Mollie Tibbetts

Cristhian Rivera's immigration status has become a bone of contention after his arrest in the death of the 20-year-old University of Iowa student. 

The 20-year-old University of Iowa student's family issued a loving and mournful statement Wednesday, amid cacophony of social media outrage toward suspect Cristhian Rivera.

A judge denied Cristhian Rivera's attorney's request for a private hearing and increased his bail to $5 million. 

Surveillance footage handed over to police by a neighbor was ultimately the biggest break in the month-long case, authorities said.

Rivera has been charged with first-degree murder for the death of the University of Iowa student, who vanished while going for a jog July 18. 

Tibbetts' suspected killer Cristhian Rivera told police she threatened to call cops when he approached her. Then he claimed he blacked out.

The 24-year-old undocumented immigrant led authorities to a patch of farmland where Tibbetts' body was found.

Tibbetts' family had been holding out hope she'd be found alive after vanishing more than a month ago. 

Police think the University of Iowa student could be the victim of foul play.

Desperate for answers, the family of the missing University of Iowa student increased the reward to $172,000 for information about her whereabouts.