Crime & Safety
Search For Mollie Tibbetts Leads Investigators To Fitbit Data
The University of Iowa student apparently went for a jog the night she disappeared from Brooklyn, Iowa.
BROOKLYN, IA — The search for Mollie Tibbetts, the University of Iowa student who disappeared after going for a jog, entered its second week as federal authorities have joined the effort and investigators are looking to Tibbetts' Fitbit data for information related to her disappearance.
Tibbetts, 20, was last seen July 18 possibly wearing denim shorts and a red t-shirt, according to the Poweshiek County Emergency Management Agency. According to multiple reports, Tibbetts was dog-sitting at her boyfriend's home and went running the night she disappeared in Brooklyn, a town about 90 miles east of Des Moines.
According to The Des Moines Register, the FBI has several agents dedicated to the case. The agents were called in for additional expertise in forensics and to gather information on cell phones, social media and Fitbit, according to the Register.
Find out what's happening in Des Moinesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Register reports that Tibbetts' boyfriend, Dalton Jack, received a Snapchat from her around 10 p.m. the night she disappeared. Jack opened the message around 10 p.m. and the photo looked like she was indoors, according to the Register.
A Facebook group has been set up to help find Tibbetts and to aid in the search effort. Nearly 30,000 people have joined the group.
Find out what's happening in Des Moinesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"On behalf of all of us who are Mollie’s family, I want to thank you all for your help, sharing, ideas and prayers," Sandi Tibbetts Murphy, a family member, wrote in the group. "Your love and energy have been nothing short of miraculous to see."
The University of Iowa issued a statement Wednesday and urged anyone with information to contact authorities.
Our thoughts continue to be with Mollie Tibbetts’ family and friends. Mollie went missing from her hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa last week. Please contact authorities if you have any information: https://t.co/TZWzvXYA2l pic.twitter.com/L4Fm5QQbAg
— University of Iowa (@uiowa) July 25, 2018
Tibbetts is described as 5-feet-two, approximately 120 pounds with long brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information can call the Poweshiek County Sheriff's Office at 641-623-5679.
Editor's Note: A previous version of this article had the wrong date for the last day Mollie Tibbetts was seen. It was July 18, not July 19. Patch regrets the error.
Photo via Poweshiek County Emergency Management Agency
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.