Found Deceased IA - Mollie Tibbetts, 20, Poweshiek County, 19 Jul 2018 #16

[who knew?]

If Mollie was "tricked" by alleged kidnapper known to her, I believe that after 20 days, Mollie would have convinced the abductor to alert her family that she's alive (not necessarily directly but maybe anonymous note left in public location, etc). IMO, that would be Mollie's #1 concern, and her captor would be feeling Mollie's wrath. I just don't see Mollie putting her folks through this if she has any control over the matter. Again, maybe I'm just naive...

I don't think she has any control over her situation. I don't think she wants to be where she is. Her captor has her where he wants so he can "have" her. But if she angers him enough, my guess is that he would kill her. JMO

 

[watson1]

Bear with me, but could it be possible MT became pregnant, panicked, and went off with someone who was going to help her deal with it? Many college kids have several fake ids so they can underage drink; and a trip to planned parenthood somewhere she wouldn't be known would be an easy way to get the care she needed with no questions asked. With the wedding trip coming up, she may have freaked out that someone would realize she was pregnant (morning sickness?) and thought this would be a 24 hour experience, but then had complications. Could have ended up in a hospital as a Jane Doe uninsured getting care... With the way this case then blew up nationally in 24-48 hours, the kids (MT & friend helping) may have been scared on what to do next... And overwhelmed... what do we do now...maybe DJ wasn't the father and something happened at school toward end of freshman year...

As far as money, all it takes is kids helping out their friend- she may have had cash on hand when she went. Maybe the partner who got her pregnant was with her and helping...

I know this is out there. But look at the Dad's comments in light of this. Maybe the 3 hour phone call where she didn't quite tell him she was pregnant, but discussed "issues" with hints and Dad didn't realize what she was getting at. Men sometimes aren't the most perceptive at picking up a woman's hints, even when she thinks she is being outright clear, lulz.

Just pure speculation; but it would be hopeful to think she is alive and will return...

 

[InvSmith]

This is verily straightforward.
Mollie Tibbett's father: 'We can get her home'

 

[Alethea]

So, my question to you is: why..? Why make a statement like that at all..? These things are choreographed tightly, and I'm sure that LE has instructed these folks to only say something to the media that is approved. These folks simply can't go off the reservation, and jeopardize the work that is being done.

In these types of investigations, the media is hounding people all the time to talk. Journalists can make their careers breaking open a true crime story, they can secure book deals that make their careers. While they do great work and I have a great deal of respect for the press, they don't always act in the victim/LE's best interest. If they hound the family to talk, they encourage any feelings that LE isn't being open enough with the family, they are the ones publishing a "new" story in a big case that is getting national attention. It's that journalist's name on the byline.

Most journalists and outlets will respect LE requests to not publish something or requests to embargo information until a certain date and time. But they also have an interest in breaking news, selling clicks, and getting stories.

 

[taximama24]

I think I’ve said this several times by now but I’ll repeat here. The family is absolutely compelled to believe that their daughter is still alive. They know she didn’t run away, so their only hope is that she is being held by an acquaintance, “who is over his head.” The only other viable option is that she was kidnapped and murdered, and they do not want to believe that. Hence all these optimistic public statements, likely based on hope and not evidence.

I honestly don't think dad's interview today sounded at all optimistic. I think it sounded the opposite, that he knows she's dead but has to actually say they think she is alive because otherwise the reward is null and void, and without that hanging out there, would the tips still be coming in 3 weeks later, probably not...hence he says the right phrase, but his all passion and sense of urgency seemed gone to me.

 

[Nah]

Mollie is 5'2, 120 lbs according to the missing posters. That is a very petite girl. It would not take much at all to overpower or force her into a vehicle. I hate this idea, but based on what we know thus far, could be the case.
Although I am not ruling out that someone she was familiar with coaxed her into a vehicle.

I agree. Petite girls alone with headphones are huge targets. She could have been grabbed, or like I mentioned earlier, even just had someone ask for directions and then drag her quickly into the car.

I think personally I want to go back to some of the earlier theories that the FBI is on this case because they are trying to track down a serial killer or serial rapist or something. I feel like since new information isn’t coming out, people are taking the father’s words and sort of romanticizing what could have happened. But when it comes down to it, I’m pretty sure it’s either a serial killer/rapist thing, or a similar but isolated thing, just to where she was an easy target for a stalker.

Sad and scary stuff.

 

[watson1]

The opioid epidemic is in this area as well. I don't know how heavy it is in Brooklyn but an hour a way in all directions it is prevalent.

Iowa's big drug issue is meth. That gets cooked out in the middle of nowhere. People in a town are the users, and MT and friends didn't have meth issues. Meth users usually just want to be left alone to do more meth and abduction isn't really their MO. Just my opinion...

 

[clearskies1]

I missed almost all of #15 so my apologies about repeats, its so hard to catch up and not comment along the way! I had posted many moons ago that I thought this was someone whom felt they were the better option romantically for MT than her boyfriend and based on what her dad said it seems he and/or LE have narrowed it down to something along those lines too. My thought is, even though they don't seem to have retrieved her phone and don't know her Snapchat history (unless they had her login info, in which case they could have downloaded that too), her service provider would have her calls and texting data and even though my kid uses snapchat like a fiend, she does still text people she is close to also so I would imagine they have a pretty good idea of whom this might be. So this person is unlikely missing as well, or they would have put out an APB wanted for questioning in the disappearance. But they clearly don't feel they have enough evidence to arrest or don't feel confident they'd get the person to break in the 48hrs they can detain for. So is the only option the "wait and watch" approach? The thought of that is enough to drive anyone mad, much less her poor family.

If they have narrowed it down to certain people based on Mollie's calls, texts, etc then they have probably tried to interview those people. If anyone declined to be interviewed I'm sure that would raise LE's suspicions. If LE doesn't have enough evidence to get a search warrant for the person's car, residence, computer and phone then they are left to surveillance, interviewing the person's friends and family, etc.

 

[MassGuy]

Mollie is 5'2, 120 lbs according to the missing posters. That is a very petite girl. It would not take much at all to overpower or force her into a vehicle. I hate this idea, but based on what we know thus far, could be the case.
Although I am not ruling out that someone she was familiar with coaxed her into a vehicle.

Very true. It wouldn’t require a man to have a great deal of strength to overpower a girl of her size, regardless of her fitness level. He also may have had the element of surprise, or a weapon of some sort. Of course your other theory of a known assailant that she willingly got into the car with, is very plausible as well.

 

[LietKynes]

Sort of thinking she may have had a stalker... either known or unknown to her.
Also someone who knew she was alone.

 

[Mr. Obvious]

I don't think anyone has mentioned this morbid end of the possibility spectrum......so I will.....though I hope and pray it doesn't happen......

If she's deceased - the worst case (in my mind) would be that she could be buried deeply in the middle of a cornfield and would never be found.

For those of us that are familiar with corn fields know - you would definitely have enough room and time to dig a deep enough grave - without any chance of being detected (once you're safely in the field) - especially given MT's height and weight.

With the rains we're sure to get before harvest - that will help to further conceal the grave.

I truly hate to bring this up - but all options/outcomes should be considered.

I'm sure LE has considered this scenario (along with a lot of you as well) and this obviously provides more of an incentive to get her HOME ASAP!!!!

 

[tlneedham]

So, my question to you is: why..? Why make a statement like that at all..? These things are choreographed tightly, and I'm sure that LE has instructed these folks to only say something to the media that is approved. These folks simply can't go off the reservation, and jeopardize the work that is being done.

Because someone has scared them into thinking people will stop looking for an alive Mollie if the public starts to believe she’s not?

Or, more likely, a reporter convinced him to speak to keep her case in the news. And most parents aren’t media pros—they can easily get off track.

 

[rosesfromangels]

I fully believe that she is alive and well and that the authorities know where she is. They may just be working to make a safe-and-secure hand-off happen.

Why do you believe this?

 

[Kapua]

Honestly, if the last “ping” (whatever) of the Fitbit was the pig farm, then that means the Fitbit is no longer with her, and is a bad sign. Or it IS still with her. Which is an even worse sign.

I am not of the persuasion that this is a romance gone wrong or a kidnapping. Honestly, I think it’s your basic rape/murder situation that tends to happen to young girls while they are out jogging alone. Could have been someone she knew. Didn’t have to be, though. There’s always that “Could you give me directions?” thing where they just have to get you close enough to the car...

If you are not a Fitbit wearer, you might not recognize the device as something capable of tracking an individual's data. People ask me what mine is all of the time. It looks like a black bracelet. Some look like watches. Whoever took Mollie might have left the Fitbit on her. However, it would need her cell phone to sync and certainly by now, it has lost its charge.

 

[Twistinginthewind]

I wondered why WC was taken to the fire station to be interviewed. It was probably the closest 'government type' building.

Wayne Cheney: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com
“I just thought it was a waste of time but oh well,” he told the television station, adding, “I don’t know who those two were but they took me down to the fire station Tuesday and questioned me for two hours. I don`t remember what they asked me.”

"I don't remember what they asked me."?? He must have been choking with nervousness or just wanting to cut off further discussion with MSM to say this. How is it possible he really doesn't remember what LE had asked him for 4 hours less than a day ago? Unless he has medical or other issues.

 

[Nah]

Sort of thinking she may have had a stalker... either known or unknown to her.
Also someone who knew she was alone.

These guys seem like they are usually criminals of opportunity. They really don’t have to stalk someone for too long, or scope out a place too long, before they find a victim. Could have just been someone in the area who noticed her jogging and watched her for a day or two. Didn’t really have to know her schedule to do that.

And they can also be totally random...kind of like that teacher that got taken and killed completely randomly out in Montana (I think it was Montana...she was jogging and the guy in his car just randomly for no reason decided to kill her.)

 

[Veracity]

Someone mentioned Chandra Levy - how I recall that case like it was happening today. I knew DC and the whole case kept pointing to the Rock Creek Park. The Washington Post and many newspapers across the country carried the news with pictures of a grid search which was supposed to include ALL of Rock Creek Park. The image was of a group of Police Cadets walking in lines through the park. It all looked so impressive.

At the same time the details, or rumors or I don't know what to call them today, about Chandra and a particular Congressman were what the public focused on.

Fast forward many years and a little boy with his dad in Rock Creek Park found Chandra's skull. The gridsearch had not been done adequately. They missed part of a ravine. When asked about it after the discovery, the excuse/explanation was 'it was too steep for the cadets".

Well - I believed the Cadets were for largely for show. Walking a straight line through a open park may have looked great on camera but honestly it made zero sense to me then.

When it comes to Missing Persons you have to think "where would be a good place to conceal someone'?

And then set out to clear each one. One by one. Do we have the equipment/tools today for what happened to Chandra to not happen again? Anyone know for sure?

There are several rivers in this region. And one poster on a different thread even mentioned a "ravine" along one of them.

I would really like to know what technology we have to clear surface waterways and ravines and gullies?

Maybe the robot challenges has produced something that LE can use? Or droids? I really would like to hear about advancements. I know the Sheriff mentioned he went up in a State Police plane on Jan 24th.

That comment struck me similar to the cadet photo - did he expect to find something easily visible from a plane? Maybe the plane had some sort of special camera or magnifier to allow him to see close to the surface.

Over and over I have watched interviews of successful recoveries and there is usually something out of the normal but only apparent up close - the prison in the woods that sicko built in SC could have not been seen from the air. It took men searching on the ground.

There is a terrific video showing LE using machetes to cut paths through a wooded area to find a tiny little girl less than 3 yrs old who had wondered away. I know we are not allowed to link to it. But I hope it is OK to mention it. Many may recall seeing it. Police spanned out on ATVs , some in trucks, and others on foot radiating out until they heard her cry. It was so wonderful.

I know it is very different when a tiny tot wanders off and a teen/adult just vanishes. But shouldn't the same sort of strategy be deployed? Just a wider net? And since Interstates are in play particular messages go up along that roadway? I believe most interstate systems have information boards which help motorists understand possible road construction ahead or slower traffic or which exit to take for some big event! Can they be used to get the word out someone is missing. Many of us have amber alerts enabled on our phones. Why can't we just get messages about ANY ONE MISSING? Maybe with a photo right away? Cast the net as wide as possible.

Do searches have to be done only by LE in IA? Or else a case could easily be compromised?

 

[Seattle1]

delete

 

[GhostGhost]

When people say, don’t investigate this case, investigate that case, a point you don’t hear is, the Perp here may have done it to six other girls, or will go on to do it to six other girls.

Like the Delphi Double Murder, that Perp has murdered before and he’s living to Murder again.

MOO.

 

[Nah]

If you are not a Fitbit wearer, you might not recognize the device as something capable of tracking an individual's data. People ask me what mine is all of the time. It looks like a black bracelet. Some look like watches. Whoever took Mollie might have left the Fitbit on her. However, it would need her cell phone to sync and certainly by now, it has lost its charge.

Right, but the last known area was the pig farm, meaning the person either grabbed it and tossed it (meaning she is in trouble and no longer has the fitbit) or she was buried with it on her wrist.