US News

Mollie Tibbetts murder suspect wants taxpayers to fund legal battle

The illegal immigrant who allegedly murdered Iowa woman Mollie Tibbetts has asked US taxpayers to help fund the legal battle that could lead to his freedom, a report said on Wednesday.

Cristhian Bahena Rivera — who was working and living in the US illegally — asked the government for an initial $5,000 to pay a private investigation firm to work on his case, according to documents revealed by RadarOnline.

He has been charged with first-degree murder.

In the documents, Rivera notes the $5,000 amount is “probably considerably less than what will actually be necessary to conduct all investigation in this matter.”

A rep for the firm, Gratias Investigations, did not immediately return a request for comment by The Post.

Rivera, 24, allegedly murdered the 20-year-old Tibbetts near her home in Brooklyn, Iowa, on July 18.

The man had been working on a nearby farm under a fake name.