During his arraignment today, 24-year-old Cristhian Bahena Rivera pleaded not guilty to murdering Tibbetts.  Prosecutors charged Rivera with first-degree murder in August after he allegedly stabbed Tibbetts to death.  Tibbetts vanished while out for a run in Brooklyn on July 18.   The search for Tibbetts lasted for more than a month and drew national attention.   Police say on August 21 Rivera led them to Tibbetts’ body in a cornfield, but he told them he doesn’t remember killing her.  An autopsy shows Tibbetts died of several stab wounds.

The trial has been scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. April 16, 2019. He also waived his right to a speedy trial during the arraignment in Montezuma.  Rivera is currently jailed on a $5 million cash-only bond.