Red shirt could be key to finding student who went missing on jog
A red shirt found in long grass near a hog farm could be vital to the search for a university student who disappeared while out jogging two weeks ago.
Mollie Tibbetts, 20, hasn’t been seen since July 18 when she went for a run in her small hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa, and her disappearance has left investigators stumped having reached no conclusions over her whereabouts.
A person mowing the lawn near a previously searched farm discovered the item of clothing, similar to the uniform of a day care centre where Ms Tibbetts worked, Fox News reported.
Investigators are now scouring the area and looking through ditches in a bid to find further evidence.
Ms Tibbetts had been dog-sitting the evening of her disappearance for her boyfriend and her boyfriend’s brother at their home where she was living this summer after completing her second year at the University of Iowa.
The two men were out of town when she disappeared.
The student was reported missing the next morning when she didn’t show up for work at a day care centre in a nearby town.
According to police, she was last seen wearing dark-coloured running shorts, a pink sports top and running shoes.
The FBI and dozens of investigators from state and local agencies are working on the case but have so far hit dead ends.
The latest came on Thursday when police confirmed that a possible sighting of Ms Tibbetts at a Missouri truck stop turned out not to be her.
Police also believe a man who handed himself in after being caught on CCTV filming joggers isn’t involved in Ms Tibbett’s disappearance.
Mollie’s mother makes public plea
Laura Calderwood said during a news conference on Thursday that she believes her 20-year-old daughter is alive but has potentially been kidnapped.
“If someone has abducted her, we are pleading with you to please release her,” Ms Calderwood said.
She announced a $AU233,000 reward for her return.
Her mum said the money would be paid to anyone who provided information that led to her daughter’s safe return.
“It is our greatest hope that if someone has her, that they would just release her and claim that money we have raised for her freedom,” the mother said.
With AP
