Found Deceased IA - Mollie Tibbetts, 20, Poweshiek County, 19 Jul 2018 *Arrest* #48

[MsBetsy]

To the defense -- Poweshiek County is farm country USA where all farmers work long hours. Many of the residents put in those kind of hours each and every day. There's nothing special about CBR doing his job -- get over it already.

I think all migrant workers work long hours. It's also very common to send money to family in Mexico, where it's much cheaper to build a house. Imo

 

[justtrish]

To the defense -- Poweshiek County is farm country USA where all farmers work long hours. Many of the residents put in those kind of hours each and every day. There's nothing special about CBR doing his job -- get over it already.

I'd add many jobs require this. I think of Mollie's boyfriend who was brought in to testify and currently was deployed to Iraq. My husband has been there. 12 months straight. Even time "off" is spent on alert and on the ready in case you are needed. There is zero down time for the entire time.. 24/7 you sleep with an eye open and going to the bathroom involves walking outside to a porta potty. Daily job duties require you to walk into unknowns where you could get blown up or shot at. I'd say CBR working 12 hour days isn't the worst that could happen.

I think the fact that CBR worked so hard to send money back to his family is admirable and he took care of his daughter and paid his car bill on time.. he had many things going for him that many people don't. What went wrong then? That is what this all makes me think, not that he worked hard so he couldn't have done this.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

The Court TV lady just the defense opened “strong” with their DNA expert. What trial is she watching?

 

[Warwick7]

I agree because he certainly had his phone and was using it as seen in the police video of CBR at the station.

Exactly @Seattle1 he had his phone, flipping through it, they were calling and texting and he didn't want to deal with talking to them, so he ignored and avoided them.

 

[PrairieWind]

The Court TV lady just the defense opened “strong” with their DNA expert. What trial is she watching?

From what I read here, I don't see that the DNA expert really did anything for the defense. Mollie's blood was found in the trunk.

 

[californiagem]

From what I read here, I don't see that the DNA expert really did anything for the defense. Mollie's blood was found in the trunk.

Additionally, I think it may have implanted the question if there were other victims.

 

[Warwick7]

To the defense -- Poweshiek County is farm country USA where all farmers work long hours. Many of the residents put in those kind of hours each and every day. There's nothing special about CBR doing his job -- get over it already.

Amen!!

 

[BUF]

I had an appt this morning. Just got back in time for their lunch break. I skimmed through when I was able to (thanks for all the tweets and thoughts!) Sounds like I didn’t miss too much...a DNA specialist that prosecution got to say Mollie’s blood was in the trunk, a cousin who wanted to show a photo and wasn’t allowed to, his baby momma who said she never saw him black out, and lots of talk about illegal immigration... is this right?

 

[californiagem]

I had an appt this morning. Just got back in time for their lunch break. I skimmed through when I was able to (thanks for all the tweets and thoughts!) Sounds like I didn’t miss too much...a DNA specialist that prosecution got to say Mollie’s blood was in the trunk, a cousin who wanted to show a photo and wasn’t allowed to, his baby momma who said she never saw him black out, and lots of talk about illegal immigration... is this right?

He was a very very very hard worker! He did not have time to kidnap, murder and probably rape Molly! He did have time, however to make a baby!

 

[BUF]

He was a very very very hard worker! He did not have time to kidnap, murder and probably rape Molly! He did have time, however to make a baby!

 

[PrairieWind]

He was a very very very hard worker! He did not have time to kidnap, murder and probably rape Molly! He did have time, however to make a baby!

yes, and Mollie's bf was probably a racist.

 

[mickey2942]

I thought the prosecution wanted no photos allowed of the defendant with small children. I guess they lost that one.

Seems like the defense pretty much got whatever they asked for. The judge wants zero wriggle room for defense at appeal.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

The DNA evidence is totally valid. The defense’s own expert witness confirmed that Mollie’s blood/DNA was in the trunk of his car. He also said there was unknown DNA from others in there. In my opinion, it doesn’t matter who else’s DNA is in that trunk, even if it’s the queen of England’s. The question is why is Mollie’s DNA in his trunk. The defense will have no explanation for that.

 

[californiagem]

yes, and Mollie's bf was probably a racist.

A pinata is an object that kids hit until candy drops out! It's very traditional.

 

[TL4S]

I don't have a problem with the defense team calling witnesses to testify to CBR being a decent, hard-working family member and father. I'm not surprised to see him cry over his daughter while sitting straight-faced looking at crime scene photos he's possibly already been shown. And I don't even have an issue with CBR's ex-gf saying DJ is a racist while she is under oath. Either he is, or that's her honest interpretation of him, and if that might point to something they will discuss later in regards to reasonable doubt, so be it.

In my view, CBR's counsel is doing their job. I don't know how well they are doing it, but...

At least, so far, nobody seems to be dragging MT's name through the mud.

 

[californiagem]

I apologize for making light of some things in this trial. I feel very sad for what happened to Molly. Bless her soul.

 

[Warwick7]

Can we hear the entire questioning then so we can hear for ourselves who said blackout first?

Fair is fair.

JMO

Yes @Megnut !! Me too!
Fair is fair!
Bam!

 

[Bravo]

I apologize for making light of some things in this trial. I feel very sad for what happened to Molly. Bless her soul.

I for one totally get it. I do it myself in many a Trial. It's a coping mechanism.

 

[PommyMommy]

MAY 24, 2021
Agent says lack of Spanish skills delayed Iowa investigation (apnews.com)
[...]

Division of Criminal Investigation agent Trent Vileta said he wanted to speak with Cristhian Bahena Rivera after investigators linked him to a car seen on video driving near where Mollie Tibbetts disappeared while running in Brooklyn, Iowa.

But that took four days, in part because investigators knew they needed to question Bahena Rivera and his co-workers in Spanish, and “we didn’t have any Spanish speakers,” Vileta said.

[...]

Vileta said the evidence suggests Tibbetts was abducted on a road outside Brooklyn after 8 p.m., but that he does not know precisely where or when she was killed.

Data from Tibbetts’ cellphone provider shows her phone was moving at a running pace before accelerating to over 60 mph around 8:27 p.m. and eventually slowing down and stopping more than 10 miles away, FBI agent Kevin Horan testified. By 8:53 p.m., her phone went dark.

[...]

Tibbetts suffered up to 12 wounds to her head, neck, chest and other body parts, including one injury that penetrated her skull, he said. An injury to her right hand suggested she was trying to defend herself.

Bahena Rivera remained largely expressionless throughout the day. He watched as the medical examiner discussed several photos showing the wounds to Tibbetts’ body, which had decomposed by the time it was recovered.

[...]

Vileta noted that the “ political environment ” for immigrants living illegally in the U.S. was hostile in 2018, and said he worried that Bahena Rivera or others might flee if they knew they were being sought for questioning. That’s why investigators took DNA samples from Hispanic workers at the farm, so they could be identified if they later disappeared, he said.

[...]

On cross-examination, Vileta recounted looking into Mollie Tibbetts’ boyfriend and other men who came under scrutiny for various reasons before Bahena Rivera came on their radar. That included a reserve deputy who lived on the property adjacent to where Tibbetts’ body was found, Vileta said.

Tipsters told police that the man had a “torture room” in his basement and had previously harmed women and children, Vileta acknowledged. Investigators went to the man’s house, did not find such a room and never formally interviewed him, he said.

[...]

 

[Area52]

What they thought about CBR, was there fighting. I don't think any parents look too kindly towards someone who impregnated their daughter without the benefit of marriage and at such a young age.
They did take him in after, but I suspect they thought it was in the best interest of their daughter and baby.

I agree. Ithought it strange that the ex-GF talked about Birthday parties with all of HIS family, yet never mentioned her family being there. Seems odd to me that they weren't mentioned! Did they have a problem with CBR???