Judge Grants Suppression of Some Evidence in Tibbetts case

POWESHIEK COUNTY, Iowa - Some evidence gathered during the detention of the suspect in the killing of Mollie Tibbetts will be suppressed, but key physical evidence gathered as a result of that interrogation will be allowed.

A judge has ruled the Miranda rights originally read to Cristhian Rivera were inadequate, making statements between that time and a second Miranda reading more than six hours later inadmissible.

But the judge is allowing physical evidence found by officers, saying Rivera's statements were voluntary.

Interrogators obtained the suppressed evidence between Aug. 20 at 11:30 p.m. and Aug. 21 at 5:50 a.m.

The judge struck down Rivera's claim of sleep deprivation.

Tibbetts disappeared while jogging in her hometown of Brooklyn in July of 2018, and was found just over a month later when police say Rivera led them to her body in a cornfield.

Rivera's trial is scheduled to begin February 4th in Sioux City.


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