IA - Mollie Tibbetts,20, Poweshiek County - MEDIA, MAPS & TIMELINES - NO DISCUSSION

[PommyMommy]

MAY 26, 2021
Cristhian Bahena Rivera trial: Day 6 updates, watch live | weareiowa.com

Wednesday, May 26 Fast Facts

• First Witness: Brandon Bublitz, a field operations for the major crimes unit in the Iowa DCI, was assigned to look at potential blood evidence about a mile from where Mollie’s body was found.
• Second Witness: Matt George with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation testified about the concept of victimology and talked about his conversations with Mollie’s boyfriend.
• Third Witness: Jordyn (Lamb) Johnson, went to high school with Mollie and her boyfriend. She testified she previously dated Dalton Jack, Mollie’s boyfriend.
• Fourth Witness: Defendant Cristhian Bahena Rivera took the stand, testifying he did put Mollie’s body in the cornfield, but says he wasn’t the one who killed her. He says he was threatened by two armed men who showed up in his living room and directed him to drive them, ultimately to where Mollie was running.
• Fifth Witness: Jamie Lee Slife, an Iowa woman who called in tips once she heard about Mollie’s disappearance. She felt investigators should look into her father, who she said was a known abuser.
• Sixth and final Witness: Luis Medina, who is a relative of Cristhians. He testified about his observations of Cristhians’ demeanor and said he and other family members went to the sheriff’s office the day Cristhian was being questioned.
• The state rested its case

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
State calls one rebuttal witness: Nick Wilson -- I believe that's Dalton Jack's supervisor. @KCCINews #BahenaRiveraTrial
8:39 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
State will now attempt to cement Dalton's alibi that he was in Dubuque when #MollieTibbetts disappeared.
8:40 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"We got into Dubuque at 6 o'clock that Tuesday." That Monday the 16th Wilson says the crew, including Dalton, was working in Iowa County.
8:43 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Wilson says Dalton Jack and crew were working on a job in the Amana Colonies on the Monday before going to Dubuque @KCCINews #BahenaRiveraTrial
8:43 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"Was Dalton Jack on the crew?" Yes, Wilson says. "What were Dalton Jack's hours?" "5:30 am to 7 pm."
8:45 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Wilson says he logs hours, crew members do not.
8:46 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Wilson says they stayed at Days Inn about 10 minutes from the job site in Dubuque. He says they went back to hotel at 7 pm, including Dalton.
8:47 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"We grill, drink a couple beers, play bags." Wilson doesn't recall Dalton ever going back to his room during this time.
8:47 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Angenette Levy on Twitter
Nick Wilson, Jasper Construction, testifies as a rebuttal witness for the State in #MollieTibbetts murder trial. He was Dalton Jack's supervisor in 2018. He says he kept track of employee hours @LawCrimeNetwork

8:47 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Wilson says on July 18 (date Mollie Tibbetts was kidnapped and killed), Dalton Jack worked from 5:30A-7P in Dubuque. Saying he logs his workers' hours, they don't do it themselves. @KCCINews #BahenaRiveraTrial
8:46 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Testifies that Dalton Jack went back to the hotel after 7P -- and he saw him after 7p. @KCCINews #BahenaRiveraTrial
8:47 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Brown now moves to July 19. "We started at 5:30 that day, we knew rain was coming so we just wanted to put in a good work day before," Wilson says. They worked until lunch until the rain began.
8:48 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Wilson testifies that Jack worked from 5:30-7 on July 19 as well. Noticed that he was acting down that day, kind of sad. Says later on the day, he hadn't spoken to #MollieTibbetts in 18 hours, and it was concerning. @KCCINews #BahenaRiveraTrial
8:49 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Says he gave Jack the day off Friday so he could go back and look for her. Then Wilson says he left the jobsite early to go back and assist in search efforts.
@KCCINews #BahenaRiveraTrial
8:50 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Cross-examination now. Jennifer Frese: Do you recall if you were ever interviewed? Wilson: I got a cellphone call from an @FBI
agent. - Call lasted for 3 minutes - Asked about Dalton - Was not subpoenaed.
@KCCINews #BahenaRiveraTrial
8:51 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Wilson says he left to join the search for #MollieTibbetts about 9 am the next day, Friday. Dalton had already left the day before to find Mollie. Says it was a little over two hours from the bridge work site in Dubuque to Brooklyn.
8:51 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Cross-exam. "When were you contacted about testifying at this trial?" Jennifer Frese asks. "Actually a couple weeks ago by the sheriff. [...] Technically to give Dalton an alibi."
8:52 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Wilson says he did give the work records to verify his testimony recently, but not in 2018. "The records that you relied on you just looked at in the last couple weeks?" "Yes."
8:53 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Frese: Do you recall drinking the day you got rained out (7/19)? Wilson: Yes. Says Dalton Jack helped him drive that day because he couldn't drive owing to company policy. @KCCINews #BahenaRiveraTrial
8:53 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
J. Frese wants to know if Wilson was drinking that night. Says he was, but "followed the law" and didn't drive.
8:53 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Frese asks about Wednesday night (18th). "If Dalton Jack originally told law enforcement he showered and then watched Rush Hour 1" could he confirm? "It's hard to remember it was three years ago."
8:54 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Frese asking about Dalton's original story that he showered and watched Rush Hour. Wilson doesn't recall if that happened. @KCCINews
#BahenaRiveraTrial
8:55 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Frese asks about Wednesday night (18th). "If Dalton Jack originally told law enforcement he showered and then watched Rush Hour 1" could he confirm? "It's hard to remember it was three years ago."
8:54 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Frese asks how he was able to testify just now that they grilled, drank, played yard games. "He could've done that during the shower. Had it on then came outside."
8:55 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Frese asking about worker who shared room with Dalton Jack. @KCCINews
#BahenaRiveraTrial
8:56 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Wilson says he went to bed early to start the next day early.
8:56 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Frese asking about Dalton's roommate at the hotel, Brandon Gordie. Wants to know if he would know more about what Dalton did - State objects.
8:57 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Rebuttal is done. 10 minute break now.
8:57 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
10-15 minute recess before Judge Joel Yates reads jury instructions, closing arguments, and deliberations begin. @KCCINews #BahenaRiveraTrial
8:58 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

 

[PommyMommy]

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Judge Joel Yates will now read jury instructions.
9:17 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
Ed Bull, Marion County atty, says on Court TV that juries rarely have their minds changed during closings.
9:19 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
Documents not offered into evidence are not (obviously) evidence. Much of the evidence in this case is under seal so I am wondering if the texts/snapchats referred to by the defense are actually in the evidence record?
9:23 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
The defense attys can ask about texts/snaps without actually introducing said texts/snaps into evidence. Obviously, the jury will still have those things in their mind because they heard them.
9:25 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
CBR has not shown a lot of emotion throughout this trial. That's hard to judge because we never know how we will act until we are in a situation, but it is noticeable how expressionless he is.
9:26 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
If jury can't find CBR guilty of murder in the first degree, they can still find him guilty of murder in second degree.
9:26 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Can also find him guilty of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
9:31 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

 

[PommyMommy]

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Scott Brown begins closing argument.
9:42 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
Closings starting -- Scott Brown going for the State. They have a power point.
9:42 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"A young woman who went for a run on July 18, 2018 and never came home. Her life was brutally taken by the defendant."
9:43 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Nicole Agee on Twitter
Attorney Scott Brown has started his closing argument. He's using a PowerPoint as he speaks to the jury. He's gesturing to Bahena Rivera as he accuses him of killing Mollie. "Can you imagine what that was like for her? Nine to 12 times she was stabbed." @KCRG
9:45 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"Can you imagine what that was like for her?" Brown dramatically asks the jury. "She was dumped, discarded under a pile of corn."
9:45 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"This case shows the defendant and only the defendant murders #MollieTibbetts. [...] There weren't two other guys! That's a figment of his imagination."
9:46 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Brown says "no bones about it, this is first-degree murder."
9:47 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Brown reminds jurors of elements of that charge.

9:48 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter for iPhone

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Going over #MollieTibbetts' biographical information. @KCCINews
9:50 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
The State is going through their case: Mollie lived in Brooklyn on July 18, 2018, mostly with Dalton, sometimes with her mom. She went on a run that day. She ran often.
9:50 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
"Mollie went for a run on July 18th of 2018, at a little bit before 7:45pm." "It was that evening...that she ran across the defendant. In his chrome mirrored, chrome wheeled, spoke-tired Malibu." @KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
9:51 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
Sometimes she would run around town, sometimes she would run out to 385th. "It was on that night, that evening of July 18, 2018, that she ran across the defendant in his chrome-mirrored Chevy Malibu."
9:51 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Here is the evidence: 1) his car is seen on security camera footage; 2) he confessed; 3) her blood is in his car.
9:53 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"He confessed!" Brown says of his second point of proof.
9:53 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Looking at the video evidence that puts Mollie and the defendant in the same area. This is the "Blur video." Mollie, or a runner, is seen in the background and the car is seen a few seconds later.
9:55 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Brown: Question is "Who killed #MollieTibbetts?" Evidence: - Says video broke the case. - Defendant confessed. ("At least those parts he claimed he could remember") - Physical evidence (blood in back of Malibu) @KCCINews
#bahenariveratrial
9:53 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
One of the sheriff's deputies is leaning over to watch the video. He's been engaged throughout the whole trial.
9:56 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

This is the video that broke this case open.
9:56 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Before this the officers had been spending weeks trying to find her. They cant find her, Brown says.
9:58 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

He's going to talk about this man's testimony yesterday. "All of a sudden we have these two men. He gets up and gives us this different version of what happened."
9:59 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

The problem with that testimony is that it doesnt fit, it doesnt make sense, Brown says.
10:00 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"There she goes," Brown says after showing the surveillance of what investigators believe is Mollie running. "On the video stamp [...] it was at 7:45 pm. What do we see next? Within 30 seconds of Mollie passing through, we see that car."
9:55 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"This was a tough one to crack? Who did this to her?" Brown says of the case before that video was found. He reminds jurors #MollieTibbetts was considered low-risk: no drug history, no history of domestic violence.
9:59 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"You know what the problem is with it? It doesn't make sense and it doesn't fit," Brown says "He says he and two men passed her going into town out on 385th. [...] How in the...the video shows the defendant on East Des Moines within 30 seconds after she passes."
10:01 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
State pointing out that he wasnt on the outskirts of town when he saw her for the first time. The video shows them together in town.
10:01 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"It doesn't fit with that video!" Brown says pointing to the screen. He says this was the first time CBR saw Mollie, not out on 385th as he reported in his testimony yesterday.
10:01 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"He knows what the car looks like and you know what he sees? He sees this vehicle," Brown reminds jurors of Deputy Steve Kivi's testimony about passing CBR in the black Malibu in mid-August.
10:03 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"Denied anything, first story by the way, [...] denies, denies, denies. Doesn't know anything about her," Brown says of what CBR told Deputy Kivi that day.
10:04 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"He is in the area within seconds. It fits," Brown says of the video again.
10:06 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"He likes her. He sees her. She's in tight clothing. That's what got his attention, that should be patently obvious," Brown says.
10:06 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Brown: "She's a cute 20 year old woman...he likes her." She's wearing tight clothing...as she was jogging down the road, that's what got his attention.
@KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
10:06 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Now moving to CBR's confession. Confessions need to be corroborated in Iowa to be used as evidence, Brown says. Brown says it has been. @KCCINews
10:09 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"Confessions in Iowa need to be corroborated to be used as evidence," Brown says, adding that this one was because CBR was able to lead police to the body.
10:10 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"We would love to show you that, to play it," Brown says of the police interview/interrogation from August 20th. Says they can't because it's in Spanish.
10:12 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"It's deny, then Officer Romero shows the defendant the photos of the car. Now he knows what? Uh oh, my car is in the area. Then he admits," Brown says. "Now his story changes. 'Yeah, I saw her.'"
10:14 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"Hot, pretty, whatever. Now he's talking to Officer Romero about how she appears," Brown says.
10:14 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"Hot, pretty, whatever. Now he's talking to Officer Romero about how she appears," Brown says.
10:14 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"I saw her in the area, now what? [...] He tells her during this interview with her, he admits that whenever he encounters Mollie out on 385th, she rebuked him."
10:15 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"He admits that he became angry," Brown says. "Mollie says I'm going to call the police. She slaps him, he even admits she slapped him. [...] And he becomes angry. A very simple motive."
10:16 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"There's no two guys. There's nobody else," Brown says. Says he was given multiple changes to tell police more, get help from officers if he was afraid of unknown men. Says he doesn't do it.
10:18 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"He discarded her and he left her!" Brown raises his voice. "He was in a rural part of Poweshiek County, she was almost 500 feet into that cornfield. She is unfindable, except by the defendant."
10:19 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"He says he blacked out. He didn't black out. He just didn't tell her," Brown says of CBR's reported confession to Officer Romero.
10:20 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
He tells her on two occasions "I brought you here." "These cops have been searching for her for weeks -- he brought her right there." @KCCINews
#bahenariveratrial
10:20 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"He's telling the officer that he did it. He's confessing," Brown says.
10:21 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Now talking about digital evidence. @KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
10:21 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
But not only did he take them to the body, the state also has presented cell phone evidence showing general paths of her route that night.
10:22 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

The electronic evidence matches the confession of the defendant that night, the 11 hour interview night.
10:24 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Now, state moves to the DNA evidence. "DNA proves that Mollie Tibbetts had direct contact with the Malibu that is owned and soley operated by the defendant."
10:24 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Brown: Confession identifies and proves the defendant murdered #MollieTibbetts.
@KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
10:24 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Now moving onto physical evidence. Brown says DNA proves #MollieTibbetts had direct contact with CBR's Malibu. Plus Mollie being found in the cornfield where CBR said she'd be found. @KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
10:25 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"He never puts two men in the Malibu" when he has the chance to, Brown says. Says CBR had the ability to clean the Malibu between the crime and DCI finding it. There could have been more blood. "Mollie's blood shouldn't have been in there anywhere." @KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
10:26 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
Mollie's DNA is in the trunk of his car - state and defense agrees to that.
10:26 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

State saying that July 18-August 21 CBR has control of the car, he could have cleaned more blood, etc. But he didnt get it all.
10:27 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

He is not going to show the graphic images again. But he is showing the one where the body is covered, only running shoes are visable.
10:27 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"It's irrefutable that she's there, on the seal and in the trunk."
10:27 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Brown shows photo of Tibbetts' body under the corn. Says they haven't been moved, haven't been disturbed after being put over her.
10:28 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Brown: CBR tells investigators he covered her with corn. Just as this shows. "Again, not involving two other guys. It corroborates his confession. He knows that."
10:29 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Brown says jury can look at motive - candor, bias, but it's not necessary to prove motive for first-degree murder.
10:30 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"If not the defendant, who had the motive to kill #MollieTibbetts?" "He tells us. Anger is a pretty good one."
10:30 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"This does not fit in at all with the other two men theory."
10:31 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
"Anger is probably one of the oldest motives in human history for why people get hurt."
10:31 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
What do we know? We know that she rebuked him, he did not like that and he got angry. What he did with that anger is he stabbed her.
10:31 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Motive is having some evidence as to why something happened, Scott Brown says. And we know that this is the motive because he told the officer that this is the motive.
10:32 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

He led them to Mollie in the dark from Yarrabee Farms, Brown says. "Only Mollie's killer would know her location, only that person."
10:33 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
"No one other than the defendant knew where Mollie was located." Cops, agents searched up and down, Brown says. @KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
10:32 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Brown: "He knows this is the one thing people can't get past when it comes to his guilt -- that he led them to the body...so what does he do? He comes up with another story." @KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
10:33 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Brown addresses the other names defense brought up. Says police vetted them, but there was no evidence connecting any of these men to the crime.@kccinews
#BahenaRiveraTrial

10:35 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter for iPhone

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Brown goes back to jury selection. We asked you about possibilities, he said. Emphasizes that something being "possible" doesn't make it reasonably true.
10:36 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"What's the evidence (of the possibilities) in the case? Really none," Brown says.
@KCCINews bahenariveratrial
10:36 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"Don't fall for the possibilities." Brown says. Saying he will wrap up in a moment. (Closing arguments certainly a lot longer than opening statements.)
@KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
10:38 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
"This woman was brutally stabbed, there should be no doubt about that." "There's no question here," Brown says, saying state has proven that. @KCCINews
#bahenariveratrial
10:38 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Brown says the 9-12 stab wounds prove malice aforethought. "If that's not malice aforethought, I'm not sure what is." @KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
10:39 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"There is premeditation, there is wilfulness, there is deliberation."
@KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
10:41 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
Element 1: Identification - Was it CBR who stabbed Mollie beyond a reasonable doubt?
10:38 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Element 2: Cause of death - Did Mollie Tibbetts die as a result of being stabbed? Brown points to the medical examiner testimony.
10:39 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Element 3: The defendant acted with malice of forethought. Brown points to the number of injuries and the brutality of injuries prove this.
10:40 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Element 4: The defendant acted willfully and deliberately with specific intent to kill Mollie. He tracked her down, he found her, he got angry and he stabbed her and he dumped her body. That is what the evidence is in this case, Brown says.
10:41 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
1. It was CBR who stabbed Mollie. 2. Mollie died due to that stabbing 3. CBR had malice of forethought 4. CBR acted willfully and deliberately
10:42 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Look at this through the lens of commons sense. "When you hear thundering hooves think horses not zebras," he says.
10:43 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

The state will talk to them again, Scott says. The video, the confession, the blood and everything else points to one person and one person only.
10:44 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Your job as jurors is to find the truth and do justice, Brown says repeating the jury instructions.
10:44 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Justice in this case is a verdict of murder in the first degree.
10:45 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Recess and then we go to defense. Now, I am thinking that they jury might not get the case before lunch...
10:46 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

 

[PommyMommy]

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
The defense is setting up a powerpoint as well.
10:51 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
We're back. Chad Frese doing defense closing. @KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
10:59 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"Where to begin," defense atty Chad Frese begins.
11:00 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
Chad is giving the defense's closing. He starts with a thank you to the jury.
10:59 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Frese: "The other thing I want to make clear: Mollie Tibbetts is...absolutely an innocent victim here. This woman was a spectacular young woman. She was destined to do great things." @KCCINews
11:02 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Frese: "This young lady was on her way to being something special. No doubt about it. The loss of Mollie Tibbetts was tragic-and the reason I mention that, is because the loss of someone like that can evoke a lot of emotion, and it has evoked emotion" @KCCINews
11:03 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Frese says emotions have no place in the deliberation room. "You don't decide this case with emotions tugging at your heartstrings." @KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
11:03 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Reminds jurors it's not their job to bring justice for Mollie, bring punishment. "Your job is to do justice. Period. Full stop."
11:04 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

The analysis is whether the State and the resources they produced have brought forth enough evidence to prove this case and each element of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt, he says.
11:05 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
"Your job is to do justice...to provide a logical, analytical, almost surgical" look at the facts.
11:05 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Frese brings up picture of Cristhian Bahena Rivera at 17 w/his cousins. Says Mollie deserves justice but so does Bahena Rivera.
11:06 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
"Mollie Tibbetts deserves justice, so too does Cristhian Bahena," Frese says.
11:06 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Frese mentions that since July 2018 we've lived through a pandemic, tornadoes, derechos.
11:07 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Brooklyn, Iowa, was a "circus" after Mollie disappears, he says.
11:08 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Says within days, local law enforcement, federal agencies, Homeland Security, national news orgs, etc. was in Brooklyn, Iowa "a town of 1,400 people." "It was a circus," Frese says. "For a missing 20-year-old jogger. And we didn't even know if she was dead yet."
11:08 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"That is unprecedented. Why do I tell you that? I tell you that because I want to harken back to Mr. Klaver's opening statement. He says the DCI comes to town and kicks off an extensive investigation."
11:09 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"[...] And every lead came up empty after what he calls exhaustive and extensive investigation."
11:09 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"Some of that investigation was sloppy, but it really became sloppy when Mr. Bahena got involved. Because folks, what happened was they closed a case but they didn't solve a case."
11:10 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
DCI, Homeland Security, FBI, all these people were in town, Frese said, and they had nothing. "Imagine the pressure to close this case." "That's the context in which this arrest and this charge happened."
11:10 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"Some of the investigation was sloppy, but it really got sloppy when Cristhian Bahena Rivera was targeted."
11:10 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

They agree that CBR was in the Malibu and that the car was on the security footage near/around Mollie. They agree that Mollie's blood was in the trunk. Tho they point out that others' blood is in the trunk, too.
11:12 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Frese calls the finding of the surveillance video "was good police work." Says they won't deny that's CBR's car and that's him in the video. But says prosecution didn't mention that blood found in CBR's car had a mixture of DNA.
11:12 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

** I want to add here that a mixture of DNA in that blood stain DOES NOT MEAN a mixture of blood. I've seen that confused in a few online comments. It just means that the major contributor was Mollie and they believe it's her blood, but that other DNA was present.
11:13 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"A loaded pistol in the little hanging cabinet on the wall with several knives, hunting-style knives. Bet you if they would've looked, they would've found one w/camouflage handle. But they didn't bother to look."
11:14 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
What is missing? We don't have a murder weapon. They are pointing out that the Jack house had hunting style knives and a loaded gun. "If they looked they may have found one with a camouflage handle." <-- CBR said this at yesterday.
11:14 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Frese brings up homes and traffic on 385th St. where it's believed Mollie was killed. Says a lot of blood wasn't found there. "Oh I forgot - it rained. [...] They have an excuse for every piece of evidence they don't have."
11:15 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"They'll find an excuse for everything. That's not Mr. Bahena's problem. [...] They had resources from the federal government. They had a drone up in the air. [...] They had unlimited resources." "And they can't even tell you where she was killed."
11:17 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
He says that we dont have a primary crime scene - was it the side of the road where she was running or was it in the cornfield.
11:16 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Also says where is all the blood? She was stabbed so violently that there should be blood all over.
11:16 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"No evidence came off that stand as to where she was killed."
11:17 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

There are no eyewitnesses. None.
11:18 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
Chad attacking the motive: "This man, right here, 5'7" 120 pound illegal immigrant, undocumented immigrant, gets angry at Mollie Tibbetts...and resorts to killing her."
11:19 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"The only evidence we do have about Cristhian is that he is not an angry man, that he is not violent."
11:19 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

That is true. Court TV at one point talked about witness(es) that the state had who were going to talk about CBR's anger. We never got those witnesses.
11:20 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"The concept that he got angry, killed a woman who he had just met deifies any logic."
11:20 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Frese says the defense refutes any claim that CBR's statements are a confession.
11:18 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Frese hits palm to fist several times when recounting claim from prosecution that Bahena Rivera stabbed Tibbetts 9 or 12 times because he was angry.
11:20 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Says we can probably all say we've asked someone out, talked to them and been rejected. "Common sense tells you you're not going to just stab that person."
11:20 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Says having evidence in the trunk and carrying her into cornfield "does not mean he killed her."
11:21 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"That is what's missing," he says. Adds that's where reasonable doubt lies.
11:21 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"Don't oversimplify and make it sound like he has to prove anything," Frese says. That's their burden - points to prosecution table.
11:22 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"You can't just think he did this, you have to know that he did this," based on State's evidence. "You best know, you best not think he did this."
11:23 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Going through evidence the State produced: drop of blood on seal, DNA in trunk, body in cornfield he took them to. Says they don't dispute this.
11:25 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"This was an 11-hour interrogation. Eleven hours. After he had worked a full day."
11:25 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
Element 2 -- Mollie died as result of the stabbing -- they admit to that.
11:24 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Element 1 in the state's case: 1. They have her blood in the trunk of his car. 2. CBR took them to the body. But to believe the state, the defense says, you have to believe the Spanish-speaking officer.
11:25 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Why did he take them to the body? He was protecting his daughter and her mother, Frese says.
11:26 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"He voluntarily agrees to go speak. He complies. He's a yes man."
11:26 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"He tells them enough to take them to the body. Why'd he do that? To protect his own."
11:26 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Frese says Agent Vileta was "calling him a liar," another officer was yelling at him during questioning. Points out that jury didn't get to watch the video.
11:27 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"These guys are the best of the best we have," he says of agents involved. "And they send in Pamela Romero. A cop that had a total of about 2 1/2 years of experience whose training was only the academy and 16 hours, 16 hours of interview and interrogation."
11:28 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"They sent the most inexperienced officer they could to a marathon interrogation" in high profile case "because she was a native Spanish speaker.
11:29 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
Investigators had the FBI and Homeland Security and all these people and they decide to use an officer with 12 hours of training, Frese says. "They sent the most inexperienced officer they could into a marathon interrogation with a suspect in a homicide case."
11:29 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Says even if she speaks the language she may not be the best at translating, interpreting.
11:30 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"Now the State can sit at the table, sit behind the curtain" because the questioning was in Spanish. Says no doubt it would've been played if it was in English.
11:31 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"That's a problem. That's sloppy."
11:31 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Frese says investigators repeatedly told CBR they weren't from immigration so "he'd be at ease, he'd open up." "When he didn't give them what he wanted they called immigration. [...] They weren't there for immigration until they were."
11:32 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"They wear him down. You heard Cristhian say they said things to him, Pamela Romero say, 'Help yourself.' 'Help yourself, Cristhian.'"
11:33 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"Finally she says, 'Cristhian, think about the family. Think about that little girl.' And that's when he relents. [...] That's when he gives the story that was spoon-fed to him."
11:34 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"Again, they had the full resources of the federal government and they couldn't give you" the full video "because it was in Spanish."
11:35 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"What a colossal blunder," Frese says after saying Pamela Romero had never done a homicide interview before.
11:35 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"Not a speck of premeditation."
11:37 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"That's even if you buy the State's theory."
11:37 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Frese skips over explaining elements necessary to prove involuntary and voluntary manslaughter. "You folks are smart."
11:38 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"They provided you evidence of one cell phone tower on Mollie Tibbetts?" Frese points to CBR. "What about his cell phone tower. Where are Dalton Jack's phone records?"
11:40 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
Where are Dalton Jack's cell tower records?
11:40 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"No, let's bring in his boss who's going to testify for him." "We tried to talk about his text messages with Jordyn Lamb, text messages with Mollie Tibbetts. Why on earth would you not bring up Dalton Jack's phone records if he truly worked in Dubuque until 7 pm."
11:41 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"You can infer from their lack of providing that evidence that it was damaging to them."
11:41 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
The state cannot produce for you a video of CBR from the Sheriff's office to Mollie's body.
11:43 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Frese pointing out there's on video of CBR at the cornfield, no dash cam, no cellphone video. "We don't have that. Why not? I'll tell you why not. Because they had nothing for four weeks." Says investigators got excited and rushed to close the case.
11:45 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"'I brought you here, didn't I?' Question mark. 'That means I did it, doesn't it?' Question mark." Says the State can fight the punctuation, meaning but it matters.
11:46 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
A confession needs to be more than, "I brought you here didn't I?" Defense says
11:46 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"Why did they cut the corners that they cut?" Defense asks
11:47 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

CBR's story makes as much sense as the story "That an undocumented immigrant runs up alongside Mollie Tibbetts on a highway in broad daylight, gets angry and decides to stab her." defense says.
11:49 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Frese says Mr. Brown says Bahena Rivera's story yesterday was a "result of knowing what the evidence was and having time to rehearse."
11:49 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

State objects to a part of Frese's closing involving the timing of when Mollie was seen by Steward, when she was seen on video, cell phone data.
11:50 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"In that short time frame, could he have killed this woman? [...] That makes no sense."
11:50 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Frese: He works 75 hours a week, when he's not working he sees his kid, he has a date the next day. You really want to believe that this undocumented immigrant who has avoided law enforcement and uses false name John Bud at work would be brazen enough to do this?
11:52 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"What the problem is with the DNA is exactly what the reports tell us. [...] The investigators and the lab didn't test the trunk liners until a year later at Mr. Brown's request."
11:53 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"We're glad Mr. Brown asked for that. It gave us some very compelling findings." DNA not from CBR or Tibbetts in trunk, unknown male, unknown female, mixture of three people.
11:55 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"They were in that room to see if anyone else was in that room, yet they did nothing to get DNA to exclude people," Frese says of testing can in Mollie's room at Jack home.
11:56 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
Defense is moving to DNA - They didnt test anyone's DNA except for CBR, Mollie and all the people are Yarrabee Farms.
11:57 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Frese: Dalton Jack was publicly cleared July 25th but brought in for questioning again the 27th and admitted he lied.
11:57 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
Now we are moving to Dalton Jack. Why did the state call Dalton Jack as a witness???
11:59 AM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"We wasnt a witness...What did he know really?" "They knew he was a problem. They knew from the jump this guy was a problem."
12:00 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
"Remember Mr. Jack didnt want to be here. He didnt even want to be here to make sure that the love of his life got justice."
12:01 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Defense claims that he was losing control of Mollie, "she was going to fly." He was angry and he had a history of fighting.
12:02 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

They've presented no receipts, no tangible proof of Dalton's whereabouts, the defense says.
12:02 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
They've presented no receipts, no tangible proof of Dalton's whereabouts, the defense says.
12:02 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

The connection between Dalton Jack and CBR is a high schooler who knew both the Tibbetts family and was a relative of CBR's girlfriend.
12:03 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Frese now talking about Dalton Jack, saying he still can't remember his actions on July 18th.
12:05 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"Jamie Slife came in to testify because you needed to hear what she had to say. Law enforcement would not," Frese says. "Someone said [Pexa] was a 'maniac.' Someone said he had a torture room."
12:07 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Now talking about Ron Pexa and testimony from his daughter. "Did (he) have anything to do with the demise of Mollie Tibbetts? We don't know." But they didn't look into him thoroughly. @KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
#bahenariveratrial
12:07 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Says law enforcement "took care of their own" because of Pexa's law enforcement experience. "Cristhian Bahena Rivera was taking care of his own" -- his ex-gf and his daughter. @KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
12:08 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Talking about names of other men that they brought up throughout trial.
@KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
12:09 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
Now pointing to the farmer who lives near the property who was an abuser. And then the guy who was mowing cemeteries at both locations. Continuing their pointing out of other suspects.
12:09 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
We've had at least three objections from the State during this closing. The defense never objected during the prosecution closing.
12:11 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Now talking about the interrogation again, and exhaustion as they go through the jury instructions. They are on 30/36. @KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
12:12 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Frese brings up character evidence -- saying all character evidence shows CBR is non-violent and a hardworker. @KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
12:12 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
"Remember you are the judges of the facts. Your sole duty is to find the truth and do justice," Frese's slide to jurors says. @KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
12:13 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"You saw him testify. You saw him credibly testify," Frese says of CBR.
@KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
12:14 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Frese says police needed to close case. "Who better to pick" than undocumented immigrant who has no one to help him. @KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
#bahenariveratrial
12:14 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Folks, there is serious doubt in this case. Serious doubt. Only verdict is not guilty. Defense closing over. @KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
12:15 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

 

[PommyMommy]

Brown now giving rebuttal. @KCCINews
12:15 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Should say about to give rebuttal. @KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
12:16 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
State will now give rebuttal.
12:15 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Since burden of proof is on the State they get another attempt at making the case.
12:16 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Brown says video "is the lead that breaks this case. They follow it." Says it pointed to CBR, then the physical evidence was found. "Then what are they supposed to do, look at Ron Pexa?"
12:21 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"The defendant was not targeted. The evidence led to him."
12:21 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
CBR targeted himself, Brown says. "They ran Dalton Jack to the ground in this case" (officers did) What do you do when you're not getting along with your gf at 18, you break up with her. You don't go out and stab her. @KCCINews
#bahenariveratrial
12:22 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Says Dalton is a kid. "What do you do when you're not getting along with your girlfriend? You break up with her. You don't take her out in the country and stab her to death, goodness."
12:22 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Brown re: primary crime scene. "Who had control of that? The defendant." "The reason we don't have whatever a primary crime scene is the defendant." "Motive: He's not angry? Are you serious? He told us he was." @KCCINews
#bahenariveratrial
12:23 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Brown: "The defendant is a 'yes man.' -- not yesterday he wasn't." @KCCINews
#bahenariveratrial
12:23 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Brown: CBR was in the most secure place in Poweshiek County, he could have told police about the masked men story, I was scared for Iris and daughter. But he didn't. "You know why? Because it didn't happen." @KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
12:24 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"Why use Pamela Romero?" "Let's say we didn't..." She's an impressive young woman. "The whole interview is in Spanish, but why not take advantage of a native speaker? Why not do that? Then we have a clean conversation."
@KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
12:25 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
If we used others to do interview through translator, flip side would be "well why didn't you use the native speaker?" Brown says. @KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
#bahenariveratrial
12:26 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

He wasn't so worn down that he couldn't lead them to Mollie Tibbetts. They gave him breaks, Brown says. Like 9 of them. They are asking him hard questions, which I would hope officers would do. @KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
12:27 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"Dalton Jack was in Dubuque, OK?" People put him there. If he's off at 7, how's he gonna get back? @KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
12:27 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Brown says Dalton Jack was in Dubuque. What was he going to do? Take CBR's car, someone he doesn't know, and teleport back to Dubuque? he asks.
12:28 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"All these things Mr. Frese brings up have to matter. He's poking holes, punching at our case." Says other suspects don't fit.
12:29 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"There was a motive here. A sexual one." Diagram of how body was positioned, with legs apart and shorts/underwear missing, bra around her neck. "The defendant says he left her with her clothes on. That is clearly not true."
12:30 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"Guess who does not have a sexual motive? Dalton Jack or anyone else the defense has raised here."
12:31 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"Look at the cornstalks. They're not disturbed. [...] His testimony can't be true because of the evidence near Mollie."
12:32 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
They have not charged CBR with any kind of sexual assault and we havent really talked about that in this case. Her body was too decomposed for evidence to be collected.
12:32 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
Why consider a sexual motive? It is another circumstance that excludes Dalton Jack and also excludes two masked men, Brown says.
12:32 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Instead this is consistent with the defendant's statement that he found Mollie Hot or Attractive, Brown says.
12:33 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
"The defendant's testimony here is unbelievable," Brown says. @KCCINews
#bahenariveratrial
12:33 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
He had an opportunity to sit here and hear evidence, think about it, knows evidence and video points to him. "He's under a pretty big rock and he's gotta come up with something else. He's gotta come up with a pretty big story to explain why he led officers to her body."
12:34 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
"The defendant's testimony that two other men killed Mollie is totally unsupported by any other evidence in the case," Brown says.
12:36 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"You know why it doesn't make sense? Because it's not true." "He conveniently threw in the name Jack. You catch that yesterday?"
12:37 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"Dalton Jack is alibied, ladies and gentlemen. He didn't do this."
12:38 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Brown asks what purpose would it serve for CBR to tell investigators Mollie rebuked him, threatened to call police, that he was angry if there were two other men.
12:39 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
There is no evidence that he told Iris Gamboa (ex-gf) about a threat. He claims only reason that he didn't tell PD is that she/Paulina were under threat.
@KCCINews
12:40 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

There's no evidence he did anything to protect Iris from a threat.@KCCINews
#bahenariveratrial
12:41 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"He had a chance in this case to tell the police about these two men, he chose not to do that if you're taking any of these statements as true." "He was even encouraged multiple times by Ofc. Romero -- is there more? Is there more?"
@KCCINews
12:41 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Brown: Each element to murder in the first degree has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. All point to one person: CBR. No one else had a reason to kill Mollie Tibbetts. His reason is not a good one. But that's what happened.
@KCCINews
12:42 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

The video, the evidence, the confession. "Tell. The. Story."@KCCINews
#bahenariveratrial
12:43 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Use your common sense, Brown says. "and at the end of the day, ask yourself, are you firmly convinced?" @KCCINews
12:43 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
"The evidence in this case, there's a mountain of it. It's overwhelming," Brown argues. "Cristhian Bahena Rivera took this woman's life. He took her. He committed the murder." @KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
12:44 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

"Mollie's no longer on this planet because of the defendant," Brown says. @KCCINews #bahenariveratrial
12:45 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Brown says CBR is guilty and that's the only decision jurors should make. Alternates now being singled out.@KCCINews
12:46 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

 

[PommyMommy]

MAY 27, 2021

DAY 7: Cristhian Bahena Rivera murder trial in death of Mollie Tibbetts

 

[PommyMommy]

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
12:48 pm - the jury has the case.
12:48 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter Web App

Have just heard from court officials that the jury began deliberations at 1:30 following their lunch break. Also, three alternates that were excused were all women.
2:01 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter for iPhone

No verdict today. Jury has been sent home and will pick it up at 8:30 tomorrow.
4:44 PM · May 27, 2021·Twitter for iPhone

 

[PommyMommy]

MAY 27, 2021
Mollie Tibbetts case recap: Jury gets Rivera case after closing arguments (amestrib.com)
[...]

Jury dismissed, will continue deliberations on Friday
4:43 p.m. Thursday: Judge Yates sent the jury home for the day after they deliberated for three hours and 15 minutes. Jurors were instructed to return to the courthouse at 8:30 a.m. Friday to continue.

Jury dismissed for lunch, deliberations
12:47 p.m. Thursday: Judge Yates dismissed the jury. Twelve would be escorted to the deliberation room, where lunch was waiting, he said; deliberations will follow. Three jurors were identified as alternates and told they could go home for the time being.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

MAY 28, 2021

Cathy Russon on Twitter
#MollieTibbetts - Jury is getting ready to resume deliberations. They deliberated just over 3 hours yesterday before going home.@LawCrimeNetwork

8:23 AM · May 28, 2021·TweetDeck

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Good morning from Davenport. Jurors were set to restart deliberations 6 minutes ago in #BahenaRiveraTrial. We’ll continue on verdict watch. @KCCINews
8:37 AM · May 28, 2021 from Davenport, IA·Twitter for iPhone

Denise Hnytka on Twitter
Verdict watch - I’ll keep you posted while we wait today! @wqad #MollieTibbetts
#MollieTibbetts
8:48 AM · May 28, 2021·Twitter for iPhone

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Sounds like the jury is in and deliberating.
9:03 AM · May 28, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
I'm still in Davenport waiting for the verdict in the Mollie Tibbetts case. Will bring you news as we get it.
9:03 AM · May 28, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Updated jury demographics, according to the pool report. Deliberations began at 8:33. @KCCINews #bahenarivera trial.

9:11 AM · May 28, 2021 from Davenport, IA·Twitter for iPhone

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Court officials confirm the jury resumed deliberations this morning at 8:33 am. Here's our final jury (barring any issues that require an alternate to come back) : Hispanic/Latinx : 3 White: 9 5 females and 7 males Age range from 19 to 71
9:11 AM · May 28, 2021·Twitter Web App

Jay Greene KCRG on Twitter
@RepAshleyHinson releases statement on verdict in #BahenaRiveraTrial. But there’s been no verdict. @kcrg

10:28 AM · May 28, 2021·Twitter for iPhone

Jay Greene KCRG on Twitter
@RepAshleyHinson sends clarification on previous statement on #BahenaRivera murder trial verdict. @KCRG

10:36 AM · May 28, 2021·Twitter for iPhone

 

[PommyMommy]

MAY 27, 2021
Mollie Tibbetts Murder: What Happened During Closing Arguments (lawandcrime.com)
Prosecutors and defense attorneys presented wildly different versions of what happened when Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts, 20, was murdered in 2018. ...

[...]

Brown showed portraits of Tibbetts and said she was just starting her adult life.

“She was confronted by this man,” Brown said while pointing to the defendant. “She crossed paths with him, and it ended her life. She was attacked brutally by him. She was stabbed repeatedly by him.”

Prosecutor Scott Brown points at the defendant during closing arguments.

He continued:

"Can you imagine what that was like for her? Nine to twelve times she was stabbed. Her clothing was removed; she was dumped into a cornfield — discarded under a pile of corn. She was covered with those leaves and she was left. Five weeks Mollie’s body laid in that corn field. And you know who knew about that? One man. One man knew, and he is here. His name is Cristhian Bahena Rivera. The evidence in this case shows that the defendant and only the defendant murdered Mollie Tibbetts. All of the credible evidence in this case — all of it. There weren’t two other guys. That’s a figment of his imagination. All of the credible evidence in this case — all of it! — points at hime. All of it."

[...]

“The video evidence here refutes his testimony,” Brown continued while pointing to a neighbor’s surveillance video which appears to show Tibbetts running and the defendant’s car passing several times in short succession. “He said that he and two men passed her running going into town, right? Out on 385th. They were going into town whenever she was running. That’s when he said they saw her. The video shows the defendant on East Des Moines seconds after she passes through. Not out on the county road. Whoops! He didn’t think about that. Right? We’ve got him in town in his vehicle whenever she passes by within thirty seconds. Think about. Right after she passes by there is no way he could have passed her on the outskirts of town and seen her for the first time. He saw her for the first time whenever he saw her in town. That’s what the video shows. He cannot be in two places at once.”

[...]

“They had nothing,” Frese said. “Imagine the pressure to close this case. Imagine the pressure to put this case to bed. Because that’s the context in which this arrest and this charge happened.”

Frese then called the investigation “sloppy” — “but they didn’t get enough evidence to prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt.”

[...]

Frese then complained that the state never identified a primary crime scene:

"They’ll pass it off and explain it away by — oh, it’s been five weeks; the weather was bad; the corn was tall — they’ll find an excuse for everything. That’s not Mr. Bahena’s problem. Okay?That’s their problem. They have to prove it. Not him. Okay? They had the unlimited resources of the federal government. They had drones up in the air. They brought a guy in from Dayton, Ohio, for the sole purpose of analyzing the data from one cell phone . . . they had unlimited resources . . . his sheriff was up flying around in a helicopter, and they can’t even tell you where she was killed."

[...]

Frese said that even if the jury believed the state’s telling of Bahena Rivera’s first story — that the defendant became angry and just started stabbing — he didn’t form the requisite malice or premeditation. He then suggested that all the state could prove was second-degree murder or perhaps a version of manslaughter.

[...]

“They knew from the jump that this guy was a problem,” the defense said of prosecutors with reference to Jack. Frese then pointed to Jack’s many “inconsistent statements” about Tibbetts’ disappearance. Frese then cut into Jack’s statements and his character:

"Remember? Mr. Jack didn’t even want to be here. Didn’t want to be here for the love of his life to make sure she had justice. What kind of person is that? Well, it’s the same kind of person that would have an affair on the love of his life while he was planning on getting engaged to her. It’s the same kind of person that would portray their relationship as rosy to the public while it was rocky in private. It’s the same kind of person that was losing control of Mollie. She was going to fly. She was outgrowing this man. He was angry; he had a history of being a fighter; and they knew he was a problem. All Dalton Jack had to add was his testimony that he did not do this. And his alibi that the state gave you was his inconsistent statements. No video cameras from the hotel. Not a single receipt that shows that he was at Walmart, or got gas, or went to the gas station, or gotten beer — nothing. No time cards. Cell phone towers? We talked about those. We knew where Ms. Tibbetts was. But we don’t know where Dalton was. Easily found."

Frese then said Jack texted Tibbetts “within ten minutes” of when she was killed.

“Ten minutes later she’s in a trunk going at a high rate of speed away from Brooklyn, Iowa,” Frese said. “Where was that text sent from? Where’s the tower information on that? That’s a suspicious text if I’ve ever seen one, folks. It sounds like someone trying to cover his tracks.”

[...]

“What the police did is they had four weeks worth of nothing, and then they picked this man. And who better to pick than an undocumented immigrant who doesn’t speak the language who has nobody here to speak of to help him out, and then you cherry pick the facts that fit your theory and you close the case. Case closed. But the case is not solved. Folks, there is serious doubt in this case. Serious doubt. Cristhian Bahena Rivera has not had the case against him proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and the only verdict you can come up with under these facts and what you heard right there is not guilty.”

Prosecutors then presented a rebuttal.

 

[PommyMommy]

MAY 28, 2021
Mollie Tibbetts: Jury deliberations resume in trial of farm worker accused of killing Univ. of Iowa student - CNN
An Iowa jury resumed deliberations Friday in the murder trial of a farm worker accused of abducting and fatally stabbing 20-year-old college student Mollie Tibbetts in July 2018.

[...]

But in testimony Wednesday, Bahena Rivera -- speaking through an interpreter -- told a very different story. He said two masked mystery men kidnapped him, forced him to participate in their plot to kill Tibbetts, threatened his family and told him to remain silent.

In closing arguments, prosecutor Scott Brown dismissed that testimony and said it did not fit with the evidence.

"There weren't two other guys. That's a figment of his imagination," Brown told jurors. "All of the credible evidence in this case points at him."

[...]

Defense attorney Chad Frese said the prosecution had no murder weapon, no crime scene, no eyewitnesses, no confession, no motive and no scientific evidence to prove his client's guilt. He said Bahena Rivera's original statements to investigators were made under duress during an 11-hour interrogation.

[...]

The prosecution based its case on three key aspects: surveillance video of Bahena Rivera's vehicle near Tibbetts, his admissions to investigators in August 2018, and her DNA found in his trunk.

"When you put this evidence together, there can be no other conclusion than that the defendant killed Mollie Tibbetts," Poweshiek County Attorney Bart Klaver said at the start of the trial.

[...]

He testified he was taking a shower when two unknown, masked men broke into his trailer and demanded his help. One had a knife and the other had a gun, he said.

He testified that they forced themselves into his black Chevy Malibu and told him to drive toward town. That was when he said they came across a young woman he now knows to be Tibbetts.

Bahena Rivera testified that he was told to stop, while the man with the knife exited the car. He said both men then got out of the vehicle and he heard them opening and closing the trunk. When the men left, he said he found Tibbetts' body in the trunk of the car. He said he took her body out of the trunk, placed her in a corn field and covered her body with corn stalks.

Bahena Rivera said he didn't know why the men sought his help. He testified that he falsely confessed to police because he feared the men would harm his daughter and ex-girlfriend and because he thought telling investigators what they wanted to hear would help him.

 

[PommyMommy]

MAY 28, 2021
Rep. Hinson sends out statement on Bahena Rivera trial before jury returns verdict | KGAN (cbs2iowa.com)
[...]

On Friday at 10:24 a.m., Hinson's office sent out this statement:

"Mollie Tibbetts's death was absolutely tragic, and my heart has been with her family during this unimaginably difficult time. I believe justice was served in this case and hope the Tibbetts family can find closure. We have to work to ensure that no other family endures what the Tibbetts family has gone through." -Congresswoman Ashley Hinson

A clarification was sent at 10:33 a.m., saying this:

"The statement sent regarding the Mollie Tibbetts trial was sent in error. Congresswoman Hinson will have a statement at the conclusion of the trial. We apologize for the error as the jury is still deliberating at this time."

 

[PommyMommy]

MAY 27, 2021

Mollie Tibbetts Murder Trial Day 7 - Judge Joel Yates Reads The Jury Instructions

 

[PommyMommy]

Denise Hnytka on Twitter
Nearing 6 hours of deliberation.@wqad #MollieTibbetts
11:08 AM · May 28, 2021·Twitter for iPhone

Cathy Russon on Twitter
#MollieTibbetts - We've now hit 6 hours of deliberations in IA v. Cristhian Bahena Rivera. @LawCrimeNetwork #BahenaRiveraTrial

11:31 AM · May 28, 2021·TweetDeck

Kristin Rogers on Twitter
The jury in the #BahenaRiveraTrial has been deliberating for 6 hours (3 yesterday and 3 today), still no verdict. @KCRG
11:33 AM · May 28, 2021·Twitter for iPhone

Ryan Risky on Twitter
The jury has been deliberating for 6 hours. Cristhian Bahena Rivera's fate is up up to them after being charged with killing Mollie Tibbetts. A verdict has not yet been reached.
11:35 AM · May 28, 2021·Twitter for Android

Cathy Russon on Twitter
#MollieTibbetts - Many have asked how questions from the jury will be handled. We hear they will be handled in chambers. It's been requested that a member of the media pool be present, but no word back on that. No word on if there have been any questions. @LawCrimeNetwork

11:50 AM · May 28, 2021·TweetDeck

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
We’ve just hit the 7 hour mark w/no verdict.@iowasnewsnow
#MollieTibbetts #BahenaRiveraTrial
12:25 PM · May 28, 2021·Twitter for iPhone

Nicole Agee on Twitter
@KristinRogersTV reports lots of pizzas were just delivered to the courthouse, though we haven't heard if the jury is pausing deliberations for lunch. We're now at seven hours without a verdict. #BahenaRiveraTrial In case you're wondering, it was Dominos.@KCRG
12:33 PM · May 28, 2021·Twitter Web App

Nicole Agee on Twitter
We have confirmed the jury is taking a lunch. To the knowledge of our EMC coordinator, the jury has not asked any questions. @KCRG
12:47 PM · May 28, 2021·Twitter Web App

 

[PommyMommy]

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Court official says the jury took lunch break at 12:33. Jury has asked no questions so far.
12:55 PM · May 28, 2021·Twitter for iPhone

Julie Rendelman on Twitter
More than 6 hours of deliberations and no verdict. It's still early but reminds me it takes only one juror, no matter how overwhelming the evidence, to refuse to convict (yes, I'm assuming most jurors believe he's guilty) and cause a mistrial. #Mollietibbetts @LawCrimeNetwork
1:01 PM · May 28, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
JUST IN: #BahenaRiveraTrial jury resumes deliberations after a short lunch break.
1:06 PM · May 28, 2021·Twitter for iPhone

 

[PommyMommy]

VERDICT

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
BREAKING: Cristhian Bahena Rivera found GUILTY of first-degree murder in the death of #MollieTibbetts @KCCINews #BahenaRiveraTrial
1:42 PM · May 28, 2021 from Davenport, IA·Twitter for iPhone

Angenette Levy on Twitter
Sheriff's deputies place handcuffs on Bahena Rivera and take him to jail
@LawCrimeNetwork

1:48 PM · May 28, 2021·Twitter Web App

IA Attorney General on Twitter
The officers in the Bahena Rivera case should be applauded. "It's not that they're lucky, they're persistent," AAG Scott Brown said. Thank you,@IowaDPS
and local law enforcement. #MollieTibbetts
2:22 PM · May 28, 2021·Twitter Web App

Courtney Crowder on Twitter
There were shouts of jubilation from the overflow room where the family was when the prosecutors went in after the verdict.
2:33 PM · May 28, 2021 from Davenport, IA·Twitter for iPhone

 

[PommyMommy]

MAY 28, 2021
Guilty verdict in murder of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts - ABC News (go.com)
[...]

The jury deliberated for seven hours over Thursday and Friday and all were in agreement with the guilty verdict. In Iowa, the sentence for first degree murder is life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Bahena Rivera's sentencing will take place at 9:30 a.m. on July 15 in Poweshiek County and he was granted no bond pending sentencing.

"We're disappointed," defense attorney Chad Frese said following the verdict. "They certainly came to their decision. We'll respect their decision. We're explore our options and go from there."

Jury finds Cristhian Bahena Rivera guilty of Mollie Tibbetts' murder (kcci.com)
[...]

Bahena Rivera will remain in the state's custody until the sentencing where he could face life in prison.

Sentencing will take place 9:30 a.m. July 15, 2021, in Montezuma.

 

[PommyMommy]

MAY 28, 2021
Mollie Tibbetts case: Farm worker found guilty of killing University of Iowa student - CNN
A 26-year-old farm worker was found guilty of first-degree murder Friday in the abduction and fatal stabbing of college student Mollie Tibbetts in July 2018.

The verdict comes nearly three years after the body of the 20-year-old woman was found in an Iowa cornfield.

Cristhian Bahena Rivera, wearing headphones as interpreters translated the decision, stood in court and nodded slightly as the verdict was announced. Sentencing was set for July 15.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

MAY 28, 2021

The Verdict:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=618931045731400

Press Conference with the Defense:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1130172630796422

Press Conference with Prosecutors:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=606201727017089