During his arraignment today, 24-year-old Cristhian Bahena Rivera pleaded not guilty to murdering Tibbetts. Prosecutors charged Rivera with first-degree murder in August after he allegedly stabbed Tibbetts to death. Tibbetts vanished while out for a run in Brooklyn on July 18. The search for Tibbetts lasted for more than a month and drew national attention. Police say on August 21 Rivera led them to Tibbetts’ body in a cornfield, but he told them he doesn’t remember killing her. An autopsy shows Tibbetts died of several stab wounds.
The trial has been scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. April 16, 2019. He also waived his right to a speedy trial during the arraignment in Montezuma. Rivera is currently jailed on a $5 million cash-only bond.