IA - Mollie Tibbetts, 20, Poweshiek County, 19 Jul 2018 *Arrest* #37

[boomburger]

It would probably have been impossible, sadly.

Yes. Above ground decomp for a month in summer heat means she was likely skeletal.

 

[Al Hoffman]

Does anyone know what (if any) effect is there due to the corn? I know that corn "sweats" and raises humidity.

***************GROSSOUT WARNING**********

Humidity in Iowa's is not too bad, 1/2 to 2/3 that of New Orleans, on the Mississippi, on the worst summer days. The increased humidity in the rows should help to boost the rate of decomp a bit, and the shade at the bottom of the rows should really help with insect activity. So, overall, increased rate of decomp. You're not going to get jerky, you're gonna get soup - like culture broth this should also increase the rate of decomp by encouraging bacterial growth. I wonder how much soil hardness/type would affect rate?

 

[Deleted member 226860]

J

• I read it as multiple sharp force injuries. As in she had multiple injuries from a sharp object. Maybe I'm wrong.....and that's ok.

Jeez. They always say ‘cause of death- multiple stab wounds’. It’s so common.

 

[kkdj]

I agree. I’m on here until early morning most nights. Traffic slows down late at night, and the developments in this case, have led to fewer posts overall. I think someone like a “verified attorney” would be responsible enough to handle it. Just saying.

I like this idea. I wake up throughout the night and would love to be on here with others.

 

[jillycat]

Something I've been wondering about but keep forgetting about when I post. Can anyone think of any good reason why he would have brought her cell phone with them or allowed her to? He obviously knew she had it since he says she pulled it out and threatened to call LE. If she was holding it when he attacked her, it seems like she'd be likely to drop it in the struggle. Would there be a good reason to pick it up and bring it with rather than either leaving it or throwing it out into the field there? Maybe I'm expecting to much to want to find some logic in this whole thing.

I'm not sure his story of the exchange between them is even true.

 

[agilbe]

Sorry to ask this, but do you have a link to that? What I've seen has said they he told them he realized she was in the trunk when he saw the earbud in his lap, but I don't remember him saying she had on headphones. TIA

http://www.dps.state.ia.us/commis/p...-2018_DCI_ArrestWarrantComplaintAffidavit.pdf

 

[MyBelle]

Yes, but aren't they also used to smell for decomposition?

Yes and they also track living people. We don't know what kind of dogs they are. But the brazen way Mollie was kidnapped tells me that CR has experience and it may have to do with human trafficking that originates in Mexico. His Facebook page lists Mexico as his home, not Brooklyn IA.

 

[Confusion]

http://www.dps.state.ia.us/commis/p...-2018_DCI_ArrestWarrantComplaintAffidavit.pdf

Thanks. That does make his story even less believable, which I didn't think was possible.

 

[kkdj]

Yes and they also track living people. We don't know what kind of dogs they are. But the brazen way Mollie was kidnapped tells me that CR has experience and it may have to do with human trafficking that originates in Mexico. His Facebook page lists Mexico as his home, not Brooklyn IA.

That's interesting. Do you think he could have been involved with this with girls from Mexico?

 

[Copper]

Something I've been wondering about but keep forgetting about when I post. Can anyone think of any good reason why he would have brought her cell phone with them or allowed her to? He obviously knew she had it since he says she pulled it out and threatened to call LE. If she was holding it when he attacked her, it seems like she'd be likely to drop it in the struggle. Would there be a good reason to pick it up and bring it with rather than either leaving it or throwing it out into the field there? Maybe I'm expecting to much to want to find some logic in this whole thing.

I don't know why, if CR had the phone in his possession, he would bring it with from the abduction site to the cornfield. Thinking about it, I think we can guess that MT either did not have the phone or was incapacitated while she was in the trunk. Otherwise, why not call for help.

 

[mtnlites]

I'm not sure his story of the exchange between them is even true.

I think portions of it are. For instance, I think he followed her. I think she probably DID tell him to leave her alone and then threatened to call the police. Those two things are reasonable reactions when one feels threatened. Beyond that, though, I don't know.

 

[MassGuy]

I'm not sure his story of the exchange between them is even true.

I have no idea if the exchange is true or not, but I can certainly envision it happening the way he claims.

He runs alongside her, she feels incredibly uncomfortable (because this just isn’t normal), and she says to him “If you don’t leave me alone, I’m going to call the police.”

Maybe she would have followed through with the call regardless, or maybe she would have let it go, we’ll never know.

It’s akin to pulling out a gun and saying “if you don’t back off, I’m going to shoot.” Those words, like the ones Mollie may have uttered, are enough to make many potential perpetrators back off. They simply didn’t work here, if they were said.

 

[MyBelle]

She wore it in an armband.

Yes and she also had the ear buds. I think she was removing the ear buds when he snatched her hands and took control of her and that's why he mentioned ear buds to LE. In every lie is a nugget of truth.

 

[jillycat]

http://www.dps.state.ia.us/commis/p...-2018_DCI_ArrestWarrantComplaintAffidavit.pdf


About 3/4 down on page 2 it mentions ear piece on lap and he documents she was wearing a earphone or heaphone set when he found her in the trunk.

Thanks, I've read it several times but didn't notice that.

 

[Breathe]

The humidity in Iowa's is not too bad, 1/2 to 2/3 that of New Orleans, on the Mississippi, on the worst summer days. The increased humidity in the rows should help to boost the rate of decomp a bit, and the shade at the bottom of the rows should really help with insect activity.

Do you know if they are still watering the corn or is it in the drying stage?

 

[whiskers]

Morbid to ask, but what state does a body have to be in to conclude multiple sharp force injuries? Can they easily come to that conclusion a month out after decomposition? Or easier to tell maybe a few days or a week out?

 

[MsBetsy]

I'm pretty sure I read that he blocked some things out and when he came to there was earbuds on his lap. They can't be both on his lap and still on her when he opened the trunk.

I think the general theory is correct, that they would be knocked off her. The poster probably thought they were headphones.

 

[MassGuy]

That's interesting. Do you think he could have been involved with this with girls from Mexico?

If he were older than 24, I’d firmly expect some criminal activity in Mexico. The fact that he’s been in the United States for up to the past 7 years, makes the Mexican angle less likely for me. He’s almost certainly committed abhorrent behavior prior to this, what it is, and to what extent, we may never know.

 

[Warwick7]

Morbid to ask, but what state does a body have to be in to conclude multiple sharp force injuries? Can they easily come to that conclusion a month out after decomposition? Or easier to tell maybe a few days or a week out?

I think it has to to with the how the bones were hit, scratched, or injured.

 

[agilbe]

That's interesting. Do you think he could have been involved with this with girls from Mexico?

I tried poking around when he was first arrested. He comes from a village. I'm not even sure they have a police dept. IF I remember correctly the closest big city is Alcapulco. And it's not THAT close.