelling auto purchaser + pig farmer + hidden room dude- AFTER CB CONFESSED & LED THEM TO HIS VICTIM’S BODY? And because they didn’t, we have reasonable doubt? Dream on! Moo

 

[Seattle1]

Defense attacking Officer Romero again because she's not educated and her claim of fluency in Spanish is not supported by a certificate!