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

[JDough]

I am so far, not even seeing any appeal issues. The defense was able to get the trial in another county. They can probably continue the "coercion" mantra, but I don't see that either. As for incapacity/incompetence for their client, he obviously understood what he did, tried to hide the evidence. He isn't the sharpest pencil in the box, but he doesn't meet the bar for borderline MR.

Completely agree with your assessment. I am still waiting for the defense to explain why "their client" stopped to approach a young woman who was born in the United States if he struggles to speak and understand English? How did he expect to communicate with her? How did he know she was threatening to call the police? I guess his only defense is "poor me, I'm in the U.S. illegally". Are we (more specifically the jury) supposed to feel sorry for him? I hope the prosecution brings this up.

 

[JDough]

Her Fitbit was synced. It recorded her heart rate, which indicated the time that she was abducted and, shortly afterward, killed.

If my memory serves me correctly, this information is automatically saved to the cloud? Wouldn't LE be able to obtain when these events occurred? Or am I mis-remembering?

 

[Warwick7]

Unless something else is revealed, I have always felt that after she would call the cops he hit her with the car.

Then threw her in the trunk. Whether there was a tarp or not she bled from that injury. I feel he drove to an area he was familiar with and drug her out of that trunk. I feel she was still alive trying to get away.

Now with new thoughts on why her clothes were in different areas: I feel other have some good points on him letting her go and capturing her each time. Then each time stripping her of her clothing. Then he finally rapes her then when finished he stabs her to death. He then covers her with corn stalk and drives away.

 

[katydid23]

Every time I hear that she got mad and threatened to call police I feel like he's alluding to her being racist. I feel like he's trying to say " She was calling the police because she didn't want someone Mexican running with her" Am I completely off?

I think that is exactly what he is trying to imply.

 

[BeachSky]

He entered the country illegally. He was using a fake name.
Fake social security number.
Assume he paid no taxes.
He was already breaking the law.
I don’t believe she waved at him or that he blacked out.
I think he felt entitled to her & scared her.
She triggered him by saying she was “calling the police” .


MOO

 

[skyedaze]

Unless something else is revealed, I have always felt that after she would call the cops he hit her with the car.

Then threw her in the trunk. Whether there was a tarp or not she bled from that injury. I feel he drove to an area he was familiar with and drug her out of that trunk. I feel she was still alive trying to get away.

Now with new thoughts on why her clothes were in different areas: I feel other have some good points on him letting her go and capturing her each time. Then each time stripping her of her clothing. Then he finally rapes her then when finished he stabs her to death. He then covers her with corn stalk and drives away.

Yes. I think he hit her with the car and put her in the trunk.
Sadly, I agree with everything you said here.
I even wonder if he just drove his car up there..up that cornfield cut in road. He never carried her "fainted" body up there. That never happened.
He mentioned chasing her and she screamed...I believe that...just not in the context he framed it.

 

[mickey2942]

It is interesting that the suppression included anything CBR said earlier in the questioning. But did not suppress the actual evidence in regards to finding her body. (Thank Goodness)! (Apparently, CBR had been given a Miranda warning 2x).

Prosecutors Show Car Trunk Blood Evidence in Murder of Mollie Tibbetts

I am really interested in the fact that blood/DNA from two other people was found in CBR's trunk. Aside from the blood/DNA of Mollie Tibbets. I wonder who's blood the other two unidentified people are...it doesn't seem to be very common to have blood in your trunk from various people.

"There was also a mixture of DNA from two other people, but analysis was unable to determine who, she said."

Also, the prosecution cannot discuss previous "bad acts" by the defendant. I wonder what those are...

 

[Warwick7]

Yes. I think he hit her with the car and put her in the trunk.
Sadly, I agree with everything you said here.
I even wonder if he just drove his car up there..up that cornfield cut in road. He never carried her "fainted" body up there. That never happened.
He mentioned chasing her and she screamed...I believe that...just not in the context he framed it.

Exactly!!!

 

[tmar]

It is interesting that the suppression included anything CBR said earlier in the questioning. But did not suppress the actual evidence in regards to finding her body. (Thank Goodness)! (Apparently, CBR had been given a Miranda warning 2x).

Prosecutors Show Car Trunk Blood Evidence in Murder of Mollie Tibbetts

I am really interested in the fact that blood from two other people was found in CBR's trunk. Aside from the blood/DNA of Mollie Tibbets. I wonder who's blood the other two unidentified people are...it doesn't seem to be very common to have blood in your trunk from various people.

Also, the prosecution cannot discuss previous "bad acts" by the defendant. I wonder what those are...

If there are other acts, surely we will hear about them: perhaps after this trial, not to cause problems for this creep.
Perhaps, as in a case in New Zealand, we heard of further violent acts committed, after the trial.

 

[tmar]

Mollie wanted to do two things that day: Run. And live.

CBR wanted IMO to do ONE thing.

In his fabrication, he's describing a RELATIONSHIP. Guy drives by girl. Girl notices. Guy smiles. Girl waves. Guy stops. They chat.... they meet for coffee later. Hallmark movie.

Preposterous, delusional....

If his motives were friendly, he'd have backed off when she threatened to call the police...

He is simply a liar. His saying she waved at him IMO is HIS way of blaming her for his crime. Grossest justification as if she invited or encouraged him to stop.

No way did it happen like that. That's his sick fantasy. Watching him in court yesterday confirmed it for me, no remorse, almost enjoying it. Twisted.

Mollie wanted to run. And live.

I do think he injured her, to gain control of her.

Then he took her to the secondary location.

Already wounded Mollie HAD to be thinking run, live....

I don't know her fitness level but he had the advantage-- she was bleeding (evidenced by blood in the trunk), he had a weapon. Even so, she may have had the presence of mind to calculate her chances, then choosing to run for her life.... that's IMO what made him mad. A mad, violent predator incapable of compassion or remorse with a goal and a weapon.

Impossible to fathom that he's a father....

He's where he belongs. Until hell has an opening.

JMO

At trial, once the fitbit and both phone information is produced, we will know when MT died.
Time MT died is important to see what further actions were carried out by this lunatic , after death.

 

[Seattle1]

Completely agree with your assessment. I am still waiting for the defense to explain why "their client" stopped to approach a young woman who was born in the United States if he struggles to speak and understand English? How did he expect to communicate with her? How did he know she was threatening to call the police? I guess his only defense is "poor me, I'm in the U.S. illegally". Are we (more specifically the jury) supposed to feel sorry for him? I hope the prosecution brings this up.

^^bbm
That's just it -- I don't think he struggled to speak or understand English until it suited him to say so. He'd lived in IA for 7 years -- 1/3 of his life and was known to several local girls that spoke up after he was arrested for Mollie's murder.

“I know Cristhian from my sister. She thought he was a nice, well-spoken person. They hung out a few times but nothing really happened romantically,” she said. “She told me that a little while ago he drove up to her while she was walking through Brooklyn. He told her she was really pretty and things like that.”

Teen girl says alleged killer Cristhian Rivera ‘creeped her out’ and followed her in his car prior to Mollie Tibbetts’ death: Report

 

[MemPat]

If there are other acts, surely we will hear about them: perhaps after this trial, not to cause problems for this creep.
Perhaps, as in a case in New Zealand, we heard of further violent acts committed, after the trial.

IIRC bad acts can come into the sentencing phase. We'll know.
Following young girls was not foreign to him.

 

[mickey2942]

IIRC bad acts can come into the sentencing phase. We'll know.
Following young girls was not foreign to him.

Yes. That is another thing that the prosecution cannot bring up...the "creep" factor. Hx of CBR following young gals.

 

[katydid23]

It is interesting that the suppression included anything CBR said earlier in the questioning. But did not suppress the actual evidence in regards to finding her body. (Thank Goodness)! (Apparently, CBR had been given a Miranda warning 2x).

Prosecutors Show Car Trunk Blood Evidence in Murder of Mollie Tibbetts

I am really interested in the fact that blood/DNA from two other people was found in CBR's trunk. Aside from the blood/DNA of Mollie Tibbets. I wonder who's blood the other two unidentified people are...it doesn't seem to be very common to have blood in your trunk from various people.

"There was also a mixture of DNA from two other people, but analysis was unable to determine who, she said."

Also, the prosecution cannot discuss previous "bad acts" by the defendant. I wonder what those are...

Are we sure it was ' blood'/DNA from 2 others that was found?

Could it have been DNA in the trunk, maybe on the fishing pole or toys, and it mixed with her blood that dripped on it?


The investigation uncovered several DNA samples from the trunk. It was determined that Mollie was in the area of that trunk, said criminalist Tara Scott. There was also a mixture of DNA from two other people, but analysis was unable to determine who, she said.

 

[Bordeaux]

So meant to say this earlier but have you all noticed that he will NOT wear those headphones up with the band on top of his fancy pants hair do?

Fancy hair is shaved off as part of “body prep” prior to being escorted to the electric chair.

 

[TL4S]

No. The defense was very clear in their protest that they were careful NOT to include any video evidence that was previously suppressed by court order (i.e., deficient Miranda).

The suppressed evidence is is what occurred between the hours 11:30 pm and early the next morning when he was fully, correctly, Mirandized CBR and when he took investigators to the cornfield where they found Mollie's body.

Another source of contention for me personally is all this talk about 11 hours of interrogation and CBR being exhausted and not capable of voluntarily confessing. Having watched the court live stream evidence suppression hearings, CBR did not arrive at the Sheriff's office for questioning until early evening -- after his shift at the dairy farm. The relevant hours (of 11 total hours) include the suppressed hours after 11:30 pm. In other words, the interview/interrogation in question was really only about 5 hours that occurred BEFORE 11:30 pm and not after midnight when everybody including CBR and the investigators were tired.

MOO

Yeah, and it seems to me that if he had the energy to stalk down, murder, and hide the body of a young woman after working his regular shift, he certainly can handle sitting in a room, talking.

 

[Forever Young]

Are we sure it was ' blood'/DNA from 2 others that was found?

Could it have been DNA in the trunk, maybe on the fishing pole or toys, and it mixed with her blood that dripped on it?


The investigation uncovered several DNA samples from the trunk. It was determined that Mollie was in the area of that trunk, said criminalist Tara Scott. There was also a mixture of DNA from two other people, but analysis was unable to determine who, she said.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the forensic analyst in discussing nuclear DNA said it was not found in blood. I don't recall hearing that blood from anyone other than Mollie was found.

A mixture of DNA that is unidentifiable sounds similar to DNA found on the clothing of Jon Benet Ramsey which was speculated to be left during the manufacturing process.

In the case of a used car, could have come from anywhere - from the installation of the trunk liner, to salesmen or customers inspecting the vehicle. More smoke and mirrors.

 

[TL4S]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the forensic analyst in discussing nuclear DNA said it was not found in blood. I don't recall hearing that blood from anyone other than Mollie was found.

A mixture of DNA that is unidentifiable sounds similar to DNA found on the clothing of Jon Benet Ramsey which was speculated to be left during the manufacturing process.

In the case of a used car, could have come from anywhere - from the installation of the trunk liner, to salesmen or customers inspecting the vehicle. More smoke and mirrors.

Mollie Tibbetts murder suspect seeks delay in trial

The defense also argues in the motion that fingerprints lifted from items in Rivera’s trunk do not belong to Rivera and that blood found in the trunk of Rivera’s black Chevrolet Malibu was a mixture of Tibbetts’ and another person’s blood and fingerprints.

 

[PommyMommy]

Re-posting partial testimony on Friday regarding the blood and DNA from the trunk of the Malibu:

Denise Hnytka on Twitter
Johnson searched the trunk for the presence of human blood. There were stains on several of the items in the trunk, she says. The football and two pieces of fishing pole that were positive presumptive for blood. Several other areas negative for blood @LawCrimeNetwork
11:15 AM · May 21, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Johnson says the rubber seal area tested presumptive positive for blood.
@KCCINews #BahenaRiveraTrial

11:18 AM · May 21, 2021·Twitter for iPhone

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Talking about suspected blood stain from trunk now. Scott says the DNA profile from that blood matched known profile of #MollieTibbetts. Less than 8.2 nonillion chance it would come from any unrelated person.
2:52 PM · May 21, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Football from trunk: Presence of blood indicated, DNA sample too weak Fishing pole: Same as above
2:55 PM · May 21, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Analysis of trunk liner from Malibu: Major contributor to blood stain was Mollie Tibbetts
3:03 PM · May 21, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Most mixtures of DNA found in the Malibu trunk could not yield a DNA profile or even say male/female. Frese asks about the sample of the trunk that did have Mollie's DNA (one out of 8.2 nonillion referenced above) that was a mixture of three DNA samples.
3:54 PM · May 21, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Scott says she could not exclude or include CBR in that sample.
3:54 PM · May 21, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter Scott says there was only one source for that blood: #MollieTibbetts" / Twitter
Brown points out the stain from the trunk seal. Scott says there was only one source for that blood: #MollieTibbetts
3:57 PM · May 21, 2021·Twitter Web App

 

[BUF]

Waiting to hear what the ME will say tomorrow....

The trial is scheduled to resume at 8:30 a.m. Monday. The prosecution still has other witnesses it is expected to call, including Deputy Chief State Medical Examiner Dennis Klein.

Recap: Mollie Tibbetts crime scene photos, DNA evidence shown in court