A judge on Wednesday ordered the man accused of killing University of Iowa sophomore Mollie Tibbetts be held on a $5 million cash bond as he awaits trial on a murder charge.
Update 2:50 p.m. EDT Aug 22: A judge set bond for Cristhian Bahena Rivera during his initial appearance in court on Wednesday, WOI-DT reported.
The Lang family said in a statement Tuesday that Rivera's immigration status had been confirmed by an E-Verify electronic immigration status check.
In a court filing Wednesday, Rivera's attorney, Allan M. Richards, disputed reports that his client was in the country illegally, citing an employer who has said Rivera is in the U.S. legally. The document names Craig Lang, a former head of the Iowa Board of Regents who is co-owner of a dairy that employed Rivera.
Richards asked the court to prevent the government from claiming Rivera is in the country illegally.
Update 2:25 p.m. EDT Aug. 22: The family of Mollie Tibbetts, the 20-year-old University of Iowa sophomore who was found dead Tuesday after vanishing a month earlier, thanked supporters in a statement released Wednesday by officials.
"Our hearts are broken," the family said and the statement, released by the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations. "On behalf of Mollie's entire family, we thank all of those from around the world who have sent their thoughts and prayers for our girl. We know that many of you will join us as we continue to carry Mollie in our hearts forever."
The family asked for privacy as they work to "process our devastating loss."
Tibbetts, 20, was reported missing July 19, one day after she was last seen jogging in the town of Brooklyn, Iowa.
Authorities arrested Cristhian Bahena Rivera, a Mexican man who was living in the U.S. illegally, a murder charge Tuesday after he confessed to kidnapping and killing Tibbetts, officials said Tuesday. He was expected to appear in court on Wednesday afternoon.
Update 5:31 p.m. EDT Aug. 21: Police said that Cristhian Bahena Rivera has been charged with murder in the death of Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts.
A charge of 1st degree murder has been filed against the 24-year-old. If convicted, the charge carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison.