Found Deceased IA - Mollie Tibbetts, 20, Poweshiek County, 19 Jul 2018 *Arrest* #49

[justtrish]

I stopped watching their commentators. They seemed highly biased toward the defense and sometimes it seemed they were watching a different trial altogether.

I often feel this way with many things! LOL

 

[katydid23]

Strong evidence plus an upcoming holiday weekend. I wouldn’t have to wait until I finished my lunch.

Yeah, I don't think the jurors want to come back tomorrow. It is a 3 day weekend. I bet they are ready to go drink some margaritas and BBQ with family. This was stressful.

 

[glamourkitty1922]

Bear with me. I'm trying to understand the defense's logic. So the defense has sort of laid out a possible motive for DJ, but who is the second masked man willing to go along with killing MT? They hinted at UF, but I can't recall any specific motive he would have to take part in murder or to threaten CBR with his own cousins' lives. Maybe that's why CBR is not worried about his ex-gf and daughter's life anymore... because his counsel convinced him it was an idle threat. IDK. It doesn't make sense.

And if DJ is racist, why suggest a Mexican man (UF) as his partner in crime? Did UF have it out for CBR for getting his cousin pregnant or something, and DJ was angry with MT, and together they figured out a way to get back at them both? They didn't need to kill CBR because he was going to take the fall.

But here's the thing. DJ lied to police (about cheating) and I didn't see any testimony to prove his alibi beyond a reasonable doubt. Where was his boss? Co-workers? Anyone to support that he was in Dubuque? Again, I didn't have time to watch the trial, so I'm relying on updates.

The story might be stupid, but it covers all its bases. None of the witnesses for the state were able to confirm when or where she died, who was driving the car, what exactly happened during a technology-based "event" on 385th, then cell phone going 55-60mph southward until it stopped.

Nobody, including CBR, ever denied MT was in the trunk of his car, which he was admittedly driving. He's a liar, which he also admits, but defense can say, "well, so is DJ."

I'm not supporting CBR's story. I'm looking at it from the point of "reasonable doubt" and whether or not the state has proven him guilty. I sure as heck hope so...

The boyfriend wasn't on trial so he doesn't need witnesses. If there was anything shady about his alibi, the defense would have brought it out. If he was an actual racist, he would have brought out independent witnesses. But nothing was brought out so the investigation in his background by the defense brought out nothing for them to use. So, they throw shade and innuendo. Only the prosecution is required to use facts, the defense is free to use rumors, innuendo, and out and out lies as long as they can say the defendant or his family "heard" something. Like the claims that someone sent a text asking if Mollie was dead. If that had been true, they would have the phone records to show it since they have his phone records.

 

[justtrish]

Anyone know how the sentencing works (assuming he is found guilty of something). Does the jury or judge decide? Is that usually immediately after the verdict or would they say come back Monday to hear testimony?

 

[wary]

Shannon Moudy on Twitter



Frese says Agent Vileta was "calling him a liar," another officer was yelling at him during questioning. Points out that jury didn't get to watch the video.
11:27 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter App

Am I correct that the REASON the jury didn’t get to watch the video is that he, CBR’s attorney, fought like mad to keep it out?

If true, isn’t that monstrously unfair that the prosecution isn’t allowed to mention it? Or has he opened the door....?

 

[Bordeaux]

Am I correct that the REASON the jury didn’t get to watch the video is that he, CBR’s attorney, fought like mad to keep it out?

If true, isn’t that monstrously unfair that the prosecution isn’t allowed to mention it? Or has he opened the door....?

The prosecution did mention the video on final rebuttal. Basically said, “It made sense to use a native Spanish speaking officer. Any reasonable person would use that resource. We didn’t show the video in court because it us all in Spanish. (Paraphrasing.)”

 

[glamourkitty1922]

Anyone know how the sentencing works (assuming he is found guilty of something). Does the jury or judge decide? Is that usually immediately after the verdict or would they say come back Monday to hear testimony?

I don't know how Iowa works, but most states have a sentencing phase to the trial. Since this is not a death penalty trial, I don't think they need jurors any longer. At least in the trials I've been on, I've never had to return for the sentencing phase which is usually a month or so out.

 

[FLmom777]

I think they will come back today. That is 4 hours till 5.. are they sequestered for this? I am not watching because I couldn't stomach it all.

A jury is always sequestered during deliberations. Nobody, even the judge, is allowed in the room.

 

[MsBetsy]

Thanks for saving my seat!
Looks like I have a lot to catch up on and sounds like the prosecution really stepped it up in the rebuttal closing!
I’m hoping we hear “Guilty” today!

Yes, the prosecutor did a great job and the defendant was looking guilty and defeated by the end.

I think the one thing he never wanted anybody to know, besides the fact that he is a murderer, was that he sexually assaulted Molly Tibbetts and left her with her legs spread apart and partially unclothed.

Not only did he give himself away when he strongly objected to the use of the word, "hot," we've now heard proof this was a sexually motivated crime. He didn't want to get to know her, as the defense claims, he wanted to "get with her."

 

[usnuzuloose]

I think they will come back with a verdict today.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

I stopped watching their commentators. They seemed highly biased toward the defense and sometimes it seemed they were watching a different trial altogether.

@StarryStarryNight (and anyone else wondering...) -- as someone located in central Iowa (not all *that* far from where Mollie Tibbetts was attacked and murdered), and as someone who searched for updates on this case multiple times daily in late July through mid-August of 2018, I must let everyone interested know that I conducted my own "random survey" of a wide variety of adults aged 20 to 100 (okay, maybe only up to 75 or 80, but... close, okay?), asking them *their* opinion of the case (this "survey" I conducted back in late August/September of 2018 after Mollie had been located). What the surveyed individuals said, to a "T"? That CBR was guilty. Period.

Not even one of the dozens (perhaps 5 or 6 dozen) even *hesitated* when replying to my question ("In your opinion, is CBR guilty or innocent of the recent murder of Mollie Tibbetts?"). So there's that -- FWIW. Those surveyed were random individuals (totally unknown to me) here in central Iowa.

Hopefully (MOO) those sitting on the jury this week and last have not been *sucked* into the lines of deception spun like...a web (to "trap" unsuspecting, ignorant jurors) by the defense. JMOO.

==
ETA: Btw, it's hard to believe anyone in Iowa had *not* heard of the case; it was ALL over *every* possible media outlet, and the day-to-day discussion/updates were on *everyone's* lips. But I'll hit "pause" right there...

 

[Bravo]

Judge may even late the Jury go into the eve if they are close to a verdict. Emphasis on "may"

 

[justtrish]

A jury is always sequestered during deliberations. Nobody, even the judge, is allowed in the room.

I meant do they stay till they decide or do they get to go home tonight and return tomorrow if they don't decide today. Maybe that is a different term? I'm sorry I might have words mixed up.

 

[katydid23]

Brown: "There was another motive here. A sexual one... The defendant says he left her clothes on. That's clearly not true."
@wqad
#MollieTibbetts

 

[usnuzuloose]

If I remember right I heard they opened a door somewhere

 

[katydid23]

I meant do they stay till they decide or do they get to go home tonight and return tomorrow if they don't decide today. Maybe that is a different term? I'm sorry I might have words mixed up.

It depends. Often, the courts don't let them stay too late because the staff and security and everyone else needs to go home. So the place will be locked up by a certain time and the jury cannot stay.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Anyone know how the sentencing works (assuming he is found guilty of something). Does the jury or judge decide? Is that usually immediately after the verdict or would they say come back Monday to hear testimony?

If it's anything like the murder trial for which I sat as a juror last fall (defendant got M1), the judge determined the sentence; the judge advised the jury and all present (mostly attorneys and the defendant) that she would be doing the sentencing in 3-4 weeks.

 

[Bravo]

I meant do they stay till they decide or do they get to go home tonight and return tomorrow if they don't decide today. Maybe that is a different term? I'm sorry I might have words mixed up.

It's my understanding they are not sequestered at a hotel during their deliberations. They would return tomorrow.

 

[Seattle1]

Cristhian Bahena Rivera trial: Day 7 updates, watch live | wqad.com

May 27, 2021

Thursday, May 27
12:45 p.m.

Brown finishes his rebuttal. Three jurors selected as alternates will be allowed to leave the courthouse, but must not discuss the case in the event they are called back to serve.

Twelve remaining jurors dismissed, and will begin deliberations after lunch.

12:37 p.m.

Brown musing on the Bahena Rivera story: These phantom men stab her and put her in the trunk. Why not kill him? They leave the only eyewitness with the vehicle and a cell phone. That makes no sense at all. Why even involve him?

12:31 p.m.

Brown: "There was another motive here. A sexual one ... The defendant says he left her clothes on. That's clearly not true."

12:27 p.m.

Scott Brown giving rebuttal. "CBR was not targeted. He targeted himself."

12:18 p.m.

Scott Brown is back up for a rebuttal. In reference to Dalton Jack, says defense "ran him into the ground."

"He wasn't so worn down that he couldn't lead them to Mollie Tibbetts' body," Brown says of the police interview.

12:15 p.m.

Frese on Bahena Rivera: "He's not a monster."

Defense finishes closing argument.

11:57 a.m.

Frese: "Why on earth would you not take Dalton Jack's DNA? ...They did nothing to get DNA to exclude people. DNA doesn't need to point the finger at anyone, but it can exclude people."


DNA in trunk included Mollie but others in "mixture".

11:46 a.m.

Frese says there's no recording of Bahena Rivera in the car showing the location of the body.

"They don't record him going to the edge of the corn and pointing out the body? Why not? Because they had nothing for four weeks, and they cut corners and rushed to judgment."

11:42 a.m.

Frese says the state should have put up Dalton Jack's phone records to show unbiased proof he was in Dubuque. "They could have, and they chose not to."

11:36 a.m.

Describes use of Romero for the interview a "colossal blunder".

11:29 a.m.

Frese: "This case had the unlimited resources of the federal government. FBI, DCI. They've interviewed people over and over and over again. And they send in Pamela Romero. A cop with two years experience."

11:23 a.m.

Frese: "You can't think he did this. You must know. That's the difference."

11:19 a.m.

Frese says there's too much missing. No murder weapon, no crime scene, no eyewitness. No motive.

"This man right here, 5'7" 125-pound illegal immigrant gets angry and resorts to killing her? Stabbing her maybe 12 times?"

Pounds his hand into fist 12 times.

11:17 a.m.

Frese says investigators ignored gun safe inside house Mollie stayed in with boyfriend. There were many guns, including loaded pistol and folding knives.

"Bet they would have found one with a camo handle."

Bahena Rivera testified mystery men had gun and camo knife.

11:11 a.m.

Frese talks about the month that Mollie was missing, as law enforcement looks for her.

"They had nothing. Imagine the pressure to close this case."

11:04 a.m.

"It is not your job to right a wrong," Frese says. Asking jury to leave emotion out it. Leave it to case analysis.

11:03 a.m.

Frese starts by thanking jury for their time and commenting on innocent victim Mollie Tibbetts.

"She was just about to spread her wings and fly," he says. "We sympathize with her family. This young lady was on her way to being someone special."


10:59 a.m.

Court is back in session, with Chad Frese giving the defense's closing argument. Says Mollie Tibbetts was "truly an innocent victim."

10:45 a.m.

Brown finishes the prosecution's closing argument. Court will be in a 10-minute recess.

10:31 a.m.

Brown: "Who had a motive? If not the defendant, who? He tells us his motive - anger. One of the oldest motives in the history of human behavior."

10:20 a.m.

Mollie's body is left 500 feet into the corn.

Brown: "She is unfindable, except by the defendant."

10:00 a.m.

Brown: (Speaking on Bahena Rivera's new masked men story): "What's the problem with it? It doesn't make sense. It doesn't fit."

9:57 a.m.

Brown showing the video again of runner presumed to be Mollie at 7:45 p.m. 30 seconds later, the car is driving near the running route, all taken from same home security cameras.

9:54 a.m.

"Who killed Mollie Tibbetts?" Brown asks.

Goes back to his big three: car on video, confession, blood in trunk.

9:43 a.m.

Closing arguments. Prosecution is up first. Poweshiek Co. Attorney Bart Klaver gave the opening. Assistant AG Scott Brown giving the closing.

9:16 a.m.

Court is back in session. Judge Joel Yates is going to give the jury their instructions.

The instructions are meant to help jury determine what is and isn't allowed to be used in their deliberations, the definitions of certain legal terms and to reiterate their job is not to weigh potential punishments.

8:58 a.m.

Court is taking a 15-minute break. Once the jury returns, Judge Joel Yates will read them their instructions, attorneys will give closing arguments and then jury deliberations will begin.

8:49 a.m.

Wilson says Dalton spent the evening of the 18th with the crew - grilling, drinking beers and playing bags. The next day they worked until about 2 p.m.. Dalton seemed sad that day, expressed worry about not being able to contact Mollie.

8:46 a.m.

Wilson confirms Dalton was working in Dubuque on a bridge job on the day Mollie disappeared. He logs his crew's hours. Dalton worked until 7 p.m. that night.


8:37 a.m.

Court is back in session. State calls Nick Wilson, who was a coworker of Mollie TIbbetts' boyfriend, Dalton Jack, at Jasper Construction.

He is considered a rebuttal witness.

 

[MsBetsy]

A jury is always sequestered during deliberations. Nobody, even the judge, is allowed in the room.

So they can't go home at the end of the day?