MONTEZUMA (AP) — A man charged with killing Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts is set to be arraigned next week.
The Des Moines Register reports that 24-year-old Cristhian Bahena Rivera will be arraigned Wednesday in Poweshiek County District Court in Montezuma.
Rivera was arrested and charged with first-degree murder last month in the stabbing death of the 20-year-old Tibbetts, who vanished while out for a run in the east-central Iowa town of Brooklyn on July 18.
The search for Tibbetts stretched for more than a month and drew national attention before her body was found in an area cornfield. Police say Rivera led them to her body Aug. 21 after he was detained.
Rivera remains jailed on a $5 million cash-only bond.
082218ho-tibbetts-prayer-2
The Rev. Corey Close speaks at a prayer vigil for Mollie Tibbetts at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Brooklyn.
082218ho-tibbetts-prayer-1
Some attendees wear shirts which read, "Keep the faith. Keep Mollie's faith." during a prayer service for Mollie Tibbetts at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Brooklyn on Wednesday.
APTOPIX Missing Student Iowa
Cristhian Bahena Rivera is escorted into the Poweshiek County Courthouse for his initial court appearance Wednesday in Montezuma.
082118ho-tibbetts-press-conf
DCI Special Agent in Charge Richard Rahn answers questions during a press conference on the Mollie Tibbetts investigation at the Poweshiek County Sheriff's Office in Montezuma on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)
082118ho-tibbetts-dci
An Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation vehicle is driven from an area where law enforcement is investigating where the body of Mollie Tibbetts was found southeast of Guernsey, Iowa, on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
The Latest: Suspect worked at farm tied to Republican farmer
Special Agent Rick Rahn, of the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, speaks during a news conference about the investigation of missing University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts, Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018, in Montezuma, Iowa. Police say a man in the country illegally has been charged with murder in the death of Tibbetts, who was reported missing from her hometown in the eastern Iowa city of Brooklyn in July 2018. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Latest: Suspect worked at farm tied to Republican farmer
Friends and family of missing University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts react following a news conference, Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018, in Montezuma, Iowa. Police say a man in the country illegally has been charged with murder in the death of Tibbetts who was reported missing from her hometown in the eastern Iowa city of Brooklyn in July 2018. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Missing Student Iowa
Friends and family of missing University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts react during a news conference, Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018, in Montezuma, Iowa.
Tibbetts case sparks rush to add candidate to Iowa ballot
A ribbon for Mollie Tibbetts hangs on a light post Tuesday in Brooklyn.
Mollie Tibbetts with boyfriend
20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts was reported missing July 19.
Missing Student Iowa
Mollie Tibbetts
080118jr-vigil-3
Morgan Collum, cousin of Mollie Tibbetts, speaks during the vigil.
Post a comment as
Report
Watch this discussion.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.