Hunter
04/11/20
The man accused of murdering University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts will stand trial in September.
26-year-old Christhian Bahena Rivera is charged with first degree murder in the death of 20-year-old Tibbetts, who disappeared in Brooklyn, Iowa in July of 2018. Bahena Rivera led police to her body the following month.
The trial was postponed while the state Supreme Court ruled on whether Bahena Rivera’s constitutional rights were violated. A district court judge allowed most evidence to be introduced on December 23rd and Bahena Rivera’s legal team appealed. The court denied the defense’s request.
Bahena Rivera’s trial will begin September 29th in Woodbury County, a change of venue due to pre-trial publicity.
