Family of murdered Iowa college student: “Our hearts are broken”

The family of Mollie Tibbetts released this statement via the Iowa Department of Public Safety on Wednesday:

Our hearts are broken.

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.

At this time, our family asks that we be allowed the time to process our devastating loss and share our grief in private.

Again, thank you for the outpouring of love and support that has been shared in Mollie’s name. We remain forever grateful.

Cristhian Bahena Rivera, 24, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the death of Tibbetts, whose July 18 disappearance set off a massive search involving state and federal authorities.

Rivera confessed to kidnapping the college student while she was running in her small Iowa hometown, klling her and dumping the body in a rural field.

Rivera led investigators Tuesday to a body, believed to be Tibbetts, in a cornfield about 12 miles southeast of Brooklyn, Iowa, where the 20-year-old was last seen running, Division of Criminal Investigation special agent Rick Rahn said.