WARNING: Some testimony and evidence presented during the trial may be upsetting to viewers.Testimony entered its third day of the Cristhian Bahena Rivera murder trial on Friday. Bahena Rivera is charged in the 2018 death of Iowa 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts.Below are summaries of each testimony:DNA expert explains blood, semen testing done on evidenceIowa State Crime Lab criminalist Tara Scott took the stand to testify about DNA in the case. They first discussed the items found at Blake Jack’s home when Tibbetts was originally reported missing. Scott and her colleagues took multiple items from the home including a water bottle, toothbrush and drinks. The water bottle was compared to DNA collected from Tibbetts’ mother and father to confirm her DNA profile. Scott also testified to testing items from the cornfield including the black running shorts, the pink fabric believed to be a headband, and the striped fabric believed to be underwear. On 15 areas tested on the black shorts, results came back negative for sperm and inconclusive for blood. No DNA samples were taken on the short. For the pink fabric, there were no stains so there were no tests conducted. The striped underwear found presence of blood in one area, but not sperm. However, the blood sample was too weak for a DNA test. Scott and her colleagues examined two items from Bahena Rivera’s residence, including a folding knife, which had tested negative for blood, and a stained napkin which tested positive for Bahena Rivera’s blood. Scott reviewed her findings from the stains in the trunk of the black Chevrolet Malibu. The stain found on the seal of the trunk lid was confirmed as blood with DNA that matched Tibbetts. Scott said there was also blood confirmed to be Tibbetts on the trunk’s lining. She said the football and fishing pole tested positive for blood, but the DNA was too weak to identify who it belonged to. During cross-examination, Scott said she was unable to locate DNA through swabs of Tibbetts’ body including Tibbetts’ DNA. The defense also asked about taking DNA samples from any of the individuals who were at Jack’s home when Tibbetts initially went missing. Scott said she didn’t request DNA samples and wasn’t provided any. DCI testifies to bloodstains in vehicle, Tibbetts’ clothing found distance away from crime sceneAmy Johnson, with the Division of Criminal Investigation, said she was involved in processing a black Chevrolet Malibu and a Nissan Altima.Johnson said that in the trunk of the Chevrolet Malibu there were a total of four stains that tested positive for blood. Some of the stains were located on a football and fishing pole. Johnson and her colleagues were called to 2478 460th Ave. at about 6 a.m. on Aug. 21, 2018. When they arrived, her colleagues and the state medical examiner entered the cornfield where Tibbetts body was located. She described Tibbetts’ body being found with her arms above her head and her legs slightly apart. Johnson stated Tibbetts did not have underwear or shorts on at the time they found her. A sketch created by Johnson shows the underwear and shorts were found 15 to 24 feet away from the scene where Tibbetts’ body was found. Johnson also processed Bahena Rivera’s residence where she told the court there was no evidence of Tibbetts. Cross-examination of Pamela RomeroCourt proceedings began with the continued cross-examination of former Iowa City police Officer Pamela Romero.During the investigation of Tibbetts’ disappearance, Romero conducted interviews with Bahena Rivera in Spanish. Some of his initial interview statements were thrown out because Romero failed to properly issue him a Miranda warning.On Thursday, Romero testified that Bahena Rivera confessed to Mollie Tibbetts’ murder and led investigators to her body.During Thursday’s cross-examination, the defense argued Romero wore Bahena Rivera down after 14 hours of working on the farm and tried to provoke him into a false confession after an 11-hour interview.On Friday, the defense showed fast-forwarded footage of Bahena Rivera appearing to fall asleep while alone in the interview room. Romero stated that she did not observe Bahena Rivera falling asleep during the interview.The defense asked Romero why she accused Bahena Rivera of being untruthful during her interview with him, to which she stated, “At the beginning of the interview he said he wasn’t aware of (Tibbetts). Then we showed him the black Malibu that he admitted was his.”
WARNING: Some testimony and evidence presented during the trial may be upsetting to viewers.
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Testimony entered its third day of the Cristhian Bahena Rivera murder trial on Friday. Bahena Rivera is charged in the 2018 death of Iowa 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts.
Below are summaries of each testimony:
DNA expert explains blood, semen testing done on evidence
Iowa State Crime Lab criminalist Tara Scott took the stand to testify about DNA in the case. They first discussed the items found at Blake Jack’s home when Tibbetts was originally reported missing. Scott and her colleagues took multiple items from the home including a water bottle, toothbrush and drinks.
The water bottle was compared to DNA collected from Tibbetts’ mother and father to confirm her DNA profile.
Scott also testified to testing items from the cornfield including the black running shorts, the pink fabric believed to be a headband, and the striped fabric believed to be underwear.
On 15 areas tested on the black shorts, results came back negative for sperm and inconclusive for blood. No DNA samples were taken on the short.
For the pink fabric, there were no stains so there were no tests conducted.
The striped underwear found presence of blood in one area, but not sperm. However, the blood sample was too weak for a DNA test.
Scott and her colleagues examined two items from Bahena Rivera’s residence, including a folding knife, which had tested negative for blood, and a stained napkin which tested positive for Bahena Rivera’s blood.
Scott reviewed her findings from the stains in the trunk of the black Chevrolet Malibu. The stain found on the seal of the trunk lid was confirmed as blood with DNA that matched Tibbetts. Scott said there was also blood confirmed to be Tibbetts on the trunk’s lining.
She said the football and fishing pole tested positive for blood, but the DNA was too weak to identify who it belonged to.
During cross-examination, Scott said she was unable to locate DNA through swabs of Tibbetts’ body including Tibbetts’ DNA.
The defense also asked about taking DNA samples from any of the individuals who were at Jack’s home when Tibbetts initially went missing. Scott said she didn’t request DNA samples and wasn’t provided any.
DCI testifies to bloodstains in vehicle, Tibbetts’ clothing found distance away from crime scene
Amy Johnson, with the Division of Criminal Investigation, said she was involved in processing a black Chevrolet Malibu and a Nissan Altima.
Johnson said that in the trunk of the Chevrolet Malibu there were a total of four stains that tested positive for blood. Some of the stains were located on a football and fishing pole.
Johnson and her colleagues were called to 2478 460th Ave. at about 6 a.m. on Aug. 21, 2018. When they arrived, her colleagues and the state medical examiner entered the cornfield where Tibbetts body was located.
She described Tibbetts’ body being found with her arms above her head and her legs slightly apart. Johnson stated Tibbetts did not have underwear or shorts on at the time they found her.
A sketch created by Johnson shows the underwear and shorts were found 15 to 24 feet away from the scene where Tibbetts’ body was found.
Johnson also processed Bahena Rivera’s residence where she told the court there was no evidence of Tibbetts.
Cross-examination of Pamela Romero
Court proceedings began with the continued cross-examination of former Iowa City police Officer Pamela Romero.
During the investigation of Tibbetts’ disappearance, Romero conducted interviews with Bahena Rivera in Spanish. Some of his initial interview statements were thrown out because Romero failed to properly issue him a Miranda warning.
On Thursday, Romero testified that Bahena Rivera confessed to Mollie Tibbetts’ murder and led investigators to her body.
During Thursday’s cross-examination, the defense argued Romero wore Bahena Rivera down after 14 hours of working on the farm and tried to provoke him into a false confession after an 11-hour interview.
On Friday, the defense showed fast-forwarded footage of Bahena Rivera appearing to fall asleep while alone in the interview room. Romero stated that she did not observe Bahena Rivera falling asleep during the interview.
The defense asked Romero why she accused Bahena Rivera of being untruthful during her interview with him, to which she stated, “At the beginning of the interview he said he wasn’t aware of (Tibbetts). Then we showed him the black Malibu that he admitted was his.”
