A 24 year old man who authorities say is in the country illegally and accused of murdering Mollie Tibbets made his first court appearance Wednesday afternoon.
A judge raised bond to $5 million cash for Cristhian Bahena Rivera during his brief appearance in the Poweshiek County courthouse. On Tuesday he was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the Tibbetts' death.
During his appearance, Rivera wore headphones to hear his spanish speaking interpreter and wore a black and white striped prison outfit.
Rivera nodded his head and answered yes when asked if he understood the purpose of the hearing. The judge denied a motion by Rivera's attorney, Allan Richards, to bar the media. Richards insisted his client was in the country legally.
If convicted of first degree murder he faces life in prison without parole. Tibbetts' body was found Tuesday in a cornfield near her hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa. Richards told the judge Rivera was a minor when he moved to Iowa from Mexico several years ago.
A criminal complaint alleges Rivera followed Tibbetts while she was out for a run, abducted and killed her and dumped her body in a cornfield. Investigators say Rivera led them to a body early Tuesday.
An autopsy was conducted Wednesday by the state medical examiner to determine the cause of death.