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| Mollie Tibbetts murder: Suspect 'forgot dead jogger in car' | Mollie Tibbetts murder: Suspect 'forgot dead jogger in car' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A Mexican immigrant accused of murdering Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts claims to have no memory of her death. | |
| Cristhian Bahena Rivera, 24, confessed to following the 20-year-old during her evening run five weeks ago. | |
| He said he "got mad" when she threatened to call 911, but cannot recall what happened next, police say. | He said he "got mad" when she threatened to call 911, but cannot recall what happened next, police say. |
| President Donald Trump has blamed US immigration laws for Ms Tibbetts' death, but the accused's lawyer said his client was in the US legally. | |
| The body of Ms Tibbetts, who went missing on 18 July, was discovered by investigators on Tuesday after they were led to the scene by Mr Rivera. | |
| Police say the suspect was living in the US illegally and had resided in the area around Ms Tibbetts' hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa, for at least four years. | Police say the suspect was living in the US illegally and had resided in the area around Ms Tibbetts' hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa, for at least four years. |
| But Mr Rivera's farm employers said he had passed an immigration background check. | |
| On Wednesday, Mr Trump addressed the case in a video message posted on Twitter in which he attacked US immigration laws as "strictly pathetic". | |
| "A person came in from Mexico illegally and killed [Ms Tibbetts] - we need our immigration laws changed, we need our border laws changed," he said. | |
| "We have the worse laws anywhere in the world," he added, before appealing for funding to erect a wall along the US-Mexico border. | |
| 'Blocked' memory of death | 'Blocked' memory of death |
| According to a criminal complaint, Mr Rivera has admitted observing Ms Tibbetts during her evening run while dog-sitting for her boyfriend. | |
| Camera images had captured Mr Rivera's black Chevy Malibu "driving back and forth" near the scene where she vanished, according to the affidavit. | Camera images had captured Mr Rivera's black Chevy Malibu "driving back and forth" near the scene where she vanished, according to the affidavit. |
| Under police questioning, he admitted following her in his car, before getting out and running "behind and alongside" her, police say. | Under police questioning, he admitted following her in his car, before getting out and running "behind and alongside" her, police say. |
| The accused told police he panicked after she threatened to call police. | The accused told police he panicked after she threatened to call police. |
| He said he "blocked" the memory of what happened next, "which is what he does when he gets very upset", according to the charging document. | He said he "blocked" the memory of what happened next, "which is what he does when he gets very upset", according to the charging document. |
| His memory supposedly returned as he was back behind the wheel of his car. | His memory supposedly returned as he was back behind the wheel of his car. |
| He said he noticed a headphone earpiece in his lap, which is "how he realised he put her in the trunk", says the criminal complaint. | He said he noticed a headphone earpiece in his lap, which is "how he realised he put her in the trunk", says the criminal complaint. |
| Officials say the accused then checked the boot of his car, where he saw Ms Tibbetts' body wearing exercise clothing and with blood on both sides of her head. | Officials say the accused then checked the boot of his car, where he saw Ms Tibbetts' body wearing exercise clothing and with blood on both sides of her head. |
| He said he dragged her 60ft (20m) into a secluded corn field, and allegedly left her body face-up and covered with corn plants. | He said he dragged her 60ft (20m) into a secluded corn field, and allegedly left her body face-up and covered with corn plants. |
| What is the latest reaction? | What is the latest reaction? |
| A statement from Ms Tibbetts' family on Wednesday said: "Our hearts are broken. | A statement from Ms Tibbetts' family on Wednesday said: "Our hearts are broken. |
| "On behalf of Mollie's entire family, we thank all of those from around the world who have sent their thoughts and prayers for our girl." | "On behalf of Mollie's entire family, we thank all of those from around the world who have sent their thoughts and prayers for our girl." |
| It included a request from the family for privacy. | It included a request from the family for privacy. |
| At the White House, spokeswoman Sarah Sanders called the death "an unfortunate reminder of why we need to strengthen our immigration laws". | At the White House, spokeswoman Sarah Sanders called the death "an unfortunate reminder of why we need to strengthen our immigration laws". |
| The White House also tweeted about the case, posting a video about family members of Americans killed by undocumented immigrants. | The White House also tweeted about the case, posting a video about family members of Americans killed by undocumented immigrants. |
| First court appearance | First court appearance |
| On Wednesday, a judge at Poweshiek County Court ordered the suspect held behind bars on a $5m (£4m) bail bond. | On Wednesday, a judge at Poweshiek County Court ordered the suspect held behind bars on a $5m (£4m) bail bond. |
| During the hearing, the suspect wore headphones to hear a Spanish-language translator, and answered "si" when asked if he understood the charges. | During the hearing, the suspect wore headphones to hear a Spanish-language translator, and answered "si" when asked if he understood the charges. |
| The suspect's defence lawyer, Allen Richards, disputed official statements that his client was in the US illegally. | The suspect's defence lawyer, Allen Richards, disputed official statements that his client was in the US illegally. |
| "Sad and sorry Trump has weighed in on this matter in national media which will poison the entire possible pool of jury members," Mr Richards wrote in a court document, according to the Des Moines Register. | "Sad and sorry Trump has weighed in on this matter in national media which will poison the entire possible pool of jury members," Mr Richards wrote in a court document, according to the Des Moines Register. |
| Yarrabee Farms, where the suspect had been employed for four years, said in a statement he "was vetted through the government's E-Verify system, and was an employee in good standing". | Yarrabee Farms, where the suspect had been employed for four years, said in a statement he "was vetted through the government's E-Verify system, and was an employee in good standing". |
| The farm in Brooklyn (population 1,500) is owned by a prominent Iowa Republican's brother. | The farm in Brooklyn (population 1,500) is owned by a prominent Iowa Republican's brother. |
| Owner Dane Lang wrote that he was "shocked to hear that one of our employees was involved and is charged in this case". | Owner Dane Lang wrote that he was "shocked to hear that one of our employees was involved and is charged in this case". |
| According to the Washington Post, the suspect used a stolen ID card to pass the Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify system. | According to the Washington Post, the suspect used a stolen ID card to pass the Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify system. |