Cristhian Bahena Rivera; Mollie Tibbetts AP
An “illegal alien” is in custody for the murder of Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts, according to police officials.
Cristhian Rivera, 24, was charged Tuesday in Poweshiek County after being brought in without incident by local cops.
Investigators spoke to him at length about what happened on July 18 — when he allegedly abducted Tibbetts — and revealed what he said during an afternoon press conference.
According to officials, Rivera told cops that he saw the young woman running, circled around a few times in his car, and eventually approached her.
He got out an ran up behind Tibbetts and accidentally spooked her — causing the 20-year-old to panic, officials said.
Rivera told cops that he then blacked out, and didn’t come to again until after Tibbetts was already dead — at the intersection in rural Poweshiek County where investigators found her body.
Cops would not say when the young college student was left there.
Rick Rahn, special agent in charge at the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, told reporters that federal officials were able to confirm Rivera’s status as an illegal immigrant after he was brought into custody on Monday.
“He’s an illegal alien, been in this area for four to seven years,” Rahn said.
Investigators were able to link Rivera to the missing person case after catching his black Chevy Malibu on surveillance camera the day Tibbetts disappeared. He was allegedly tailing her as she ran.
“He followed her around,” Rahn said. “Circled around a couple times, located her, then began to interface with her.”
Investigators said they got the surveillance video last week and immediately began working to find Rivera.
“We were able to track [his car] and the routes in which he took,” Rahn explained. “He was one of the last ones to see Mollie running.”
After locating him, cops said they conducted lengthy interviews with Rivera and eventually got him talking.
“It seemed that he followed her and seemed to be drawn to her on that particular day,” Rahn said, “and for whatever reason, he chose to abduct her.”
Rivera is currently employed, though officials refused to say what he does for a living. He has been charged with first-degree murder.
It’s still unclear how Tibbetts was killed, but authorities expect to find out in the coming weeks as the autopsy wraps up. It’s scheduled to begin on Wednesday.
Ref.: https://nypost.com/2018/08/21/suspect-in-mollie-tibbetts-death-held-on-federal-immigration-detainer/
Undocumented Immigrant Charged With Killing Iowa Student Mollie Tibbetts.. #Topbuzz https://t.co/iBu90EuRI9
PTOTECTED BY NANCY PELOSI AND THE DEMOCRATS A (ILLEGAL) Undocumented (WET BACK) Immigrant Was Charged With Killing Missing Iowa Student Mollie Tibbets…#TheBrooksBrown
— ?brooks brown??? (@bbusa617) August 21, 2018
BLOOD, BLOOD ON THE HANDS OF EVER DEMOCRAT IN AMERICA! ARE YOU HAPPY NOW! SHE'S DEAD! YOU DON'T WANT WALLS, OR ICE SO SHAME ON EVERY DEMOCRAT! YOU SHOULD ALL RESIGN IN DISGRACE! https://t.co/0b8rXP9NMY
— Richard Hannigan (@RichardVeii) August 21, 2018
They’re Not Sending Their Best: Illegal Alien Arrested For Murder of Mollie Tibbetts @CassandraRules https://t.co/IimHbjrjPb via @gatewaypundit
— Jim Hoft (@gatewaypundit) August 21, 2018
Dear @POTUS @realDonaldTrump Thank God for @ICEgov and Please #BuildTheWall!
?? R.I.P. #MollieTibbets ?? pic.twitter.com/PYsE2ytZVL
— Robbin Young (@Robbin_Young) August 21, 2018
BLOOD ON THE DEMOCRAT PARTY'S HANDS
20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts' body was found.
Illegal alien Cristihian Bahena Rivera was charged for her murder. #MollieTibbetts pic.twitter.com/cqvUyiLd5O
— #ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) August 21, 2018
You people can try and spin this 1000 ways sideways and the facts are the facts! #MollieTibbets and #KateSteinle would be alive and well if not for ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION! #BuildTheDamnWall pic.twitter.com/ZEw83CE6A5
— ❌??TrumpsAmericaPhD??❌ (@irshroz) August 21, 2018
JUST IN: Murder charge filed against 24-year-old illegal alien in case of missing Iowa jogger Mollie Tibbetts.
Officials say the suspect jogged near her & when she told him to leave her alone, the suspect chased her. Suspect claims he 'blacked out'… pic.twitter.com/SDkDBmjcZW
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 21, 2018
Bongino reacts to suspect charged in Mollie Tibbetts case
‘The Five’ and guest host Dan Bongino react to the charges levied against Christhian Rivera, an immigrant who entered the U.S. illegally and police have charged with first degree murder in the month-long case of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts.
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Illegal immigration kills. Period. https://t.co/1KCH1JMJWT pic.twitter.com/5DboTYONwI
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) August 22, 2018
WALL.
WALL.
WALL. https://t.co/iG2kfzRJLT
— Sebastian Gorka DrG (@SebGorka) August 21, 2018
Mollie Tibbetts murdered: Timeline of events
The body of the missing University of Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts was found bringing an end to the five week search. Murder suspect Cristhian Bathena Rivera was charged with first-degree murder. Here is a timeline of the events since her disappearance.
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How a small Iowa town reacted to Mollie Tibbetts disappearance
CBS News has learned Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts has been found dead, just over a month after she went missing. CBS News correspondent Adriana Diaz, who’s been covering the case, joins CBSN to explain what Tibbetts’ hometown has gone through since her disappearance.
