(Radio Iowa) – The defense attorney for the man accused of murdering 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts in Brooklyn, Iowa, in 2018 has focused his questioning today (Monday) asking about other suspects. Chad Frese, the defense attorney for Cristhian Bahena Rivera, questioned Special Agent Trent Vileta, of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. “Would you agree with me given your experience that this was a violent death for Mollie Tibbetts?” Frese asked. Vileta replied: “Yes, it was.” Frese continued: “Somebody stabbed her multiple times…Would you agree with me that she was stabbed with a significant amount of force?” Vileta said: “That would be a better question for the pathologist.”

Prosecutors are planning to call the State Medical Examiner to testify. The defense attorney has asked questions about Tibbetts’ boyfriend and brought up tips to law enforcement about the man who lived near the field where Tibbetts body was found.”You didn’t find it a bit ironic that this man you’d received at least two tips on, her body was found a quarter mile from his house?” Frese asked. Vileta replied: “No, not at all.”

Agent Vileta testified that Rivera’s confession had cleared the neighbor to the field where Tibbetts had been buried under corn stalks.