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A murder charge has been filed in relation to the investigation of Mollie Tibbetts, according to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

A first-degree murder charge was filed Tuesday in connection with the disappearance of 20-year-old University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts, who was last seen jogging in Brooklyn, Iowa, on July 18. Cristhian Bahena Rivera, 24, who resides in rural Poweshiek County, was charged with first-degree murder.

The case will be prosecuted by the Iowa Attorney General's Office. First-degree murder carries a penalty of life without parole.

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Photos: Investigators announce charges in Mollie Tibbetts case

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A female body was found in a cornfield southeast of Brooklyn with corn stalks on top of her, said Iowa DCI Special Agent Rick Rahn. While the identity of the body has not been confirmed, investigators say they believe it is Tibbetts.

Investigators said Rivera has lived in the area for four to seven years, Rahn said. Local officials confirmed with the Department of Homeland Security that he is an undocumented immigrant.

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During a neighborhood canvas, investigators found a person with surveillance footage that was provided to officials. Through the footage, they identified a black Malibu belonging to Rivera.

Officials then tracked his vehicle and the routes that he took. Investigators also saw Tibbetts running on the video and confirmed Rivera was one of the last people to have seen her running.

During an interview with Rivera, he told officials that he saw Tibbetts running and approached her. While he was speaking with her, he told investigators that he ran "alongside or behind her," Rahn said. Tibbetts warned him to leave her alone and she pulled out her phone and said she was calling the police, Rahn said.

Rivera then chased her down and told investigators he "blacked out," Rahn said. He told investigators he woke up near an intersection where he placed her body at an intersection just outside of Brooklyn.

He led investigators to her body, which was found in a cornfield and covered by cornstalks off of 460th Avenue, Rahn said. She had been running on 385th Street when Rivera followed her and circled her.

He allegedly had seen Tibbetts before, Rahn said. Investigators said they approached Rivera on Monday and said he was compliant and willing to speak with them.

Rahn said he was unable to speak about the motive for allegedly killing Tibbetts.

"He seemed to be drawn to her that particular day and for whatever reason, he chose to abduct her," Rahn said.

Investigators spent hours watching the surveillance footage to determine who followed Tibbetts and confirm their timeline of her whereabouts.

Rivera was allegedly not well known in the community and "mostly kept to himself," Rahn said. He was employed. He is currently being held in the Poweshiek County Jail.

An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday at the Iowa State Medical Examiner's Office in Ankeny, though it may take four to six weeks for results.

Surveillance footage in the area played a critical role in finding Tibbetts and identifying Rivera, Rahn said. Over 4,000 tips were sent to Iowa DCI.

"The video was critical, let's just put it that way," Rahn said.

Investigators are still examining Rivera's background and conducting interviews, Rahn said.

Police are not releasing how Tibbetts was killed yet, Rahn said.

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The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is holding a news conference at 4 p.m. Tuesday regarding "a very significant update" in the Mollie Tibbetts investigation, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Assistant Director Mitch Mortvedt said.

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A body was found Tuesday morning in rural Poweshiek County, and officials are working to identify it, Mortvedt said.

Fox News and CBS have reported that it's the body of Mollie Tibbetts, the missing University of Iowa student from Brooklyn, Iowa, who disappeared over a month ago.

No charges have been filed in relation to the case, Mortvedt said.

Return to this story for more news as it happens, including live coverage during today's news conference.

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Photos: The search for Mollie Tibbetts