Mollie Tibbetts Timeline & New Website Seeks Anonymous Tips

By
Tammy Waitt
-

Law enforcement and local authorities have expressed the following information and have created a website, findingmollie.iowa.gov, and is asking people to be aware of the following changes to person’s in their communities, and to please submit tips.

Although we have not ruled out any scenario that could explain Mollie’s disappearance, we must consider the possibility that foul play is involved.

Individuals who commit violent crimes often exhibit behavior that is recognized by those with whom he lives, works, attends school, or is in an otherwise close relationship with.

Often, someone in the community will unknowingly be associated with the offender, and may be in a position to observe behavioral changes in that person.

They will recognize the change and may even question them about it, but will not relate the change to that person’s involvement in a crime.

Since Wednesday, July 18, 2018, you may have noticed one or more of the following changes:

  • Change in normal routine, which might include missing school, work, or routine engagements without a plausible explanation;
  • A vehicle unexpectedly taken to a repair shop or sold/disposed of;
  • Unexpected or intensive cleaning of a vehicle, possibly at an unusual time of day;
  • Unexplained lack of contact or inability to get in touch with someone you know the evening of July 18th into the morning of July 19th;
  • Altering of physical appearance (growth or removal of facial hair, change in cut or color of hair);
  • Displays of anxiety, nervousness, stress or irritability;
  • Unexplained injuries;
  • Changes in consumption of alcohol, drugs or cigarettes;
  • Changes in sleep patterns;
  • Interest in the status of the investigation, including close attention to media coverage or an unwillingness to discuss the investigation.
Mollie Tibbetts was last seen jogging in Brooklyn, Iowa, around 7:30 p.m. on July 18, according to reports.  (Courtesy of the Tibbets family)
Mollie Tibbetts was last seen jogging in Brooklyn, Iowa, around 7:30 p.m. on July 18, according to reports.  (Courtesy of the Tibbets family)

https://findingmollie.iowa.gov/

By Jennifer Earl, Fox News

The search for missing University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts has entered its third week, as investigators comb through evidence and tips related to the 20-year-old Iowa resident’s disappearance.

Tibbetts was last seen jogging near her hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa, on July 18, about an hour’s drive away from Pella. She was staying at her boyfriend’s house at the time to watch his dogs while he was out of town.

The next day, when Tibbetts failed to show up for work, her boyfriend, Dalton Jack, and family became concerned and reported her missing.

Investigators have interviewed dozens of people and searched a nearby hog farm, cornfields and other properties for any trace of Tibbetts — but so far, their efforts have all come up short.

(Law enforcement and local authorities will brief the media on updates on the investigation of 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts, who went missing while on an evening jog in the town of Brooklyn, Iowa. Courtesy of Fox News and YouTube. Posted on Aug 13.)

Here’s what we know so far about the timeline of events leading up to Tibbetts’ disappearance, and the investigation that is ongoing.

Aug. 13

Authorities launch a website dedicated to sourcing information regarding Tibbetts’ whereabouts.

The site, findingmollie.iowa.gov, sums up Tibbetts’ case and encourages people to submit tips.

Aug. 12

Tibbetts’ dad says his daughter is very spiritual and she often turns to prayer when she needed to be uplifted.

“Mollie’s very spiritual, and so is her brother Scott and so we talked about that quite a bit,” Tibbetts’ dad, Robert, tells Fox News.

Robert asks everyone to pray and think positive thoughts as the search continues for his daughter.

The reward for Tibbetts grows to $331,000. Crime Stoppers tells Fox News it’s the largest reward for its organization in Iowa state history.

Aug. 10

Tibbetts’ dad, boyfriend and aunt travel to the Iowa State Fair to pass out buttons, T-shirts and missing person flyers to spread awareness about the 20-year-old’s disappearance.

“Nothing is too big or too small,” Tibbetts boyfriend comments. “Just let the authorities decide what’s worth investigating.”

Aug. 9

Iowa resident Devin Riley tells ABC News he may have been the last person to see Tibbetts — as she ran by his home on the evening of July 18.

“I’ve seen her probably three to four times per week,” he explains.

(Devin Riley told ABC News he contacted authorities after Mollie Tibbetts was reported missing, telling officers that he may have been “the last person to see her.” Courtesy of ABC News and YouTube. Posted on Aug 9, 2018.)

“She’d kind of jog down the street and towards the hill. I thought nothing of it until I heard somebody was missing, and it really hit me that I hadn’t seen that runner since then.”

Riley tells ABC News authorities took about 15 minutes to walk through his home, and they were “really polite.”

A spokesman for Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa says the organization has passed on more than 830 tips to authorities investigating the disappearance of Tibbetts.

Aug. 8

Blake Jack, the brother of Tibbetts’ boyfriend, tells Fox News exclusively on Aug. 8 there was no sign of a struggle at the Brooklyn home she was staying in at the time.

“She’s small, but she would have done something,” he adds.

The 23-year-old says both Tibbetts’ Fitbit and phone are missing

Drone footage of the last known location of Mollie Tibbetts in Iowa. (Courtesy of YouTube)
Drone footage of the last known location of Mollie Tibbetts in Iowa. (Courtesy of YouTube)

Aug. 6

Tibbetts’ father, Robert, reveals to Fox News he believes his daughter is alive, and with somebody she knows.

“It’s totally speculation on my part, but I think Mollie is with someone that she knows, that is in over their head,” Robert says.

“That there was some kind of misunderstanding about the nature of their relationship and at this point they don’t know how to get out from under this.”

Aug. 5

Authorities say they are following “hundreds” of leads.

Police say the body of a woman in her early-to-mid-20s turned up in Lee County, more than an hour’s drive southeast of Brooklyn.

However, state police tell Fox News the body was not Tibbetts; investigators plan to release the woman’s identity after notifying her family.

Aug. 4

Farmer Wayne Cheney speaks to Fox News — one day after the FBI went back to his farm to question him in connection with Tibbetts’ disappearance.

During the interview, Cheney says he would let the FBI search his entire property; he expressed confidence the bureau wouldn’t find anything.

So far, the FBI has searched his home and parts of his property, and looked through his cellphone.

He also claims he’s never seen Tibbetts before, because he doesn’t venture into Brooklyn, where she lives.

As for what the FBI has asked him about, his response was “I don’t know.”

Cheney says law enforcement asked him to take a polygraph test and he refused. He has not been charged with a crime and says he “has nothing to hide.”

(Investigators in Iowa continue to search for missing college student Mollie Tibbetts, who hasn’t been seen or heard from in weeks. Her family is desperately searching for her, holding out hope her case doesn’t go cold like so many other missing persons cases have. Asha Degree, Bethany Decker and many other women are still missing. Courtesy of InsideEdition and YouTube. Posted on Aug 10, 2018.)

Aug. 3 

Kevin Winker, director of investigative operations with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, speaks about the case at a news conference.

“Although we appreciated everyone that showed up today to this press conference, our position has not changed on the release of case facts, results and conclusions,” Winker says.

“I understand this is frustrating for many in the public and the media, but feel this is necessary for our investigation.”

Winker is also asked about suspects while at the briefing.

“As far as suspects go, we continue to look at all possibilities,” he says. “I’m not in a position right now to say, we have suspects, we don’t have suspects, persons of interest or anything else.”

Later, Winker says authorities are handling the case as “a missing persons investigation.”

That same day, the FBI returned to a farm to again question Wayne Cheney in connection with Tibbetts’ disappearance.

An FBI agent was seen by Fox News arriving and speaking to Cheney for about five to 10 minutes Friday afternoon.

(The Iowa pig farm owner who has been questioned multiple times about the disappearance of Mollie Tibbetts declined to take a lie detector test about the case, according to former Detective Ted Williams. Courtesy of Fox News and YouTube. Posted on Aug 6, 2018.)

Aug. 2

Search teams scan ditches for traces of Tibbetts near a farm investigators searched a week prior after a possible new clue to her disappearance — a red shirt spotted by a person mowing the lawn — was apparently found.

Aug. 1

Tibbetts’ father, Robert, urges the public to come forward with any information regarding his missing daughter in an interview with Fox News Channel.

“The bottom line is somebody knows something,” Robert says, adding Brooklyn is a small city and “you can’t do anything there without someone seeing it.”

Roberts also reveals Tibbetts’ phone has not yet been located, and she has not been responsive to messages.

Local farmer Wayne Cheney confirms to Fox News FBI investigators searched his property and home a week prior.

Authorities held his cell phone overnight, checking it for any clues or communications regarding Tibbetts.

“I don’t know who those two [officials] were but they took me down to the fire station Tuesday and questioned me for two hours,” the farmer told WHO-DT.

“I don’t remember what they asked me.”

WHO-DT, citing Iowa court documents, reports the farmer previously entered guilty pleas for two instances of stalking – one in Poweshiek County in 2009 and another in Marion County in 2014.

(Rob Tibbetts says the tips need to keep coming in. Courtesy of We Are Iowa Local 5 News and YouTube. Posted on Jul 31, 2018.)

July 31

Police in Pella say a man being sought for taking pictures of female joggers on July 27 has turned himself in.

Investigator Kevin Winker says during an afternoon news conference that officials are continuing to follow every tip that comes in about Tibbetts.

Investigators are still unsure about what exactly happened to Tibbetts, Winker says, though they can confirm her disappearing on her own is “not consistent with her past.”

July 28

Family members tell KCCI new evidence reveals Tibbetts’ was doing homework on her computer late into the evening on July 18, suggesting she returned to the home where her boyfriend, his brother and the brother’s fiancee live.

July 27

Pella Police receive a call about a suspicious man taking photos of female joggers from a parked car.

“As covertly as he possibly could, took photos of them unbeknownst to them, it seemed to be very creepy,” Pella Police Chief Robert Bokinsky tells WHOTV.

However, authorities didn’t say whether there was a link between the suspicious man and Tibbetts’ disappearance.

“[There’s] nothing illegal about taking a picture of somebody, if that’s what he did,” Pella, Lt. Shane Cox explains to Fox News.

July 26

Mitch Mortvedt, a spokesman for the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) tells Local 5 more than a dozen agents from his group and the FBI have been conducting searches of several properties in Iowa, including a hog farm, but nothing has been found.

He added the searches have not expanded outside the state and there are currently no suspects in the case.

July 25

Poweshiek County Sheriff Thomas Kriegel confirms to ABC News that Jack and his brothers have been cleared in the case.

(The desperate search for a missing Iowa college student is focused on a vast expanse of dense cornfields. Courtesy of Inside Edition and YouTube. Posted on Jul 25, 2018.)

July 24

FBI and state investigators take over the investigation, calling off various volunteer search efforts in the area.

July 20

The University of Iowa puts out a statement, saying it is “monitoring” the situation regarding Tibbetts’ disappearance.

“Our thoughts are with Mollie Tibbetts’ family and friends. The University of Iowa … will offer support as needed,” the school tweets.

July 19

Jack texts Tibbetts “good morning,” but doesn’t receive any response, according to The Washington Post.

Tibbetts’ coworkers attempt to call her when she doesn’t show up at work the next day — eventually reaching out to Jack to inquire about her whereabouts, the Des Moine Register reports.

Afterward Jack calls Tibbetts’ family members, who eventually call the police to report her missing.

July 18

Tibbetts was staying at her boyfriend’s home, watching his dogs while he worked at a construction site in Dubuque — about 100 miles away.

7:30 p.m.

Tibbetts was last seen jogging around Brooklyn at 7:30 p.m., The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports.

Police hope to find more concrete information from Tibetts’ Fitbit, which family members say she wore frequently on her runs.

“Her last known article of clothing is believed to be dark colored running shorts, a pink sports top and running shoes (color unknown),” the Iowa Department of Public Safety said in a news release.

10 p.m.

Tibbetts’ boyfriend claims he received a Snapchat message from her after she would have returned from her run.

July 16

Jack tells ABC News he last saw Tibbetts, his girlfriend of two years, on July 16.

Fox News’ Matt Finn, Christina Corbin, Andrew Keiper, Matt Finn, Madeline Rivera, Greg Norman and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Original post http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/08/13/mollie-tibbetts-university-iowa-student-missing-timeline-events.html

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