The farmhand charged in the abduction and stabbing death of 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts in Iowa has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.

Cristhian Bahena Rivera entered his plea Wednesday at the Poweshiek County Courthouse in Montezuma, Iowa.

Rivera is charged in the killing of Tibbetts, a University of Iowa student who disappeared while out for a run July 18th in Brooklyn, Iowa.

Investigators recovered her body a month later in a cornfield.

Rivera is a Mexican national who has also been accused of being in the country illegally.

His trial is set for April 16th. </s> Cristhian Bahena Rivera, the man accused of killing University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbets, was arraigned Wednesday on first-degree murder charges at the Poweshiek County District Court in Montezuma, Iowa with his trial set for next April.

Rivera entered a not guilty plea in court, through an interpreter, with a trial date of April 16 in Poweshiek County District Court, which was live streamed by Des Moines Register.com. He remained in custody after the arraignment under a $5 million cash-only bond, set when he was initially arrested last month.

Authorities arrested Rivera, 24, a Mexican national, last month in connection with Tibbets murder, which attracted national attention during her disappearance, KCCI-TV reported. She went missing while on a run in Brooklyn, Iowa in July, the television station stated.

Her body was eventually found in a cornfield, KCCI-TV stated. An award of nearly $400,000 was offered on Tibbetts’ whereabouts when the 20-year-old psychology student went missing on July 18, according to CNN.

Authorities charged that Rivera led them to Tibbetts’ body after telling them he saw and pursued the student on her jog, the network reported.

Rivera claimed, according to police that he blacked out at some point, but was able to take them to Tibbetts body that was covered in corn leaves, per CNN. Rick Rahn, an Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s special agent, said a motive in the crime was not clear.

“I can’t really speak to you about the motive,” Rahn told CNN. “I can just tell you it seems that he followed her and seemed to be drawn to her on that particular day and for whatever reason he chose to abduct her.”

Tibbetts’ death has taken on a political tone because Rivera has been identified as an undocumented immigrant who has lived in the Iowa area from four to seven years, the network said.

The Trump administration has made illegal immigration one of its top issues since taking office last year and have used such crimes in the past as evidence of stronger measures against those who cross the border illegally.

“You heard about today with the illegal alien coming in very sadly from Mexico,” Trump said at a rally last month in an effort to turn Tibbetts death into a campaign issue, CNN reported. “And you saw what happened to that incredible beautiful young woman. Should have never happened. Illegally in our country. We’ve had a huge impact but the laws are so bad, the immigration laws are such a disgrace. We’re getting it changed but we have to get more Republicans.”

Iowa U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst joined in targeting Rivera’s immigration status, the network said.

“Too many Iowans have been lost at the hands of criminals who broke our immigration laws,” the senators said, according to CNN. “We cannot allow these tragedies to continue.”

Rob Tibbetts, Mollie Tibbetts’ father, told the Des Moines Register that the family has rejected using her death in the immigration back-and-forth.

“Please leave us out of your debate,” Rob Tibbetts wrote in Register. “At long last, show some decency.” </s> MONTEZUMA, Iowa — The farmhand charged in the abduction and stabbing death of 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts in Iowa has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. Cristhian Bahena Rivera is charged in the killing of Tibbetts, a University of Iowa student who disappeared while out for a run July 18 in Brooklyn, Iowa.

Investigators recovered her body a month later in a cornfield. A medical examiner said Tibbetts was stabbed to death.

Rivera entered his plea Wednesday at the Poweshiek County Courthouse in Montezuma, Iowa.

Rivera, 24, worked at a dairy farm a few miles from where Tibbetts disappeared. He is a Mexican national who has been accused of being in the country illegally.

Tibbetts' father, Rob Tibbetts, has urged the public not to bring his daughter's death into the divisive and racially-charged debate over immigration.

"The person who is accused of taking Mollie's life is no more a reflection of the Hispanic community as white supremacists are of all white people," he recently wrote in an opinion piece for the Des Moines Register.

Rivera waived his right to be tried within 90 days. Trial is set for April 16. </s> (Reuters) - The accuser killer of Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts, whose disappearance produced national headlines, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder at a court appearance on Wednesday.

Cristhian Bahena Rivera, a 24-year-old farm worker from Mexico accused of stabbing 20-year-old Tibbetts, appeared in a black-and-white striped jumpsuit at his arraignment in Poweshiek County Courthouse in Montezuma, Iowa.

“Mr. Rivera pleads not guilty,” his lawyer Chad Frese told the judge as Rivera listened through black headphones to a translator.

District Court Judge Joel Yates set his trial for April 16. Rivera was ordered held on $5 million bail at a previous court appearance.

Tibbetts, a University of Iowa student, vanished while jogging on July 18, and her body was found about a month later in a field near Brooklyn, Iowa.

Law enforcement officials told reporters that Rivera was in the country illegally. His defense lawyer has said in a court filing that Rivera had legal status.

The case further fueled a national debate over illegal immigration and crime, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying Tibbetts’ death was a result of weak immigration laws.

In an opinion piece for the Des Moines Register earlier this month, Tibbetts’ father, Rob Tibbetts, called on politicians not to “distort” her death to advance views “she believed were profoundly racist.” </s> Sign up for one of our email newsletters.

MONTEZUMA, Iowa — The farmhand charged in the abduction and stabbing death of 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts in Iowa has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.

Cristhian Bahena Rivera entered his plea Wednesday at the Poweshiek County Courthouse in Montezuma, Iowa.

Rivera is charged in the killing of Tibbetts, a University of Iowa student who disappeared while out for a run July 18 in Brooklyn, Iowa.

Investigators recovered her body a month later in a cornfield. A medical examiner has said Tibbetts was stabbed to death.

Rivera is a Mexican national who has been accused of being in the country illegally. The 24-year-old worked at a dairy farm a few miles from where Tibbetts disappeared.

He waived his right to be tried within 90 days. Trial is set for April 16. </s> The Latest: Suspect to appear in court in Iowa woman's death

MONTEZUMA, Iowa (AP) — The Latest on a man in the U.S. illegally who is accused in the kidnapping and killing of an Iowa college student (all times local):

The man charged in the kidnapping and killing of an Iowa college student is expected to make his initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon.

Cristhian Bahena Rivera is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Mollie Tibbetts, who disappeared July 18 from Brooklyn, Iowa. He's set to appear at the Poweshiek County Courthouse in Montezuma at 1 p.m.

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 believed to be Tibbetts early Tuesday.

An autopsy is scheduled Wednesday by the state medical examiner to determine the cause of death.

Court records don't list an attorney for Rivera, who is jailed on a $1 million cash-only bond.

Authorities say a man in the U.S. illegally has confessed to kidnapping a 20-year-old University of Iowa student, killing her and dumping her body in a cornfield.

Twenty-four-year-old Cristhian Bahena Rivera is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Mollie Tibbetts of Brooklyn, Iowa. Rivera is being held on a $1 million cash-only bond. An initial court appearance is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Tibbetts' July 18 disappearance set off a massive search involving state and federal authorities. Division of Criminal Investigation special agent Rick Rahn says Rivera led investigators early Tuesday to a body believed to be Tibbetts.

President Donald Trump noted the arrest and called for immigration law changes at a rally in West Virginia. And Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said residents "are angry that a broken immigration system allowed a predator like this to live in our community." </s> The man charged with killing 20-year-old University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts made a formal plea of not guilty on Wednesday.

24-year-old Cristhian Bahena Rivera entered that plea during a formal arraignment in Poweshiek County court.

Prosecutors charged Rivera with first-degree murder in August after he allegedly stabbed Tibbetts to death.

He also waived his right to a speedy trial during the arraignment in Montezuma. That means the trial does not have to take place within a state-mandated 90-day window.

Tibbetts vanished while out for a run in Brooklyn on July 18.

The search for Tibbetts lasted for more than a month and drew national attention.

Police say on August 21 Rivera led them to Tibbetts' body in a cornfield, but he told them he doesn't remember killing her.

An autopsy shows Tibbetts died of several stab wounds.

Both the defense and prosecution agreed to a trial date of April 16, 2019.

Defense attorney Chad Frese says he and his client agreed to waive the speedy trial because it's a complicated case that will take time to prepare.

And while the disappearance and discovery of the body prompted an outcry from many politicians about illegal immigration, Frese doesn't expect that issue to come up at trial.

"Immigration has nothing to do with this case. We aren't going to let this become an issue in this case. Our focus is Cristhian's charge he's facing and the death of this women. Whether or not he's an illegal immigrant or not has nothing to do with the facts of this case," Frese said.

Bahena Rivera's attorney says it's too soon to talk about moving the trial away from Poweshiek County. But that will be a consideration.

He would not answer questions about a trial strategy and whether he was considering an insanity or diminished responsibility defense.

Rivera is currently jailed on a $5 million cash-only bond. </s> MONTEZUMA, Ia — The man accused of first-degree murder in the death of University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts pleaded not guilty Wednesday.

Cristhian Bahena Rivera, 24, appeared before District Court Judge Joel Yates at the Poweshiek County Courthouse.

Below is an earlier version of the story. Return for updates on this developing story:

MONTEZUMA, Ia. — The man accused of first-degree murder in the death of University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts will be arraigned at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Cristhian Bahena Rivera, 24, will appear before District Court Judge Joel Yates at the Poweshiek County Courthouse.

Police have said Bahena Rivera told them he pursued Tibbetts in his car while she was jogging that night, before parking, getting out of the car and running behind and alongside her.

When Tibbetts told Bahena Rivera she was going to call police, he "panicked and got mad," according to a criminal complaint.

"He then 'blocked' his 'memory' which is what he does when he gets very upset," the complaint states. "And doesn't remember anything after that until he came to at an intersection."

An autopsy found she died of "multiple sharp force injuries."

© Gannett Co., Inc. 2018. All Rights Reserved </s> The accused killer of Iowa jogger Mollie Tibbetts is set to be arraigned Wednesday, one month after he was arrested for allegedly killing the 20-year-old college student.

Tibbetts, a rising sophomore at the University of Iowa, disappeared on July 18 while jogging in her rural farming town of Brooklyn, a close-knit community of about 1,500 residents.

Her disappearance garnered national attention and state and federal investigators were soon asked to join the case.

On Aug. 21, her alleged killer, 24-year-old Cristhian Rivera, was arrested after authorities said he led them to the college student's body in a farm field.

Tibbetts died from multiple sharp force injuries, according to her autopsy.

Rivera is an undocumented immigrant and his arrest renewed debate over America's immigration system.

On the day of Rivera's arrest, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a statement, “We are angry that a broken immigration system allowed a predator like this to live in our community, and we will do all we can bring justice to Mollie’s killer."

But Tibbetts' father said his daughter wouldn't want to be the face of an immigration debate and he begged for the family to be allowed to grieve privately.

"Please leave us out of your debate," Rob Tibbetts wrote in a guest column in The Des Moines Register. “I’m tired of my family being abused ... We want Mollie to die with dignity.”
Cristhian Bahena Rivera, a Mexican man accused of killing University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts after entering the U.S. illegally, appears in a Poweshiek County court for arraignment on first-degree murder. His bail is set at US$5 million. If released by local police, he may be arrested by ICE.