The infamous black Chevy Malibu allegedly driven by Cristhian Bahena Rivera on the night he abducted Mollie Tibbets is a loaner from a prominent political figure and wealthy farmer’s business.
The black Malibu bearing Iowa plates is registered to Yarrabee Farms – the same establishment that employed the illegal alien suspected of brutally murdering the 20-year-old rising college sophomore, according to law enforcement sources who spoke to yc.news on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information during an ongoing criminal investigation.
Agents from both the state and federal level swarmed the farm earlier today, but did not indicate why.
Authorities confirmed that the vehicle used in the abduction and murder of Mollie Tibbetts was not owned by Rivera, or his alias and noted that police the vehicle in their custody. However, authorities refused to release the name of the individual who owns the vehicle.
Further, it was discovered yesterday that the scoundrel went by another name: John Budd.
Police obtained surveillance footage through their investigation that ultimately led to Rivera’s capture. However, when they traced the plate it led them to Yarrabee Farms.
According to sources close to the investigation, Yarrabee Farms cooperated with authorities and allowed them access to any of their properties, informed them who was operating the black Malibu and led authorities to the trailer Rivera lived in, just two miles away from the dairy farm.
“The farm and family that own it could only be described as welcoming, loving and caring for the community,” a man who went by John Smith told yc.news. He did not use his legitimate name as he quit the farm recently following the backlash, death threats and public pressure. “They would let their staff not only reside on one of their properties, but we could also use their cars from long periods of time to get to and from the farm. It’s a small town and that’s quite typical here.”
The footage obtained by authorities showed Mollie Tibbetts running near the area of Boundary and Middle Streets when a dark-colored Chevy Malibu was in the same vicinity – driving back and forth in the area numerous times.
Rivera — better known as “John Budd” — is being held at Poweshiek County Jail in lieu of $5 million cash bond.
Yarrabee Farms, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation did not respond to repeated requests for comment.