Update: Mollie Tibbetts’s Father Says Body Found in Iowa Is Her

Jack Phillips
8/21/2018
Updated:
8/21/2018
The father of Mollie Tibbetts, Rob, said that the missing 20-year-old college student was found dead, Fox News reported on Aug. 21.
The Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that officials are working to identify a body, CNN reported. No details will be shared until a 5 p.m. ET press conference, according to Mitch Mortvedt with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI).

Poweshiek County includes Tibbetts’ hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa.

“Earlier today a body was located by law enforcement authorities in rural Poweshiek County. Investigators are working to confirm the identity and will have more information available at the 4:00 p.m. press conference. There will be no further information released from law enforcement until the press conference,” the Iowa DCI said in a press release on Aug. 21.
Two law enforcement sources also told Fox News that Tibbetts’s body was found in Iowa. Greg Willey, who is the vice president of Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa, told The Associated Press that the body found today is believed to be Tibbetts. CBS News, citing its sources, also reported that she was found dead.

No arrests have been made. No suspects have been named.

Mollie Tibbetts was reportedly found dead, according to an Aug. 21 report (findingmollie.iowa.gov)
Mollie Tibbetts was reportedly found dead, according to an Aug. 21 report (findingmollie.iowa.gov)

More Details

Tibbetts, a University of Iowa student, was last seen in Brooklyn, Iowa, on July 18. She was reported missing by her family the next day after she didn’t show up for work at a day camp for children.

Tibbetts’ disappearance set off a massive search involving dozens of officers from the FBI, as well as state and local agencies. They focused much of their efforts in and around Brooklyn, searching farm fields, ponds, and homes. Investigators asked anyone who was around five locations, including a car wash, a truck stop and a farm south of town, to report if they saw anything suspicious on July 18.

It’s unclear whether she returned to the home where she was dog-sitting for her boyfriend and her boyfriend’s brother, who have said they were both out of town. She was reported missing by her family the next day after she didn’t show up for work at a day camp for children.

Last week, on Aug. 15, Vice President Mike Pence said he met with the family of Tibbetts, according to the Des Moines Register. “I just want Mollie’s family to know: You’re on the hearts of every American,” he told the paper. “And we will continue to work and we will continue to pray for Mollie’s safe return.”
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Her father said that his family’s meeting with Pence was “touching” and “genuine,” and the vice president was “just another father that was just hurt and bewildered by Mollie’s story,” Fox reported. “He just expressed in a very private way his compassion. It was very genuine and it was real. It was very touching,” Rob Tibbetts added.

“I got the sense that it was not a politician at all, it was just another father that was just hurt and bewildered by Mollie’s story just like everybody else in America,” Tibbetts added.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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