Hearing for man accused of killing Mollie Tibbetts delayed
Cristhian Bahena Rivera (contributed)
October 22, 2019
An evidence-suppression hearing for Cristhian Bahena Rivera, the man accused of killing UI student Mollie Tibbetts last year, was delayed Tuesday. The hearing, which was supposed to begin Tuesday, has been rescheduled for 9 a.m. Nov. 13 at the Poweshiek County Courthouse.
The hearing will discuss whether or not Bahena Rivera’s rights were violated when he was arrested and questioned last year.
On Aug. 20, 2018, Bahena Rivera was first read incomplete Miranda rights before being read his rights in completion early the next morning.
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Bahena Rivera’s attorneys also argued in court documents that he did not consent to a search of his vehicle, which laster was found to have a substance that was confirmed to be blood and matched Tibbetts’ DNA profile.
Authorities said Bahena Rivera confessed to abducting and killing Tibbetts while she was out for a run near Brooklyn, Iowa, on July 18, 2018. After he led officers to her body Aug. 21, 2018, he was charged with first-degree murder. He has pleaded not guilty.
Bahena Rivera’s trial will be at the Woodbury County Courthouse on Feb. 4, the third trial date that has been set. Delays from a Sept. 3 and Nov. 12 trial start date came after Rivera’s attorneys requested more time to test and review evidence.
