BREAKING: Illegal immigrant convicted of murdering Mollie Tibbetts

Former President Trump at the time of the killing condemned immigration policies that would allow the suspect to illegally be in the country while liberal media claimed the Trump administration was vilifying an immigrant for political gain.

Tibbetts, a 20-year-old University of Iowa student, went missing on July 18, 2018, while out running in Brooklyn, Iowa. The young woman's body was found in a cornfield one month later. Bahena Rivera was charged in August 2018.

Calling the nation's immigration laws disgraceful, Trump at the 2018 rally in West Virginia told the crowd, "...you saw what happened to that incredible beautiful young woman," referring to the slain Tibbetts.

Iowa's two Republican senators, Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, said via joint statement: "Too many Iowans have been lost at the hands of criminals who broke our immigration laws. We cannot allow these tragedies to continue."

The trial began May 17 with two days of jury selection. The following days of testimony by law enforcement, community members, family, and friends led the jury to convict Bahena Rivera of murdering Tibbetts.

Officer Pamela Romero conducted the initial 11-hour interview with Bahena Rivera. The cop claimed he admitted to passing by Tibbetts while driving through Brooklyn. He told investigators he approached Tibbetts and she became upset.

Sentencing is set for July 15. Bahena Rivera, who came to the United States through illegal means from Mexico, faces life in prison without parole.