Found Deceased IA - Mollie Tibbetts, 20, Poweshiek County, 19 Jul 2018 *Arrest* #38

[CheetosDust]

I very well might put too much weight into maps, but I believe there are a lot of answers in them. Not just LE's map, but just looking at google.

WHY the location he chose to leave her body? There are far more isolated spots around, some closer, some farther from abduction site and his home. So why that cornfield? There are farms on three sides, close enough to hear screaming (unless she was unconscious or gagged), and the highway is RIGHT there.

But the red dot on LE's map at V21 and 430 is almost total isolation. Abandoned buildings, farmland, only one small farm south on V21. I have always felt that is the location where the majority of crimes happened. But why not leave her there?

This is what doesn't make sense to me.

I love maps and always start my thinking process by looking at maps and trying to get a feel for what’s around. I do think the assault took place near the upper right dot. I think the reason he took her with him could be a)sexual assault and b)leaving no evidence behind

 

[Karmakazi]

Please let's not start beating Dr. S's maybe dead cat over the red shirt again! MT would not have had a red shirt with her on the run when and where she was taken. You give CR too much credit. He is NOT a SK master mind. He did not/would not have gone back to within a couple of miles of his dump site to plant a piece of evidence that could have caused LE to intensify their search.

CR took MT in a moment of opportunity and with a degree of premedation (maybe months, weeks, days, hours, or minutes) killed her, concealed her body and then drove away. He likely spent the last month ignoring the "problem" and looking over his shoulder. He did change his behavior, as at least one store clerk said that he had stopped coming in the last two weeks before his arrest. LIKELY, he was laying low, as when he came into town there was a poster with MT's picture everywhere he turned. Why didn't he run when he had the chance? He had every reason to expect that the body would not be found till fall, and that he had not been seen. Likely, he was in denial about getting caught. If it was his habit to "block out" moments of intense anger, including assault and murder, he might well have blocked out the consequences of his actions, or the fact that he might be caught. The C in CR should stand for 'Cleopatra' as he is the king of denial, not the master of misdirection!

He probably didn’t run because he had his daughter and ex gf there. And probably him running would have attracted more attention to himself.

 

[Mom24]

Why would he not pick any of the many more isolated locations? I just wish I knew his thoughts as to why he chose the spot he left her.

Oh okay, I get what you're saying. Maybe he knew that field better or he was running out of time to get back home? You know that question kind of opens up a can of worms. I keep wondering why that night, why wednesday, what was his schedule, what days did he work, etc. Maybe the spot he left her had something to do with those other why's. Good post!

 

[Seattle1]

Thinking back now to the 5 points released on the map....is it possible that they were putting points on there where they had a digital footprint, that had cameras, and that they just thought might be important?

For example, the area where she was abducted, something probably on her FitBit may have alerted to something happening (heart rate spike, being in a moving vehicle, etc). The area where she was found may have been when the FitBit and phone stopped "pinging." The car wash and truck stop--I don't know if CR would have gone to either of those places. Maybe he was seen driving by the car wash? I wonder if they just put those places on the map because they knew they had many cameras and could see which vehicles drove by or stopped and was wanting anyone in the area to call in and see if they had seen something suspicious you couldn't make out on video. It would be really dumb to walk into either place covered in blood. Not that he couldn't do something dumb (he did murder someone, of course!) but I just feel that SOMEONE would have noticed that and called in long long ago.

I think the last red dot was by DJ's house, correct? If they had not viewed the incriminating video footage yet, they may have just not known for sure what happened and thought it might be possible that where she was staying could be significant and wanted people near his house to call in. JMO

If I recall correctly, the 5 points map was released prior to CR on LE radar. I believe LE indicated they'd not seen video featuring dark Malibu until 2 days before arrest.

 

[CheetosDust]

He probably didn’t run because he had his daughter and ex gf there. And probably him running would have attracted more attention to himself.

Yeah and how soon into it was the heat on WC? He probably sat back and watched all of that circus unfold.

 

[Iam Nana!]

I read CR harrassed a 17 yr. old who was walking on a street in Brooklyn with her sister. Her sister stated that he was in his car telling the 17 yr. old she was pretty and trying to get her to stop walking.
She had to keep telling him she wasn't interested. They were really creeped out about his behavior.

The article does state it was before Mollie's murder but does not how long before.

I am beginning to worry CR was a SR!

 

[sbsuzilight]

One article stated she was crying and continuously asking about her father. I didn't see that in the video I saw, and I was going to ask if It was true.

I saw a photo in the DM and the little girl was sitting quietly on her mom’s lap. That photo broke my heart. The mom looked shell shocked and all I could think was they did not do the crime, but they will suffer. This man not only caused devastation and loss to Mollie’s family, boyfriend and friends lives, he is also responsible for bringing pain to his employer, the whole town of Brooklyn and his own child. I hope the child will have a loving and supportive environment. I hope her mom will keep her away from the courtroom in the future.

 

[wary]

So knowing what we know now, what is up w the Snapchat DJ opened at 10 pm?

I think nothing has changed. In my opinion, she sent it from the house, before she went out for her run. The background of the picture wasn't of any interest to DJ, but he vaguely noted that it was 'indoors.' The text of it was fairly ordinary, and he didn't take much note of it.

 

[The Farm]

Schools are not allowed to inquire or report immigration status.

My post had nothing to do with the school system.

 

[noodler2]

Hi Roses...

Unfortunately, he is not the only one nor will he be the last. That is the reason I never accuse anyone without evidence supporting it. It is easy to assume something about someone because it takes zero evidence to do so.

I cant begin to count the times where this has happened in past heartbreaking cases. This really began to happen when social media sites became more voluminous. Then it seemed to morph into trial by internet before any of the evidence was known including the ID of the suspect.

Often times the unfounded accusations would be viscous against totally innocent parents who had their child/children abducted, raped and murdered. The very ones who were grieving unimaginable pain at the time also had to deal with the 24/7 online onslaught of horrific false allegations hurled against them.

I never believed the pig farmer was the one who had harmed Mollie. If there had been evidence pointing to him he would have been arrested much sooner.

LE doesn't care about false allegations putout on the internet. They will say they are not in the PR business and they are there to solve crimes.

Also some in the public think they have a right to know what LE has uncovered in their ongoing investigation. That will never happen nor should it. Their duty is to investigate thoroughly while gathering all evidence to arrest the suspect, and to make sure they have gathered all supporting evidence/facts in order for prosecutors to bring justice for the victims.

How I have wished so many times LE would have come out, and stopped the 'bleeding' being done against so many I knew were innocent all along, but it rarely ever happens.

It isn't only about not judging a book by it's cover........it is also about not accusing someone prematurely without any facts or evidence to support them. IMO

Valiantly put.

 

[DizzyB]

Who owned the car? That’s what I’d like to know. Was he in sole possession of it?

 

[Al Hoffman]

That is something I never even considered. If he didn't have clothes on to get dirty, and a way to wash up, problem solved. That would point to premeditation and/or intellectual forethought.

Or that there was a jug of water kept in the car (not as likely in Iowa because of the need for antifreeze in the winter, but this was summer), because the cooling system leaked (common in older cars, especially with plastic and aluminum radiators)...and that CR was naked (for obvious reasons) when he did the deed in the cornfield...and that he had a knife with him because he worked a manual job (I used to never leave home without one). You work with what you have at the time.

Once, in rural Louisiana, my pick-up was over heating, and I had to pull over. What to do? I kid you not, as I sat there in the middle of no where (pre cell phone days), I looked out my passenger side window and there was a pipe with a faucet sticking up out of the ground on the edge of a corn field! I kept the engine running, filled my radiator and my now empty water jug, and rolled onto Alexandria. The heck with Oscar's Razor, at times weird stuff happens, and the breaks go your way, even for opportunistic killers.

However, I do see your point. Rest assured that video of CR's car turning to follow MT should (hopefully) be enough proof of premeditation to convict CR for Murder 1 on the State level. If that falls through...

I still think that the Fed's could still file their own list of charges if they felt a need to do so. CR committed payroll fraud by working and paying Federal payroll taxes under an assumed name, even better if CR even sent anything through the mail to do this. This Federal crime (if the Malibu was owned by his employer) gave him access to the car used in commission of the murder. Federal murder charges carry the death penalty. Overeaching by the Feds? Maybe, but there is at least one Ex-Con Louisiana governor who can tell you how creative the Feds can get with filing charges. And who knows what the Feds could dig out of the Patirot and Homeland Security Acts passed since the turn of the century.

 

[gregjrichards]

For me and probably for others who fell head over heels into this case, it was the light that was Mollie. I have a Mollie in my life, a beautiful soon to be Daughter in Law. When she enters the room, it is just brighter. There is a naivety and innocence that I remember having before the real world toughened me up. We did get to know Mollie through her SM and her family. I feel that I was watching her grow up as I read through her FB and Twitter. We were seeing her political views develop, her relationship with her boyfriend deepen. So, for me it wasn’t that she was a pretty face, it was something deeper that tugged at my heart. It was the mother, daughter, sister and wife in me. She seemed like she was going to light the world on fire.

I know it is horrendous that Mollie’s loved ones and the world has been robbed of Mollie. I’m hoping the University of Iowa can set up a scholarship named after Mollie to help a student in her memory. I think that would be a nice way to remember her.

It makes you feel so despondent that this has happened too many times to Mollie to Mickey Shunick, Chelsea Bruck, Jessica Heeringa and so many other women. As a man I can’t get my head around harming women in this way I just don’t understand it.

Are any locals going to Mollie’s service tomorrow?

 

[Deleted member 227458]

I saw on the thread a couple days ago something about this. CR's father had been interviewed and said CR left to find work and crossed the boarder illegally, coming then to IA because his uncle was here. Anyone have a link to that interview?

Here you go, TL4S:
Suspect’s relatives say they’re baffled by arrest in Mollie Tibbetts case

Snipped from that article:

Around his 16th birthday, Rivera left Guayabillo to find work in the United States, his father said.

“There are no jobs here, so he left,” Bahena said, adding that his son crossed the border illegally and was undocumented in the United States.

 

[Periwinkl3]

Did he ever drive other vehicles for his dairy farm job? They wouldn't know if his license was legit or not if it looked ok, which for me raises Q#2: if he did drive for the farm, what kind of vehicle? Did he have MT in a work truck at any point? A dairy farm has insulated/refrigerator trucks. I hope LE inspects them.

 

[The Farm]

I know it is horrendous that Mollie’s loved ones and the world has been robbed of Mollie. I’m hoping the University of Iowa can set up a scholarship named after Mollie to help a student in her memory. I think that would be a nice way to remember her.

I thought I heard mentioned (no link only mentioned) that the money might be used for something good and I can not for the world remember what. Anybody?

 

[Jim G]

I don't want a CR living in my neighborhood

 

[jca1388]

I know there's been some discussion about the negative side of online technology.. People giving false accusations with their theories

The world of technology could bring out the absolute worst in people ..I went onto some of Mollie's social media accounts to pay respects like a lot of people are doing and it is ridiculous the amount of trolling and unspeakably bad things that cowards behind their fake accounts are putting on her own social media... it makes me want to puke.. I know it gets reported and removed but it's incredible that people can be this way

 

[Hatfield]

Legal Eagles I need your help please. According to the Affidavit of Probably Cause it states the crime of Murder in the 1st degree and the date and time of incident to be July 18 between 19:45 and 20:28.

Does this mean that the murder occurred at that time? No guessing please. Thank you!

http://media.graytvinc.com/documents/082118+DCI+Arrest.pdf

JMO
Catching up and no legal experience but found this Arrest Warrant so interesting because it is a very specific timeframe and thinking LE must know her exact attack time and exact death time because of the Fitbit giving heartrate beats. We know Mollie jogged with her cell phone in an armband and she likely had her Fitbit on.

It would be obvious from the Fitbit info the pulse rate when her pulse would suddenly go through the roof. Then when her heartbeat stopped altogether that is one way LE could know the exact time of death.

This is the first case where I have seen such a specific timeframe on the charges down to the minute.
The Fitbit info is the only way I can figure how LE knew this exact timeframe of the beginning of the attack and her ultimate death down to the minute.

On July 18, the attack began at 7:45 p.m. and the time of death was 8:28 p.m.

http://media.graytvinc.com/documents/082118+DCI+Arrest.pdf

 

[The Farm]

Did he ever drive other vehicles for his dairy farm job? They wouldn't know if his license was legit if it looked ok, which for me raises Q#2: if he did drive for the farm, what kind of vehicle? Did he have MT in a work truck at any point? A dairy farm has insulated/refrigerator trucks. I hope LE inspects them.

I do not know what the farm has for a transportation fleet but usually a big tanker comes and extracts the milk at certain times during the day. The dairy farm people I know do not have refridgerated truck but use pick-ups and ATV's to run the farm. If a farm hand needs to run to town and do not have their own vehicle the farm owner might let them use one of the farm vehicles. Also the license plates say farm right on them, I think they get a cheaper rate but can not remember.