IA - Mollie Tibbetts, 20, Poweshiek County, 19 Jul 2018 *Arrest* #42

[kpm]

It was closed in the video the DesMoines Register video tape to show “Mollie’s last run.” That’s the first time I noticed a gate at all.

Me too, and there were also deflated balloons hanging from it

 

[MsBetsy]

It was closed in the video the DesMoines Register video tape to show “Mollie’s last run.” That’s the first time I noticed a gate at all.

Someone asked about a lock earlier, and I didn't see a lock at all in the video. It may have been opened at the time he drove in there, or maybe he even opened it ahead of time.

 

[Deleted member 718]

No word that I have seen on the other items being found.

True that. We don't even know what he used as a murder weapon. It could be something he brought with him such as a tools in his trunk, or did he improvise such as a roofing hatchet he found at the construction house. Examples only, as we just don't know.

"A 20-year-old Iowa student found slain after vanishing last month while on a jog died of "multiple sharp force injuries," according to preliminary autopsy results."

"The agency did not release additional details about the injuries she suffered or what caused them. Investigators have made no mention of recovering a murder weapon."

Mollie Tibbetts cause of death: Iowa student died from "multiple sharp force injuries," autopsy finds - CBS News

 

[Peaches96]

I wonder if he might have to register even if a SA didn't occur, or they can't prove one did. As long as they can prove he was attempting it?

Laws vary state to state but in Georgia if your crime is sexually motivated you usually have to register as a sex offender even if an actual sex act didn’t occur. That being said, a judge can rule otherwise.

 

[rebel123]

I do think there are two scenes at the cornfield....

The warrant says....

The defendant further described during the interview that he dragged Tibbetts on foot from his vehicle to a secluded location in the cornfield

Rivera described he put her over his shoulder and took her 20 meters into the cornfield

ETA: He basically admitted to police she was dead when he checked the trunk, that may or may not be true

Would he be able to make a determination as to whether she was still alive or had passed on in his 'panic / blocked out state of mind'?

 

[kpm]

True that. We don't even know what he used as a murder weapon. It could be something he brought with him such as a tools in his trunk, or did he improvise such as a roofing hatchet he found at the construction house. Examples only, as we just don't know.

"A 20-year-old Iowa student found slain after vanishing last month while on a jog died of "multiple sharp force injuries," according to preliminary autopsy results."

"The agency did not release additional details about the injuries she suffered or what caused them. Investigators have made no mention of recovering a murder weapon."

Mollie Tibbetts cause of death: Iowa student died from "multiple sharp force injuries," autopsy finds - CBS News

As far as we know, only where he lived has been searched so far.

 

[MsBetsy]

About the only thing I believe is where he placed her body and how he covered her up.

The rest his him trying to save his butt

Right, I should have added that the only truth in his story is what he knows police already know.

 

[zecats]

Now there would be a reason to close and lock it. Prior to Mollie’s body being discovered there I doubt there would have been a reason.

Gotcha. But, it is still an unknown. Jmo

 

[kpm]

Would he be able to make a determination as to whether she was still alive or had passed on in his 'panic / blocked out state of mind'?

Common sense says no,

But he had come out of his block by then

Earbuds jarred his memory that she was in the trunk and he remembers blood on her head, dragging her to a secluded spot and then carrying her, laying her face up and covering her with corn stalks

He just blocked out all the crucial elements

 

[MsBetsy]

Gotcha. But, it is still an unknown. Jmo

I would think it would only take seconds to open it himself.

 

[Followfacts]

Interesting 2002 study University of Tennessee forensic “Body Farm” analysis of cadavers with clothing on compared to nude and effects on decomposition. So the need for anthropologist exam of remains for help with time of death. This study has pictures ( be prepared) taking into account all IV stages of decomposition. If you don’t have the time look at beginning introduction portion and conclusion. I could summarize IMO, but I know lots of experts here and I’m more interested in any thoughts and ideas you have relating to this area.

https://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=2084&context=utk_gradates

Some interesting findings : It was determined that clothing retards the process of decomposition in the spring and summer.

A clothed body takes approximately 1.7 times longer in the spring and twice as long in the summer to decompose than a nude cadaver.

In the conclusion portion of study
Two notable exceptions are rape and homicide victims, and homeless individuals. Victims of rape and homicide are often thrown out nude, or with little clothing. Homeless individuals are known to dress in multiple layers throughout the year, making a season estimate difficult. In such a case, it is assumed that multiple layers would further curtail the decomposition process.

 

[Jaclin]

I was wondering if that gate was closed (we don't know if it was locked during the crime), he would have had to park there and get her over/through/around that gate, too.

I think he was drawn to that location because the gate was open or unlocked and he could quickly get his car off the road and not be seen by any car passing by. In my mind it doesn't make sense to drag a body around the gate increasing chances of being seen when he could just go directly from the road into the corn. But, he could have gone directly from the road to the corn anywhere. I think the drive into the cornfield afforded some sort of convenience.

 

[MsBetsy]

Common sense says no,

But he had come out of his block by then

Earbuds jarred his memory that she was in the trunk and he remembers blood on her head, dragging her to a secluded spot and then carrying her, laying her face up and covering her with corn stalks

He just blocked out all the crucial elements

Or left them out.

 

[zecats]

I would think it would only take seconds to open it himself.

Yes true if not locked. Many posts on here (from Iowans and those who live in areas like this), have commented either way. Some said why bother? Others said always lock gate to prevent joy riding teens from partying in their fields. I suppose, in reality, it’s not a significant issue. CR made it sound like he ended up there magically in any case. Perhaps he picked it because it wasn’t locked or even closed. Jmo

 

[MsBetsy]

I think he was drawn to that location because the gate was open or unlocked and he could quickly get his car off the road and not be seen by any car passing by. In my mind it doesn't make sense to drag a body around the gate increasing chances of being seen when he could just go directly from the road into the corn. But, he could have gone directly from the road to the corn anywhere. I think the drive into the cornfield afforded some sort of convenience.

Right, it allowed him to place the body further away from the road. And deeper into the cornfield. Jmo

 

[MsBetsy]

Yes true if not locked. Many posts on here (from Iowans and those who live in areas like this), have commented either way. Some said why bother? Others said always lock gate to prevent joy riding teens from partying in their fields. I suppose, in reality, it’s not a significant issue. CR made it sound like he ended up there magically in any case. Perhaps he picked it because it wasn’t locked or even closed. Jmo

Yeah, I didn't see a lock on it, and can understand why they would have it closed now. But my guess is he definitely would have driven the car up there to find a better spot to put the body. Edited to say sorry I guess I just said that above!! Oh well

 

[TL4S]

I think he was drawn to that location because the gate was open or unlocked and he could quickly get his car off the road and not be seen by any car passing by. In my mind it doesn't make sense to drag a body around the gate increasing chances of being seen when he could just go directly from the road into the corn. But, he could have gone directly from the road to the corn anywhere. I think the drive into the cornfield afforded some sort of convenience.

Good point!

 

[MistyWaters]

Been thinking about this, he over killed by stabbing, which is up close and personal

This was not an accidental killing as in he accidentally hit her with his car and freaked out

This was not a kidnapping gone bad as in he had no way out of it but to kill and dispose

This was pure calculated revenge or passion, if you will, on his part

His twisted mind felt he was entitled to this act

Yes that’s it. This case allegedly involves a violent intentional death and we know that because the autopsy findings revealed the cause of death to be multiple sharp force injuries. There is no other reason for an accused to inflict sharp force injuries upon a victim other than with deliberate intent to kill.

CR was charged with this:

• First-degree murder: any intentional murder that is willful and premeditated with malice aforethought.

It’s not a case of a felony murder whereby a female was abducted or sexually assaulted and for example, while committing the felony the perp slugged the victim in the head to get her to comply ( no intent to kill) but as a result, the victim died.

• Felony murder, a charge that may be filed against a defendant who is involved in a dangerous crime where a death results from the crime,[71] is typically first-degree.[72]

Murder (United States law) - Wikipedia

 

[TL4S]

Somebody back on the thread mentioned Chevy Malibu's having OnStar tracking, even without service activation. Was that you @gliving ? Have we determined the year of the Malibu, because I can see they came standard starting at least by 2011.

Anyway, if LE was able to get that information prior to the arrest affidavit, the OnStar's GPS location would have been able to trace the moment he parked his car on 385th until he moment he left the cornfield, is that correct? Maybe that accounts for the precise times given.

 

[MsBetsy]

Would he be able to make a determination as to whether she was still alive or had passed on in his 'panic / blocked out state of mind'?

I don't think he had a blackout at all. For me it gets too complicated to try to figure out when the earbud was found when he first saw the body, if there ever was an earbud on his lap, etc. It's just a game of fill in the blanks to me.