Posted on November 14, 2019

Mollie Tibbetts’ Accused Killer Wants His Own Confession Thrown Out

Radar Online, November 13, 2019

Mollie Tibbets

Mollie Tibbets

Attorneys for Cristhian Rivera, the man suspected of killing Mollie Tibbetts, are arguing in a pre-trial hearing that his confession should be thrown out because he wasn’t immediately read his Miranda rights.

As Fox News has reported, at today’s suppression hearings in Poweshiek County, Iowa, a judge heard arguments from both sides on whether the confession from Tibbett’s alleged killer Rivera, 25, will be used in court.

In July 2018, Tibbetts, 20, vanished during a routine jog in her secluded hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa.

After a month-long search by both state and federal authorities, the University of Iowa student was found dead in a cornfield and immigrant Rivera was arrested for the crime. He was charged with first-degree murder. Rivera has pled not guilty.

Tibbetts’ autopsy results revealed that she died from “multiple sharp force injuries.”

Now, during the pre-trial hearing in the case, authorities have admitted that Rivera was not properly given his Miranda rights the first time he was read them during more than 11 hours of questioning last summer.

But investigators said Rivera was correctly read his Miranda rights a second time when he led the police to Tibbetts’ body.

His lawyers have filed motions to suppress Rivera’s confession, saying it was coerced.

Cristhian Rivera

Cristhian Rivera

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