Category: Cristhian Bahena Rivera

Judge Hears Request for New Trial in Mollie Tibbetts Case

IOWA CITY, Iowa—The lead investigator in the 2018 death of University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts expressed confidence Tuesday that the right man was convicted, rejecting defense claims that her abduction could be tied to two other local men. Division of Criminal Investigation agent Trent Vileta said that had they known, detectives searching for Tibbetts…


Prosecutor Rejects New Defense Info in Mollie Tibbetts Case

IOWA CITY, Iowa—A prosecutor rejected defense claims Thursday that the 2018 killing of University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts could be connected to sex trafficking and other abductions that happened in the rural area where she disappeared while out for a run. A 21-year-old man’s alleged confession that he helped kill Tibbetts after she was…


Judge Delays Sentencing After Twists in Mollie Tibbetts Case

IOWA CITY, Iowa—A judge on Wednesday delayed sentencing for the man convicted of killing University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts after defense lawyers said they needed time to investigate new information pointing to other potential suspects. Cristhian Bahena Rivera, 27, was scheduled to be sentenced to life in prison without parole Thursday before his lawyers…


Cristhian Rivera Found Guilty: So Why Do We Encourage Illegal Immigration?

Illegal immigrant Cristhian Bahena Rivera was convicted of first-degree murder of 20-year-old University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbets. Given that Rivera was illegally in the United States, the case shines a light on illegal immigration and the policies that permit someone like Rivera to be here. Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TDtI-oItC4E Hosted by the…


Mollie Tibbetts’s Murder Suspect Blames Mystery Men for Her Slaying

IOWA CITY, Iowa—The man on trial for the 2018 abduction and stabbing death of a University of Iowa student testified in his own defense Wednesday and claimed for the first time that two masked men were responsible for the crime but forced him to take part. In a surprise development, the defense called Cristhian Bahena…


Iowa Murder Suspect Blames Mystery Men for Runner’s Slaying

IOWA CITY, Iowa—The man on trial for the 2018 abduction and stabbing death of a University of Iowa student testified in his own defense Wednesday and claimed for the first time that two masked men were responsible for the crime but forced him to take part. In a surprise development, the defense called Cristhian Bahena…


Mollie Tibbetts Murder Trial: DNA Analyst Testifies Blood in Suspect’s Trunk Belonged to Tibbetts

DAVENPORT, Iowa—Blood found in the trunk of a farmhand’s car was an exact match for a University of Iowa student who was abducted and killed while out for a run in 2018, a DNA analyst told jurors Friday. Tara Scott, a criminalist in the DNA section of Iowa’s crime lab, said she analyzed a swab…


Mollie Tibbetts’s Boyfriend Testifies in Murder Trial, ‘Wholeheartedly’ Believes Suspect Is Guilty

The boyfriend of a University of Iowa student testified Wednesday that he had nothing to do with her 2018 abduction and stabbing death, saying he had been out of town for work and was heartbroken by her slaying, and he “wholeheartedly” believes the suspect is guilty. Dalton Jack, the longtime boyfriend of Mollie Tibbetts, was…