On this day: Thursday marks six years since Mollie Tibbetts disappeared

IOWA CITY, Iowa (KGAN) — It has now been six years since University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts disappeared in her small hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa.

Tibbetts left her home for a run on July 18, 2018 and never returned.

The disappearance, at the time, triggered a massive search-and-rescue operation that spanned more than a month until her body was located in rural Poweshiek County.

Cristhian Bahena Rivera led authorities to her body. He was charged and convicted of her murder in 2021.

He told authorities he saw her running and turned around to get another look because he thought she was pretty.

Bahena Rivera said he eventually stopped and approached her, and fought with her after she tried to get away and call police.

During his trial, he took the stand, changed his story and said two masked man that broke into his trailer forced him to drive and abduct her. He claimed the two men killed her and then ran away.

The jury did not buy his new story. Bahena Rivera is currently serving a life sentence without the chance of parole.

Tibbetts' family was pleased with the verdict.

A memorial fund in Mollie's name raised more than $125,000 in less than a yearafter her death. She had been studying to be a child psychologist when she went missing.