Iowa student died from ‘multiple sharp force injuries’: autopsy

The University of Iowa student who was found dead this week after a month-long search in the area was killed by “multiple sharp force injuries,” an autopsy found Thursday.

The body of Mollie Tibbetts, who police say was murdered by 24-year-old Mexican immigrant Cristhian Bahena Rivera, was found this week after Rivera led police to her body.

{mosads}Tibbetts’s cause of death in a preliminary report was listed as a “homicide resulting from multiple sharp force injuries,” the Iowa State Medical Examiner told CNN.

Rivera was charged Wednesday with Tibbetts’ murder, and could face life in prison if convicted. In an arrest affidavit obtained by CNN, Rivera confessed to becoming angry with Tibbetts and following her, before alleging that he blacked out or “blocked” his memory, and came to as he was putting Tibbetts into his trunk.

He then drove Tibbetts, wounded, to a cornfield where he left here under corn stalks, the affidavit continues.

Rick Rahn, an Iowa special agent in charge at the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, told CNN that Rivera’s motive for the alleged murder was unclear.

“I can just tell you it seems that he followed her and seemed to be drawn to her on that particular day and for whatever reason, he chose to abduct her,” Rahn told the news network.

Tibbetts’ murder has been used by Republican in recent days to justify calls for tougher border security measures, including President Trump who mentioned Tibbetts’ death during a rally in West Virginia.

Officials claim that Rivera has been living as an undocumented immigrant in Iowa for years.

“You heard about today with the illegal alien coming in, very sadly, from Mexico, and you saw what happened to that incredible, beautiful young woman. Should’ve never happened,” Trump said at a rally in Charleston, West Va.

“We’ve had a huge impact but the laws are so bad,” he continued. “The immigration laws are such a disgrace. We’re getting them changed, but we have to get more Republicans.”