Found Deceased IA - Mollie Tibbetts, 20, Poweshiek County, 19 Jul 2018 *Arrest* #46

[SharonNeedles]

I'm not implying that they are going after the wrong guy- at least not in this post. I honestly have my suspicions that he might've been set up, but it's just a crazy conspiracy. However, I was saying I'm not sure if he'll get a fair trial due to the extensive media coverage and racial bias that some in the area might have, but not admit.

If you’re from around here and you’ve ever lived anywhere else you should have noticed that racial bias is a whole lot less of a thing around here. That’s why illegals live among us, their kids go to school with our kids. They know it’s safer here and for the most part there aren’t many problems with it.

 

[katydid23]

I'm not implying that they are going after the wrong guy- at least not in this post. I honestly have my suspicions that he might've been set up, but it's just a crazy conspiracy. However, I was saying I'm not sure if he'll get a fair trial due to the extensive media coverage and racial bias that some in the area might have, but not admit.

If he threw her in the trunk of his car, killed her and dumped her in the corn field, it doesn't matter to the jury what race he is. No matter if he was white, black, asian or hispanic, he would be locked up for life, at the very least.

I think that is irrelevant in this specific circumstance. JMO

 

[Seattle1]

I could be wrong of course, but I don’t see the defense going that route. Totally my speculation trying to put together everything we’ve seen since the arrest, but I get the distinct impression that CR is angling for 2nd degree Murder and making the state wage an uphill battle for first degree.

ITA with you SN.....I am still hoping he will plead out, but I don't think that'll happen since he has no incentive with IA a no DP state.

I also believe that CR is angling for 2nd degree charge. The penalty for Murder in the second degree ( Class B felony) carries a mandatory prison sentence of fifty year of which seventy percent must be served prior to being eligible for parole. CR has a young child, and by all accounts was a good father. He's young, and has motivation to avoid a life sentence. After several posts asserting a defense of fugue state, I suspect many believe 2nd degree Murder charge would best secure a conviction. While CR confessed to abducting MT, he alleges he blocked/blacked memory, and never admitted murdering MT. Of course I believe he killed her, but I really don't know that the prosecution can prove all the elements necessary. MOO

 

[girlhasnoname]

I also believe that CR is angling for 2nd degree charge. The penalty for Murder in the second degree ( Class B felony) carries a mandatory prison sentence of fifty year of which seventy percent must be served prior to being eligible for parole. MOO

<Snipped>
BBM
I don't think there is a snowball's chance in He** that'll happen, he's going down for 1st degree based on what is known so far IMO.

Stalking, abducting, confessing to her being in the trunk & bloody, dumping her body and leading LE to remains seems to qualify. JMHO.

 

[katydid23]

I also believe that CR is angling for 2nd degree charge. The penalty for Murder in the second degree ( Class B felony) carries a mandatory prison sentence of fifty year of which seventy percent must be served prior to being eligible for parole. CR has a young child, and by all accounts was a good father. He's young, and has motivation to avoid a life sentence. After several posts asserting a defense of fugue state, I suspect many believe 2nd degree Murder charge would best secure a conviction. While CR confessed to abducting MT, he alleges he blocked/blacked memory, and never admitted murdering MT. Of course I believe he killed her, but I really don't know that the prosecution can prove all the elements necessary. MOO

I agree that he is angling for 2nd degree. I agree that he is young and motivated to try and get parole at some point.

And he is young, no criminal history, has a good work record and is a family man.

However, I do think the prosecution will have enough evidence that he committed 1st degree murder. I don't think the claim of the blackout will change the reality that he grabbed a girl and forced her into his trunk, stabbed and killed her. He doesn't need to admit murdering her to be held responsible for doing so, given the other facts in this case. JMO

 

[SharonNeedles]

<Snipped>
BBM
I don't think there is a snowball's chance in He** that'll happen, he's going down for 1st degree based on what is known so far IMO.

Stalking, abducting, confessing to her being in the trunk & bloody, dumping her body and leading LE to remains seems to qualify. JMHO.

Actually I’d wager against that. The state is going to have a hard time proving intent beyond reasonable doubt to a jury that will inevitably have sympathetic peers. I hope you’re right, but I don’t see how it’s going to be possible.

 

[girlhasnoname]

Actually I’d wager against that. The state is going to have a hard time proving intent beyond reasonable doubt to a jury that will inevitably have sympathetic peers. I hope you’re right, but I don’t see how it’s going to be possible.

I truly always appreciate and enjoy your comments SN. I hope I'm right on this one too LOL.

I wonder though, what do you think might cause a juror to be sympathetic toward CR?

 

[Bravo]

If they are going for Murder 1 then I trust they have the evidence. IMO

 

[Cardinal47]

I truly always appreciate and enjoy your comments SN. I hope I'm right on this one too LOL.

I wonder though, what do you think might cause a juror to be sympathetic toward CR?

I'm not SN but I'll take a stab at that one.

A jury of his peers could garner some sympathy. They know the struggle.
ACLU thinking juror might think he was railroaded.
A woman sympathetic to him being a young father.

This is why there are some defense attorneys that hire a person trained in reading potential jurors. So I'll add that to the above list! That could really harm a prosecutors case.

Btw I've been absent for a while. Who's his attorneys and who's paying? Tia

 

[Bravo]

If a Juror is going to sympathize with him they have no business on the Jury. Decision based on fact. I tend to think Jurors would identify more with Mollie. A young girl, going about her routine. Until he came along and killed her.

 

[SharonNeedles]

I truly always appreciate and enjoy your comments SN. I hope I'm right on this one too LOL.

I wonder though, what do you think might cause a juror to be sympathetic toward CR?

Two things I’m absolutely sure of: there will be a change of venue, and there will be Hispanic jurors. (I’ve been wrong before when absolutely sure, but still...) Although this crime had nothing to do with CR’s immigration status, the aftermath sure has strong undertones. There will be sympathy for the plight of this young father. Again, I don’t think that’s relevant, but the defense counsel will push it. And in the end, at least one juror is going to need real physical proof that there was premeditation. They’re going to need to hear what only two people can tell them - but they’re not going to hear it because one of them is on trial and the other is dead. Magic 8 ball here says 2nd Degree.

 

[katydid23]

Actually I’d wager against that. The state is going to have a hard time proving intent beyond reasonable doubt to a jury that will inevitably have sympathetic peers. I hope you’re right, but I don’t see how it’s going to be possible.

What is the 'intent' when you force a young woman into the trunk of your car and stab her? There aren't many innocent intentions left at that point. JMO

 

[katydid23]

Two things I’m absolutely sure of: there will be a change of venue, and there will be Hispanic jurors. (I’ve been wrong before when absolutely sure, but still...) Although this crime had nothing to do with CR’s immigration status, the aftermath sure has strong undertones. There will be sympathy for the plight of this young father. Again, I don’t think that’s relevant, but the defense counsel will push it. And in the end, at least one juror is going to need real physical proof that there was premeditation. They’re going to need to hear what only two people can tell them - but they’re not going to hear it because one of them is on trial and the other is dead. Magic 8 ball here says 2nd Degree.

I doubt that Hispanic jurors will side with this violent killer just because he is Hispanic too. They will probably be harder on him, because of it.

As for premeditation, it is not limited to that small window before he grabbed her. It doesn't matter what his intentions were when he stopped, or when he approached her.

It doesn't even matter only when he threw her into the trunk. Intent and premeditation comes into play when he stopped and took her out of the trunk. He could have let her go right then.

But he continued and made the decision, whether he now remembers or admits to it or not, he continued on and made the final decision to kill her and dump her in the dirt and cover her with branches.

JMO

 

[girlhasnoname]

Two things I’m absolutely sure of: there will be a change of venue, and there will be Hispanic jurors. (I’ve been wrong before when absolutely sure, but still...) Although this crime had nothing to do with CR’s immigration status, the aftermath sure has strong undertones. There will be sympathy for the plight of this young father. Again, I don’t think that’s relevant, but the defense counsel will push it. And in the end, at least one juror is going to need real physical proof that there was premeditation. They’re going to need to hear what only two people can tell them - but they’re not going to hear it because one of them is on trial and the other is dead. Magic 8 ball here says 2nd Degree.

I appreciate your thoughts SN......but darn, I hope your magic 8 ball here is wrong. Call me crazy, but I have a lot of faith in the jury system. I hope once they see all the evidence presented it won't matter one iota if CR is a hard working father who immigrated from a poverty, drug stricken country to better himself. There are many others who've done the exact same that don't commit a brutal murder.

He's proven himself to be deceitful, opportunistic, cold blooded and remorseless. I don't think this is the first time he's been involved in some type of criminal offense either.

JMHO Speculation

 

[girlhasnoname]

I'm not SN but I'll take a stab at that one.

A jury of his peers could garner some sympathy. They know the struggle.
ACLU thinking juror might think he was railroaded.
A woman sympathetic to him being a young father.

This is why there are some defense attorneys that hire a person trained in reading potential jurors. So I'll add that to the above list! That could really harm a prosecutors case.

Btw I've been absent for a while. Who's his attorneys and who's paying? Tia

BBM
The struggle? No pass for criminal behavior. I know many who are or have struggled and they didn't kill anyone.

Marshalltown defense attorney Chad Frese and his wife have been "retained" by CR's family. Frese recently made news for posting/commenting on a client on Facebook?!! Uuum, just no.

 

[girlhasnoname]

If a Juror is going to sympathize with him they have no business on the Jury. Decision based on fact. I tend to think Jurors would identify more with Mollie. A young girl, going about her routine. Until he came along and killed her.

This x 1000 Bravo

 

[SharonNeedles]

I appreciate your thoughts SN......but darn, I hope your magic 8 ball here is wrong. Call me crazy, but I have a lot of faith in the jury system. I hope once they see all the evidence presented it won't matter one iota if CR is a hard working father who immigrated from a poverty, drug stricken country to better himself. There are many others who've done the exact same that don't commit a brutal murder.

He's proven himself to be deceitful, opportunistic, cold blooded and remorseless. I don't think this is the first time he's been involved in some type of criminal offense either.

JMHO Speculation

Worth mentioning, if my Magic 8 Ball inspired predictions were accurate my fantasy football team wouldn’t be 3-9 right now. When I say I hope I’m wrong history says that’s more likely than not. Maybe it would be more accurate to say I fear that’s how Mollie’s case is going to go down.

 

[Cardinal47]

If a Juror is going to sympathize with him they have no business on the Jury. Decision based on fact. I tend to think Jurors would identify more with Mollie. A young girl, going about her routine. Until he came along and killed her.

The question was " what might cause a juror to sympathize with him" . I was merely giving a few suggestions!
Don't shoot the messenger!

 

[Cardinal47]

Btw I lost a whole lot of confidence in our jury system when Casey walked out of jail a free woman! Just saying. Right and good and honesty and the law don't always prevail! Sometimes evil wins.

 

[Charliegizmo49]

<Snipped>
BBM
I don't think there is a snowball's chance in He** that'll happen, he's going down for 1st degree based on what is known so far IMO.

Stalking, abducting, confessing to her being in the trunk & bloody, dumping her body and leading LE to remains seems to qualify. JMHO.

I haven’t looked at his charges in a while. But I don’t recall 2nd degree murder in the charges. Am I incorrect?!!