A surveillance video provided to authorities by a local Iowa resident played a critical part in detaining a man on Tuesday, accused of kidnapping and murdering University of Iowa student, Mollie Tibbetts.

According to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, 24-year-old Cristhian Bahena Rivera is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Mollie Tibbetts, 20. Authorities found a deceased body in a cornfield around 12 miles southeast of Brooklyn on early Tuesday morning. Although officials are awaiting final results from the Medical Examiner on the identification of the body, they stated it’s likely Mollie.

“During our neighborhood canvas, we came across an individual that had security cameras,” Poweshiek County Sheriff Tom Kriegel said, explaining how Rivera landed on the radar of authorities. “He [the resident with surveillance footage] was kind enough to give us the footage from it. And through that, we were able to identify a vehicle that believe belonged to Mr. Rivera. It was a black Malibu. And from that we were able to track his pattern and the routes in which he took.”

Authorities confirmed during Tuesday’s press conference that Rivera is an undocumented immigrant and is being held on a federal immigration detainer, meaning that he’s accused of entering the United States illegally. Rivera has been living in the Brooklyn, Iowa, area for around four to seven years. Rivera is from Mexico and had allegedly seen Mollie out jogging in the past.

Kriegel said Rivera reportedly confessed that he saw Mollie jogging along 385th Street in Brooklyn, and he circled around in his vehicle and began following her. Rivera allegedly said Mollie saw him and threatened to call 911 but he gave chase, caught her, then “blacked out.”

The body was found covered with corn stalks, located in a rural wooded area between Guersney and Deep River, Iowa, at the intersection of 460th Street and Highway 21, south of Interstate 20.

Mollie Tibbetts Death: Arrest Warrant by Leigh Egan on Scribd

“Our hearts go out to the Tibbetts family and to the Brooklyn community. It is a loss for all of us,” Kriegel said. “We appreciate the support for law enforcement community in their commitment to this investigation, and we thank the Brooklyn community for their support for the investigation.”

Kriegel also stated that Mollie’s Fitbit played a role in ultimately finding her, but the surveillance footage handed over by a local resident of Brooklyn was vital.

An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow but Kriegel said it could be several days or more before an official cause of death is released.

The story continues to develop. Check back with CrimeOnline as additional details become available.

[Feature Photo: Mollie Tibbetts/Handout]