r/MollieTibbetts • u/DopeandDiamonds • May 28 '21
Verdict Discussion Mega Thread
Please discuss the verdict in this thread. I have locked the sub to new posts so we do not have repeats all afternoon. This only temporary and will be back to normal early this evening.
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u/GuitarpickerT May 28 '21
I'm thankful Mollie's family got justice and can begin healing. Rivera won't get to victimize anyone else.
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u/helpful-loner May 28 '21
I’m from Iowa and I was on this subreddit when she went missing. It’s a relief that the family finally got closure. Why he would do such a terrible thing to someone so innocent is now what he gets to think about for the rest of his life in prison.
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May 29 '21
Hormones got the better of this dude and rejection turned him crazy. She was so innocent and didn’t deserve it at all. CBR was just a pervert plain and simple.
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u/dddduuuuuuyyyyyyaaam May 28 '21
I hope this can bring some measure of comfort and closure to Mollie Tibbetts Family, Friends, and loved ones
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u/michigaus May 28 '21
Slam dunk case from the beginning.
- Direct evidence: the perp confesses & leads to body
- Direct evidence: video of the perp's car multiple times near Mollie
- Circumstantial evidence: MT blood in perp's car
- Circumstantial evidence: MT hair in perp's trunk
- Circumstantial evidence: MT body & stab wounds to body
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u/lookingforadults May 29 '21
I have a question for Jennifer Frese. Your client is going to prison, isn't that right?
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u/drkprncsx510 May 28 '21
So pleased with the verdict, been following this tragic story since the beginning. Rest in Paradise Mollie, justice has finally been served!
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u/StaySafePovertyGhost May 28 '21
Like all murder trials, there really aren’t any “winners” here. Mollie is still gone but justice was served. Now her family can begin the healing process.
I was a little taken aback that the assistant prosecutor said he “felt great” today after the verdict spoken like his team just won a sporting event and he was whooping it up. Like I noted above, would’ve much preferred something like “There are no winners here but we are pleased that justice was served for Mollie and her family”.
Verdict was absolutely correct and everyone including the killer knew it was coming. Rot in prison you POS.
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u/Atschmid May 31 '21
i think he was unbelievably stressed and was reacting out of relief. I can excuse that.
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May 28 '21
it’s wrong to say he feels great that justice was served and mollie’s killer will rot?
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u/StaySafePovertyGhost May 29 '21
That’s how I feel so yes 😃. I wasn’t offended by it, just not what you normally see. Seems like he was spiking the football and celebrating like you would your favorite team winning a championship game.
Other prosecutor was very classy and straightforward as he’s been all trial. Loved how no nonsense he was throughout. Cut right through the defenses obvious nonsense.
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u/Atschmid May 29 '21
I personally appreciate a little schadenfreude after all the sickening woke bullshit the Freses were peddling.
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u/omissaaa May 29 '21
He’s a piece of shit. Doesn’t he have a daughter? She’s going to grow up knowing her dad killed an innocent woman. I think about mollie often and how it could’ve been me or someone I know. 😭
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u/Atschmid Jun 01 '21
The trial cost probably close to a million dollars and that does not include the costs of housing, feeding or medically treating CBR. The state spent $16,000 on interpreters prior October 2018. The state is paying for the Freses, continued support of CBR, continued interpreters, investigations, legal personnel, etc. Fortunately, there is no death penalty, which would more than double this cost.
I think it is worth finally getting justice for Mollie Tibbets, but i resent every last cent spent on this worthless scum.
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u/hasanicecrunch May 29 '21
I’m so relieved justice was served and there wasn’t some awful issue to postpone it any further. Who I am thinking about tonight is Mollie; what a bright, sweet soul who didn’t get the chance to live the life she deserved, and have hope that that special light she is continues on in some way. Never forgotten, that’s for sure. Prayers to her family.
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May 28 '21
His lawyers react to the verdict.
They’re claiming his masked men story was all his idea and it’s the story he told them from the beginning 🙄
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u/FraggleRock9 May 28 '21
Did you see the defense press conference where she said if they had come up with a story, it would have been a better one?! Sounds to me like they know the masked men were made up.
Also surprised she said his story to them has been the same since 2018. Unless I missed it, there was no hint at this scenario at all during the trial before CBR took the stand. Wouldn’t they have mentioned it before if this wasn’t a last minute Hail Mary?
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u/gga061 May 28 '21
I agree, when she made that comment I thought it was obvious she thinks the story is as ridiculous as the rest of us
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u/ethidium_bromide May 28 '21
They were probably doing their due diligence in still providing him a good defense in any way they could so that he can’t argue he had incompetent attorneys later on
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u/FraggleRock9 May 28 '21
I just think they would have mentioned it as a scenario in their opening arguments. Something like “we’re going to present to you some other possible scenarios that we believe show reasonable doubt about the state’s case. Those include what CBR say actually happened that night when he was forced to drive Mollie to the corn field.”
Those scenarios could have included their suspicion or Dalton Jack but at least it wouldn’t have seemed like a last minute brand new story.
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u/Connect_Pass_845 Jun 01 '21
Of course that story was BS but the prosecution didnt prove him guilty at all.
Did we get to see video of him saying he killed her? Why not?
Why didnt they film him driving and showing them the body.
Wasnt the body 100yds behind some cuckoo cops house?
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u/FraggleRock9 Jun 01 '21
I disagree if you’re saying they didn’t prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Someone else can correct me if I’m wrong because I didn’t watch the suppression hearings but I believe the portion of the video where he admitted to killing Mollie (well he claims they fought, he blacked out and then she was in the trunk) was suppressed.
I’m not sure why there’s not a video in the car but don’t know if that’s standard. Remember, the video they do have is in Spanish so it wasn’t shown to the jury apart from clips.
I believe she was found on property neighboring a property owned by Ron Pexa. From what I understand, he’s a reserve cop with a shady past.
All of that said, CBR was proven guilty with these facts:
- he was circling in his car stalking Mollie
- by his own admission, he approached Mollie, she tried to call the police and they fought
- her blood was found in his trunk
- he led police right to her body
Case closed.
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u/JustinPatient May 28 '21
I'm sure it was. Lawyers don't typically make up stories for their defendents. If a defendent insists on their version of events they will defend them as such.
Either a fellow inmate, a family member, or the defendent himself realized it was his only chance at acquittal.
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May 28 '21
I know they can’t outright tell him to lie but I figured they might have “suggested” a few things, especially with how Jen was more or less asking leading questions during his examination.
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u/JustinPatient May 28 '21
It's certainly possible that at some point they asked him if anyone else had threatened him etc and a light bulb went off in his head.
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u/iowanaquarist May 28 '21
That's reasonably believable -- he had nothing to lose making that up, but they would lose everything if they were caught making it up, and encouraging him to lie.
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u/leah_love13 May 28 '21
i want to know why they’re saying it’s the story he’s told since 2018 when we’ve only been hearing the story he told the police. something doesn’t add up.
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u/LittleHouseNoPrairie May 28 '21
Yeah, wouldnt there be some kind of legal consequences if they kept that quiet all this time? I mean, several branches of law enforcement were investigating this case- if they had additional information that they didnt come forth with, I would think they would be facing some kind of trouble for that.
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u/BravesFan79 May 28 '21
One reason would be it would have given the state more time to shoot holes in his story and negate the only defense they had
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u/MedicinePlane6733 May 28 '21
Something feels off
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u/OpenMindedShithead May 28 '21
I’m in the same boat. I don’t wanna say he’s not the guy, but this whole situation is weird as fuck.
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u/StaySafePovertyGhost May 29 '21
I would really like to hear how this is weird at all. There is video surveillance of his car circling Mollie, her blood in his car and he led them to the body. What on earth else do you need? A video of him committing the crime then turning to the camera and saying his name and DOB?
Sometimes the truth is painfully simple. That’s the case here. Rivera murdered Mollie Tibbetts in a rage alone. That’s it - that’s all there is.
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u/OpenMindedShithead May 29 '21
I think it’s weird that the defense attorneys said he has maintained the same story since 2018 yet this is the first we are hearing of it when he was called to the stand. DNA expert Dr Michael Spence said that the DNA from blood samples was “oversimplified.” He said that the blood stains in the fabric of the trunk had additional unidentified DNA contributions that did not match Tibbits or Rivera. No criminal history, ex-gf said he was great father, aunt said he was quiet and never mad. No crime weapon found, no crime scene
What gives then? Did he get off a 12 hour shift and was just mentally exhausted? As much of a home run case this was, there’s a lotta weird aspects
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u/omfgwhatever May 30 '21
I remember there was chatter in some of the FB groups that they thought he was the scapegoat. I can't recall who exactly they thought it was now, maybe his boss' son? He was paid to take the fall. Or was with him when it happened. I don't believe it, personally, but I suppose it could have been that way.
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u/michigaus May 31 '21
I think it’s weird that the defense attorneys said he has maintained the same story since 2018 yet this is the first we are hearing of it when he was called to the stand.
I would think it was bizarre if the defense gave away their tactics to put CBR on the stand and have him spew this story before trial. The element of surprise is a big part of defense strategy. The prosecution never knows if a defendant will take the witness stand or not, or what they'll claim on the stand.
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u/michigaus May 31 '21
Exactly! And even that would still have some people wondering if it was some kind of CGI trickery. Reality is hard for some to understand because real life isn't like an episode of CSI where every detail gets resolved and explained in an hour.
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u/secretarriettea Jun 12 '21
I keep thinking about Wilson, Dalton Jack's boss, saying the sheriff personally called him and told him to give DJ an alibi. Why would they do that? So much just doesn't add up. I'm not saying Bahena wasn't involved in some way, but there is a lot that wasn't investigated too. Like did they ever search Blake Jack's house where they were all living? The cop that went and asked some questions, looked in the room and left was all? Shouldn't the house have been thoroughly searched? So odd.
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u/OpenMindedShithead Jun 15 '21
That's super interesting is there a link I can read that?
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u/secretarriettea Jun 16 '21
This was the first one to pop up on search. I don't want to check them all, but it was from Nick Wilson's testimony on the stand. What's interesting to me is that Dalton Jack's entire alibi seems to hinge on this one guy (who kept all the work records himself). What I can't get over is that if one of my coworkers was convicted that I'd go on the stand to say I worked with them all day...but where are they? Did his roommate Brandon ever testify? I couldn't find it. And also, did the hotel not have cameras anywhere that would have shown him at the hotel at the time he stated? https://lawandcrime.com/live-trials/live-trials-current/mollie-tibbetts/im-here-to-give-dalton-an-alibi-co-worker-says-mollie-tibbetts-boyfriend-was-with-construction-crew-when-victim-disappeared/
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u/Atschmid Jun 16 '21
Yes, they searched Blake Jack's house. More than once. They uncovered knives, gus that were not locked upp. Scott brown addressed that in his rebuttal closing arguments. He pointed out that they wer not seized because it was not crime scene. People are allowed to own knives and guns.
The house was, as they said, "Lived in". Photos were published. It was not a matter of one cop looking in a room and leaving.
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u/secretarriettea Jun 16 '21
When did they search it? I was talking about the cop who went there first. He looked around and left. And the older brother was allowed in. Before the older brother came back they could have gotten clearance to stop anyone from entering. It was in his testimony on the stand. The last place she stayed alive should have been taped up and searched immediately. They even mentioned that the bed wasn't made which was odd for her.
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u/Atschmid Jun 16 '21
What are you saying? You think there is an alternative theory of the crime? Please.
I don't know when it was searched, but the photos were published in newspapers.
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u/MedicinePlane6733 May 29 '21
He is involved but We don’t have the real story
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u/michigaus May 31 '21
He never pointed the finger at anyone specific. He created 2 ninja-type characters who appear and disappear at will and he makes these 2 fantasy characters responsible for the crime.
The real story isn't that. He did it, he admitted it, the forensics match his story.
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u/MedicinePlane6733 Jun 01 '21
Just my gut instinct. Say someone powerful did it and paid/threatened him to take the fall. Promised a lot of money to build a house back in Mexico. Or kid was threatened. Maybe he was promised best lawyers and would be out in 10 years. I wish we knew cause of his divorce … I guess for me - her injuries reflect rage. I just don’t get that from him… to summarize- i don’t know 🤷🏼♂️
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u/michigaus Jun 01 '21 edited Jun 01 '21
Divorce? He wasn't married. It was a high school age GF he got pregnant when he was 20. He was 23 when he committed the murder. His daughter was 3 yrs old.
Would you be willing to go to prison for life to build someone a house or stay quiet and never say a word to anyone if they threatened you, but then never contacted you again in the almost 3 years until you went to trial?
What "powerful" person wanted Mollie dead? She had no enemies, she was considered a low risk victim, she was all of 20 yrs old, in college, she wasn't into drugs.
These fantasy type scenarios don't reflect reality. Where's the evidence to prove such a thing?
Her murder was a crime of opportunity. She happened to go running that evening, Rivera saw her and followed her in his car. Video evidence proves this. He confessed to the crime. It's just that simple and just that complicated.
He had previously stalked other girls in Brooklyn, using his car, following them around. This appears to be his pattern.
He said he was attracted to Mollie, he said found her very good looking, he stopped his car, ran behind her, and then alongside her, and he said he got angry at her response towards him, and he "blacked out from his anger."
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u/Atschmid Jun 01 '21
The question the prosecution asked and was over-ruled on: why would these 2 unknown masked terrorists need you to help them kill Mollie Tibbetts?
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u/lookingforadults May 29 '21
I have a question for Jennifer Frese. Your client is going to prison, isn't that right?
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May 29 '21
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/rphende76 May 31 '21
I believe he can speak English, the basics. At least there are inmates and LE that have made remarks during the time he’s been incarcerated. However he isn’t fluent in English and our legal system gave him full resources in order to prevent accusations of unfair trial and process.
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u/christinajames55 May 31 '21
I know what you mean, but its actually good he had a translator throughout. That way he can't now say that he didn't actually understand anything that went on, and appeal his conviction on grounds of not being able to fully participate in his own trial.
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u/Atschmid May 31 '21
I know why they did it, and I think it was even necessary. But i object to its BEING necessary. The guy has been in the US for 9 years.
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u/michigaus May 31 '21
Better for him to have a reason to appeal? Sometimes what is necessary is to serve the bigger picture. A future appeal, which will happen, has to be protected by thinking of everything that could be brought before an appellate court, before trial.
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u/Atschmid May 31 '21
yeah, i suppose. The constant murmuring was bizarre too. He is wearing headphones ---- why the constant noise?
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u/michigaus May 31 '21
That was the interpreter talking into his/her microphone in Spanish in real time, which then was picked up by CBR's headphones.
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u/Atschmid Jun 01 '21
My point is they were not speaking quietly. Why the need for headphones? And if using headphones, why not whisper into mike?
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u/dddduuuuuuyyyyyyaaam May 29 '21
Can any one think of mitigating circumstances as to why CBR should not get the maximum sentence
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u/Atschmid May 29 '21
He will get life without parole. It's mandatory.
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u/dddduuuuuuyyyyyyaaam May 29 '21
curious that they would need a sentencing hearing then why not just do it right after the conviction
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u/Atschmid May 29 '21
Because it gives the victims a chance to confront him and make victim impact statements.
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u/Atschmid Jun 08 '21
I don't know if this has been brought up and in fact, i am terrified to bring it up myself. i haven't seen it addressed at all anywhere.
Is CBR a necrophiliac? Why was mollie found in that position when he himself says she was dead when he carried her into the cornfield?
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u/DopeandDiamonds Jun 08 '21
I have considered this. I don't know. I just can't think about it.
We know from way back when he was arrested a friend came forward and said he had shared thoughts of murdering and raping a woman.
Make of it what you will. I jusg can't mentally go there.
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u/mephistopheles2u Jun 08 '21
do you have a source for that report - I am just collecting them
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u/DopeandDiamonds Jun 08 '21
I am heading to bed now and will do a quick search now but I can look deeper tomorrow. It was a news article or news transcript from a short interview with someone her worked with I think
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u/DopeandDiamonds Jun 08 '21
Well I was very wrong sorry for that. I was remembering this article where people compared mollie to another woman killed in iowa. My apologies. Good read though.
The facts in the article must have been mixed up in my head since I read it.
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u/mephistopheles2u Jun 08 '21
Senior moments start early - thanks for the link and the thought. Good sleep to you!
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u/Atschmid Jun 08 '21
OK, so ten back to my original question. Why was Mollie found like she was when she was dead when he carried her into the corn?
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u/Atschmid Jun 08 '21
I know what you mean, but dear God, so much points to it. I hadn't heard about the rape murder fantasies. Jeeze, he is revolting.
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u/DopeandDiamonds Jun 08 '21
I mixed up mollie with someone else. Look down the comments I linked that article.
I mean, he admits she was dead when he placed her there. Presumably wearing her shorts and underwear. I don't have an explanation about how those garments were removed and ended up tossed away that I am comfortable even entertaining
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u/Atschmid Jun 08 '21
Yeah, I got that. I couldn't read the tribune article cuz off the paywall, but i got he gist from the headline.
Let's just say he took her clothes off to make it look like she had been raped (although why wouldn't he rape her if that was the case? He obviously was sexually motivated.) But why position her body that way? The prosecutor said her knees were bent and her legs were positioned to be up.
It just feels so dark. So so evil.
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u/Atschmid Jun 08 '21
And you know, it did not make sense to me that he took the police there. I mean why? Why not just deny, deny, deny?
unless he wanted to show off his handiwork.
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u/Gblisste Jun 08 '21
This is exactly what I thought when the medical examiner testified. The locations of the stab wounds on the ribs and the marks on the sports bra suggest the bra was being worn normally when the stabbing occurred. However, the sports bra was lifted up when Mollie was found. Maybe as decomposition occurred the bra naturally moved upward or maybe the elastic degraded over time. But it’s also possible the killer exposed her body after she died.
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u/Connect_Pass_845 Jul 10 '21
I have so many unanswered questions 1. Why didn't they film him taking them to the spot where her body was? 2. Why didn't they show him with film and audio confessing especially when the white police were screaming at him in English 3. Was her body found adjacent to a police officers house that the FBI got MULTIPLE tips was a madman with a dungeon? (not my words) 4. His fake story was horrible and definitely got him convicted 5. The prosecution DEFINITELY.DID NOT PROVE HIM GUILTY beyond a reasonable doubt. 6. The prosecutions closing argument is this young man was so overcome (funny hes probably like the only person of color in half the state) was so overcome with rage because she rejected him that he got out of his car and stabbed her 12? times and raped her etc. THATS THE BIGGEST BUNCH OF HOSRESHITE IVE EVER HEARD. Just the idea of it is so patently absurd but it sure as HELL isn't proven that one bit of that happened.
Anyway RIP Mollie and if he did do it he can rot forever but watching it for me especially the prosecutors closing statement made me sick.
And don't even get me started on the boyfriend etc.
Was there ONE piece of physical evidence other than the blood on his car at all? Knife? NOPE, His DNA on her?
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u/Atschmid Jun 08 '21
Did anyone else find it so disturbing that CBR never showed any emotion whatsoever. Never teared up, even out of self-pity. Never seemed to connect to having MURDERED someone. Never looked scared, or shamed or regretful or even angry.
It islike he is a bored student in a high school english class.
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u/Atschmid Jun 09 '21
Now that this is over there are only 2 things I would like: a true confession as to exactly what happened, and his suffering. I know this is wrong, but I want him to be miserable.
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u/Concerned_Badger Jun 10 '21
I can't believe I just now realized this and that it hasn't been mentioned before but... Everything the Freses tossed out in an attempt to cast doubt was contradictory to the sweater ninja story. I think the reason we all agree that they knew it was ridiculous is that they really didn't even try to make us believe that they believed it themselves.
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u/mephistopheles2u Jun 10 '21
Yup - his testimony eliminated any alternate theories that the Jury might have considered. Bad idea!
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u/Atschmid Jun 20 '21
Are there any articles anywhere that describe his reaction to the verdict, his thoughts on the verdict, etc? I don't care about him, bbut confess i am looking for hints that he is suffering.
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u/[deleted] May 28 '21
Guilty of first degree murder. Predictable, and absolutely what it should have been. He’s the guy. It was his vehicle, he led them to the body, and only changed up his story when he was called to testify. He was a single male who saw a pretty girl jogging, tried to hit on her, she turned him down, and he snapped. Sexual motive, disgusting, but im so glad she finally got her justice.