Mollie Tibbetts’ father: ‘Mollie’s nobody’s victim’

Rob Tibbetts called for his daughter’s friends and family to “turn the page” during his eulogy for Mollie Tibbetts over the weekend.

“Today, we need to turn the page. We’re at the end of a long ordeal,” he said Sunday afternoon at his daughter’s service, The Des Moines Register reported. “But we need to turn toward life — Mollie’s life — because Mollie’s nobody’s victim. Mollie’s my hero.”

He told the crowd to look to his daughter and strive to emulate her. Despite the tragedy, Mr. Tibbetts wanted to celebrate “something wonderful.” He congratulated a newlywed couple in the crowd and a local high school football team on their first win.

A monthlong search for Tibbetts ended Tuesday when police found her body in a cornfield. Authorities have charged Cristhian Rivera with first-degree murder in relation to the case.

Her case became a nationwide story, which Mr. Tibbetts said allowed many to learn about his daughter.

“You want to know why there’s been such an outpouring?” he said. “It’s because we see ourselves in Mollie.”