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Mollie Tibbetts: Murder charge in case of Iowa jogger | Mollie Tibbetts: Murder charge in case of Iowa jogger |
(35 minutes later) | |
A man has been charged with murder in connection with the disappearance of missing Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts, police say. | A man has been charged with murder in connection with the disappearance of missing Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts, police say. |
Cristhian Bahena Rivera, 24, is in the US illegally, authorities say. | Cristhian Bahena Rivera, 24, is in the US illegally, authorities say. |
Remains believed to be Ms Tibbetts' were earlier found in a cornfield near her hometown of Brooklyn. | |
The 20-year-old University of Iowa student went missing on 18 July while dog-sitting at the home of her boyfriend and his brother. | The 20-year-old University of Iowa student went missing on 18 July while dog-sitting at the home of her boyfriend and his brother. |
She was last seen by neighbours on a run. Her family reported her missing the next day when she did not arrive at work. | She was last seen by neighbours on a run. Her family reported her missing the next day when she did not arrive at work. |
Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations special agent Rick Rahn said in a press conference Mr Rivera is an undocumented immigrant from Mexico. | Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations special agent Rick Rahn said in a press conference Mr Rivera is an undocumented immigrant from Mexico. |
Mr Rivera allegedly saw Ms Tibbetts running and followed her before he says he "blacked out". | Mr Rivera allegedly saw Ms Tibbetts running and followed her before he says he "blacked out". |
"I can't speak about the motive," Mr Rahn told reporters. | "I can't speak about the motive," Mr Rahn told reporters. |
"I can just tell you that it seemed that he followed her, seemed to be drawn to her on that particular day, for whatever reason he chose to abduct her." | "I can just tell you that it seemed that he followed her, seemed to be drawn to her on that particular day, for whatever reason he chose to abduct her." |
Mr Rahn said Mr Rivera was "very compliant" and willing to talk, and said that he led police to her body. | Mr Rahn said Mr Rivera was "very compliant" and willing to talk, and said that he led police to her body. |
An arrest warrant says Mr Rivera is charged with murder in the first degree. He would receive a mandatory life sentence if convicted. | An arrest warrant says Mr Rivera is charged with murder in the first degree. He would receive a mandatory life sentence if convicted. |
Authorities were led to the body in the early hours of 21 August, in a cornfield in Poweshiek County - which includes Ms Tibbetts' Brooklyn hometown. | |
The body had corn stalks placed on top of it, Mr Rahn told reporters. | The body had corn stalks placed on top of it, Mr Rahn told reporters. |
A surveillance video of Ms Tibbetts jogging, and of Mr Rivera's car, helped authorities track the suspect down, he said. | A surveillance video of Ms Tibbetts jogging, and of Mr Rivera's car, helped authorities track the suspect down, he said. |
Police received more than 4,000 tips during their 34-day investigation. | Police received more than 4,000 tips during their 34-day investigation. |
Investigators had previously used social media and Fitbit data in an effort to trace her. | Investigators had previously used social media and Fitbit data in an effort to trace her. |
After the arrest, President Donald Trump told an audience at a rally in West Virginia the crime "should have never happened". | |
"You heard about today with the illegal alien coming in very sadly from Mexico," he told the crowd. | |
"And you saw what happened to that incredible, beautiful young woman." | |
Mr Trump called on his fellow Republicans to sweep the midterm elections in November in order to strengthen immigration laws. | |
Both of Iowa's Republican senators urged Congress to pass a law requiring Immigration and Customs Enforcement to take custody of any undocumented migrant who is charged with a crime that results in serious injury or death. | |
"No family should ever have to endure such a tragedy, especially one that could have been prevented," said Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst. | "No family should ever have to endure such a tragedy, especially one that could have been prevented," said Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst. |
"Too many Iowans have been lost at the hands of criminals who broke our immigration laws. We cannot allow these tragedies to continue," they added. | "Too many Iowans have been lost at the hands of criminals who broke our immigration laws. We cannot allow these tragedies to continue," they added. |
Republican Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said in a statement: "We are angry that a broken immigration system allowed a predator like this to live in our community, and we will do all we can to bring justice to Mollie's killer." | Republican Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said in a statement: "We are angry that a broken immigration system allowed a predator like this to live in our community, and we will do all we can to bring justice to Mollie's killer." |
More on the US immigration debate | More on the US immigration debate |