The funeral for University of Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts, who was found dead last week in an Iowa cornfield, is scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m. CST.
The “Mass of the Resurrection” will be held at the BGM High School gymnasium at 1090 Jackson Street in Brooklyn, the same high school Mollie graduated from in 2017. Following the mass, the family will receive friends for fellowship and refreshments at 3:20 p.m.
According to the obituary, Mollie was passionate about life, which “radiated from those beautiful brown eyes and the smile that she was so quick to share with everyone she met.”
She also enjoyed jogging and running, which she did frequently, as well as singing, acting, and dancing.
Further, the college student had a soft heart for young children and spent the last two summers working at the GRMC Day Camp in Grinnell, Iowa. The children Mollie watched “adored her ability to make them laugh” and the way she made them feel loved.
Timeline of Mollie’s disappearance/death
July 16-17
- Mollie’s boyfriend saw her for the last time on July 16, before leaving town to work at a Dubuque construction site with his brother, around 100 miles away from Brooklyn.
- On July 17, Dalton and his brother, who lives with him, drove to work. Mollie agreed to dog-sit while he was gone.
- At around 5:30 p.m. on July 17, Mollie’s brother, Jake Tibbetts, who shares a car with her, dropped her off at Dalton’s home. Mollie stayed alone while watching the dogs.
July 18
- Investigators report another neighbor reported Mollie out for a jog at around 7:30 p.m. on July 18.
- Mollie had plans to go to her mother’s house for dinner on the evening on July 18. She never showed up.
- At 10 p.m. on July 18, Dalton opened the SnapChat message from Mollie. He said it looked like she took the photo while indoors. It’s unclear when Mollie took the picture but detectives think she took it at some point on Wednesday.
July 19
- Jake Tibbetts, who has been cleared as a suspect, sends Mollie a text message at 7:30 a.m., asking if she needed the car for work. The text message was not read.
- Dalton sends Mollie a text message, wishing her a good morning. Mollie does not read the text message.
- Mollie’s mother, Laura Calderwood, sends Mollie several text messages throughout the afternoon. All text messages remain unanswered.
- Jake Tibbetts calls Laura Calderwood and says Mollie never made it to work at a daycare center. Laura calls the police.
July 20
- The Facebook group, “Finding Mollie Tibbetts,” was created. It currently has over 40,000 members.
- Hundreds of people show up in the Brooklyn area to search for Mollie.
- The Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office announces that tips should directed to its office.
- The University of Iowa released a statement on Twitter that the school is also monitoring the incident and looking for any helpful information.
July 22
- Authorities announce Mollie is still missing and that nothing was found during the searches.
July 23
- Dalton tells ABC he’s optimistic about Mollie’s return.
- Laura Calderwood says her daughter is an “outgoing, fun, loving life, loving person.”
- Poweshiek County Sheriff Thomas Kriegel announces that no one from the “tight-knit” community in Brooklyn has been missing this long.
July 25
- Investigators continue to follow up with tips and leads.
- The family spreads the search even further by distributing flyers across the state.
- Kriegel indicates Mollie could have possibly been abducted.
July 26
- Investigators search two hog farms after following up on tips, but the searches yield no results.
- Wayne Cheney is questioned by the FBI.
- Authorities search Cheney’s home and cellphone.
July 27
- Iowa Department of Public Safety released a statement announcing that there are still no suspects but authorities will continue to pursue leads and investigate.
- A neighbor tells a local media outlet that he spotted Mollie “walking nonchalantly” down the street.
August 2
- As authorities searched an area close to the Lincoln Wildfire Reserve in Brooklyn, Iowa, someone mowing their lawn nearby discovered a red a shirt.
- The shirt was turned over to the FBI for evidence processing.
- FBI reportedly asked Cheney to take a lie detector test. He refused.
August 3
- An FBI agent goes to Cheney’s house for a second round of questioning.
August 5
- Authorities revealed there have been “hundreds” of leads and tips into Mollie’s disappearance.
- An Iowa woman’s body was found in Lee County, but despite speculation, police confirmed it was not Mollie, but instead a young woman named Sadie Alvarado, who allegedly jumped out of a moving car while arguing with her boyfriend.
August 6
- Rob Tibbetts explained why his daughter, according to his own speculations, may still be alive.
- Tibbetts encouraged anyone responsible for Mollie’s disappearance to come forward now, before things get worse.
August 9
- Brooklyn resident Devin Riley describes how he saw Mollie jog past him home on the evening of July 18, explaining that she was wearing a pink sports bra and running short.
- Riley explained that he contacted police after he realized Mollie had disappeared.
August 12
- Former FBI profiler says she thinks Mollie left with someone she knew, explaining that the “most likely scenario is that Mollie was at least somewhat familiar with the person that she went with.”
August 21
- Authorities find a deceased body in a rural area between Deep River, Iowa, and Guernsey, Iowa. Officials stated the body is likely of Mollie Tibbetts.
- Authorities detain Cristhian Bahena Rivera without incident. Rivera allegedly confesses to hiding Mollie’s body.
- During a press conference, authorities announce Rivera entered the country illegally and has a federal immigration detainer.
August 22
- Owners of a local dairy farm speak out and claim they checked Rivera’s eligibility to work in the U.S. prior to hiring him.
- Dane Lang, co-owner of Yarrabee Farms, announced that Rivera used fraudulent identification to obtain employment at the farm.
- A Poweshiek County judge sets River’s bond at $5 million.
August 23
- Authorities are seen searching Rivera’s residence and its surrounding areas for a possible murder weapon.
August 24
- Tensions run high as social media groups form in an attempt to spill anti-immigration rhetoric after the public learned Rivera is a reported undocumented immigrant.
- The Iowa City Latino Festival spokesperson announced the annual festival would be postponed this year.
[Feature Photo: Mollie Tibbetts/Handout]
