The defense in Cristhian Bahena Rivera’s murder trial rested its case Wednesday (5/26). He is accused of killing Mollie Tibbetts in July of 2018 while she was jogging in Brooklyn. During his testimony, Bahena Rivera said two men came to his home the night when Tibbetts was killed. Bahena Rivera then testified that the two men had him get into his car and they drove to Brooklyn.
Defense attorney Jennifer Frese: When you followed that road, did you see anyone?
Bahena Rivera: Yes.
Frese: Who did you see?
Bahena Rivera: A person jogging.
Frese: Did you know that person at that time?
Bahena Rivera: No.
Frese: Ever met Mollie Tibbets before?
Bahena Rivera: No.
Frese: Now do you recognize or believe that person was Mollie Tibbetts?
Bahena Rivera: That’s right.
Bahena Rivera went on to say that they drove back around, then the two men got out of the car. Then they opened the trunk and Bahena Rivera said he heard a movement in the car and the trunk closed. The two men got back in the car and they drove for several miles.
Bahena Rivera: They took my keys and my phone.
Frese: What happened next?
Bahena Rivera: Before they leave, one of them tells me not to say anything about what had happened. That they knew Iris (his ex-girlfriend) and that they knew my daughter. That if I said something, they would take care of them.
Special Assistant Attorney General Scott Brown questioned Bahena Rivera on his story.
Brown: You drove the two men in your Malibu to the cornfield where you dumped Mollie Tibbetts, correct?
Bahena Rivera: Yes.
Brown: And you’re telling us that you drove back to your home alone?
Bahena Rivera: Yes.
Brown: And you happened to find your cell phone and the keys in the trunk of your car?
Bahena Rivera: Yes.
Brown: And these two men just disappeared?
Bahena RIvera: That’s right.
Bahena Rivera also admitted that he put Mollie’s body in the cornfield and covered her with corn stalks.
Closing arguments will begin Thursday morning (5/27) when Bahena Rivera’s murder trial resumes in Davenport.
