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

[justtrish]

CB’s aunt, by marriage, is on the stand with an interpreter. Can’t imagine how she could help!

I'm sure to talk about what a wonderful boy he was and how he came to live with them and how he is

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
CBR's parents still live in Mexico, Cervantes Valle says.
@KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
10:09 AM · May 25, 2021·Twitter Web App

Bahena Rivera looking down at times during aunt’s testimony.
@kccinews #BahenaRiveraTrial

10:10 AM · May 25, 2021 from Davenport, IA·Twitter for iPhone

Brown objects to a photo of a 2016 wedding as "improper character evidence" and not relevant. Judge Joel Yates agrees. @kccinews #BahenaRiveraTrial
10:11 AM · May 25, 2021·Twitter Web App

So now he is emotional? He can look down now, but not when pictures of what he did to Molly were shown? No then he looked blank faced and stared at the pictures without any emotion.

 

[Seattle1]

I recall this testimony from the suppression hearing -- the family arrived after hours to Sheriff's office as CBR came to the Sheriff's office for questioning after his shift. The family arrived at 8:30pm. No surprise they didn't find doors open and staff hanging out to greet them.

 

[PrairieWind]

How convient to try and say he may have been on a date that night

Was that actually said? I guess he has a different idea of what a "date" is.

 

[Warwick7]

Find me a trunk that DOESN'T have unknown DNA...

When you have no defense....

JMO

Even at Kelsey berreth home in her bathroom was unknown blood. During the trial it came out that the previous owner was a bleeder. And when she shaved she bled. The defense is being ridiculous.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Even at Kelsey berreth home in her bathroom was unknown blood. During the trial it came out that the previous owner was a bleeder. And when she shaved she bled. The defense is being ridiculous.

I agree

 

[PommyMommy]

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
She says they were there from 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. She and the other family members were not allowed into the actual waiting room, but in the entryway.
10:20 AM · May 25, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
The aunt says they called him when he was in the police station, but they didn't reach him. State has said that he had his phone and we've seen him with his phone in the interview room.
10:24 AM · May 25, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Identifies Pamela Romero as the woman who came out to talk to them around 10:30 pm. "I asked her if we needed an attorney for Cristhian. We'd been waiting for several hours."
10:25 AM · May 25, 2021·Twitter Web App

 

[mickey2942]

This testimony, in Spanish, is actually for the Hispanic jurors, there are 3? I wonder if they speak Spanish? Calculated. I am waiting for a lot of underlying tones and innuendos that are "political". Jury nullification, not unlike the "Kate Stinle" trial.

 

[JudgeJoe]

Ok now I see where this is going. Defense establishing family attempted to contact CB at police station but was denied access to CB. Numerous calls & texts were unanswered. This goes back to interview vs interrogation, imo. And if CB was really free to go. Sidebar.. . Judge throws this out.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

In the Watt's case, investigators put the idea in his head that Shannan may have hurt the girls, but that doesn't mean he wasn't lying when he claimed she smothered them.

Rivera had probably already admitted to chasing Mollie down on the road when the idea of blacking out came up. He led LE to the body so I'm not sure why it would matter, either way. Imo

I think he “blacked out” because he didn’t want to admit to the horrible details of what he actually did to her.

 

[Warwick7]

Please tell us how Dalton Jack or the neighbor living two miles from the cornfield had access to CBR's black malibu. Shame on these people!

Bam!!!!!

 

[TTF14]

Even at Kelsey berreth home in her bathroom was unknown blood. During the trial it came out that the previous owner was a bleeder. And when she shaved she bled. The defense is being ridiculous.

Perhaps their whole goal is to just avoid grounds for an appeal since they know their client is guilty.

 

[Alethea]

Here we go -- more about the funny, family jokester, CBR, yet I've not seen any reaction from the accused seated at the defense table -- not even to acknowledge his family testifying on his behalf.

Maybe it's just me but I feel like this was more appropriate for a sentencing phase, not guilt? Good people do bad things all the time. Your character is largely irrelevant unless it serves to prove very specific things under the rules of evidence.

 

[TTF14]

I think he “blacked out” because he didn’t want to admit to the horrible details of what he actually did to her.

Yeah, I agree. He didn't black out. That's BS.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

Ita- I guess he can break out his comedy routine soon at the big house- once he gets to know them all & overcomes his shyness.

HaHa! First nomination for Cleverest Post of the Day!

 

[PommyMommy]

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
"I asked her if we needed an attorney for Cristhian," Cervantes Valle says, regarding woman who met them at Sheriff's office (I presume it's Pamela Romero). @kccinews #BahenaRiveraTrial
10:25 AM · May 25, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
"I asked her if we needed an attorney for Cristhian," Cervantes Valle says, regarding woman who met them at Sheriff's office (I presume it's Pamela Romero). @kccinews #BahenaRiveraTrial"
10:27 AM · May 25, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Objections from State about what Officer Romero told CBR's family. Witness admonished at request of the State "witness should not be speaking about this subject," Judge Yates says. "It was a bad question I asked," Jennifer Frese says.
10:27 AM · May 25, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Cervantes says she did not ask to see CBR but did ask how long it would be. Not offered chance to see CBR.
10:28 AM · May 25, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
The officer tells her that they don't need an attorney, though that answer was just struck from the record.
10:28 AM · May 25, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"It was close to one in the morning and at that time we decided they weren't going to give us any information so we decided to leave."
10:29 AM · May 25, 2021·Twitter Web App

 

[Alethea]

Perhaps their whole goal is to just avoid grounds for an appeal since they know their client is guilty.

It can go both ways. The defendant is entitled to a zealous defense. The state really does have the burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. But I don't think defense attorneys are really helping their client if they bring up unlikely or irrelevant options. A good defense can focus on why the state does not have more hard evidence and maybe that they rushed to blame the car in the video because they did not fully investigate other options. But you don't have to argue aliens did it to not be considered ineffective IMO.

 

[PrairieWind]

Ok now I see where this is going. Defense establishing family attempted to contact CB at police station but was denied access to CB. Numerous calls & texts were unanswered. This goes back to interview vs interrogation, imo. And if CB was really free to go. Sidebar.. . Judge throws this out.

The defense needs to get this on the record, or at least attempt to, in order to preserve the issue for appeal. There is no question that they will appeal the issues of the admissibility of the interviews, leading the police to her body etc.

 

[Warwick7]

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Brown: Would you expect another person's DNA in the trunk of a well-used car? Spence: It wouldn't be a surprise @KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
9:40 AM · May 25, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"It wouldn't be a surprise to find other sources of DNA on various surfaces of a vehicle," Dr. Spence says on re-cross when Brown asks about finding DNA in a "well-used" car.
9:41 AM · May 25, 2021·Twitter Web App

"It surprises me they didn't do a comparison in this instance they only had two references."
9:42 AM · May 25, 2021·Twitter Web App

Brown: #MollieTibbetts blood is inside the trunk. Dr. Spence: "Apparently, yes." 10 min break here as Dr. Spence is excused.
9:43 AM · May 25, 2021·Twitter Web App

Bout time we got or the fact that the car was used.

 

[californiagem]

I guess we are to hear what a good boy he is

Except we will probably never hear if he had any wrong doings in Mexico.

 

[Seattle1]

After the illegal/inappropriate questions by the defense, the Family witness confirmed she only talked to Officer Romero for about 5 minutes and did NOT ask any questions about CBR.

Officer Romero came out to the lobby area where the family was waiting (8:30 pm - 1 AM).

Witnessed testified she texted and called CBR while waiting but he did not answer or respond to texts.

MOO