Iowa investigators see no hyperlink among the current disappearance of 11-year-antique Xavior Harrelson and the 2018 demise of Mollie Tibbetts, for which Cristhian Bahena Rivera become convicted of murder in can also.
Harrelson disappeared from a trailer park in Montezuma on May 27,
in the future earlier than Bahena Rivera determined guilty via a jury.
Bahena Rivera’s protection team requested for a brand new trial in advance this month, announcing that
the previous stay-in boyfriend of Harrelson’s mother, 50-year-antique James Lowe, has allegedly related to sex trafficking in Iowa and will have something to do with Tibbetts’ demise and disappearance
The lawyers contend that new witnesses have currently come forward and blamed any other 21-12 months-vintage guy, Gavin Jones, for Tibbetts’ murder, setting forth an idea that Tibbetts turned into allegedly kidnapped right into a sex trafficking ring run by way of Lowe, who then allegedly ordered Jones and another man to kill Tibbetts.
Mitch Mortvedt, assistant director of the Iowa Department of crook investigation, threw cold water on that idea this week, saying that there is no connection between the cases.
“We assured inside the investigation, prosecution, and conviction of Rivera for the disappearance and homicide of Mollie Tibbetts and that he acted on my own,” Mortvedt informed Fox information Wednesday.
Gavin Jones and the other man who Bahena Rivera’s defense crew named inside the alleged plot to kill Tibbetts have additionally denied any involvement.
“I wasn’t involved in something,” Jones instructed the associated Press. “I’ve alibis and the whole thing. I am simply anticipating a person to come communicate to me.”
Bahena Rivera, a 27-year-antique Mexican country-wide who got here to the US illegally as a youngster,
turned into convicted in may additionally of murdering Tibbetts. He made the sudden testimony during his trial that two masked guys surely stabbed Tibbetts to death then compelled him to dispose of her body.
His defense legal professionals claimed simply days earlier than he becomes set to sentenced
that the new witnesses and proof could corroborate their client’s claims.
Judge Joel Yates denied the protection’s request to compel the state to
turn over proof of any investigations into Jones and Lowe,
although, announcing that the defense’s “exam of these investigations would be not anything greater than a fishing day trip.”
“suggest for Defendant has asserted there’s a connection between James Lowe and Gavin Jones,
however, this point has no longer articulated through any witness or piece of evidence,” decide Yates wrote Friday.
A hearing at the motion for a new trial could be held on July 27. Bahena Rivera’s sentencing has now not but rescheduled.
The associated Press contributed to this record.
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SOURCE:
Mollie Tibbetts murder: Police find no link between Iowa student and 11-year-old’s disappearance
