Counseling services are being made available on the University of Iowa campus in the wake of the murder of Mollie Tibbetts. Her body was found in a cornfield near Brooklyn, Iowa on Wednesday.
Mollie would have returned to school in Iowa City this fall for her sophomore year. In a statement, university official say their "thoughts are with Mollie Tibbetts' family, friends and classmates."
University of Iowa students to honor Mollie Tibbetts Wednesday night. A vigil will be held from 7-8 p.m. at the west end of Hubbard Park in Iowa City. The public is invited to attend.
24 year old Cristhian Bahena Rivera, an illegal immigrant who lived and worked in the area where Mollie was killed, is charged with first-degree murder. Investigators say Rivera, led police to the body, which was found in a cornfield and covered with cornstalks. Rivera is being held on a $1 million cash bond.
Rivera lived in the area for more than four years and passed background check. Yarrabee Farms, the family-owned business where he worked said they were shocked. "This individual has worked at our farms for four years, was vetted through the government's E-Verify system, and was an employee in good standing," Yarrabee Farms said in the statement. "On Monday, the authorities visited our farm and talked to our employees. We have cooperated fully with their investigation."
Rivera is in the country illegally from Mexico and it's unclear how he passed the background check. The government checks job applicants' backgrounds for employers using the E-Verify online system. This search includes records from the Department of Homeland Security, which Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) falls under, to ensure the applicant is legally allowed to work.