DES MOINES,
Iowa – A body believed to be that of
Mollie Tibbetts, the 20-year-old
University of Iowa student who went missing July 18, was found Tuesday, authorities said.
Greg Willey, the vice president of Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa, said the discovery provided a "tough" ending to the search. Willey provided no details on the discovery, and Tibbetts' father, Rob Tibbetts, declined to confirm the information.
Mike Krapfly, a special agent for the state Division of Criminal Investigatin, said a news conference on the case would be held later Tuesday.
Tibbetts disappeared while jogging in her hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa. FBI, state and local law enforcement agencies have been working around the clock to find the sophomore psychology major.
Tibbetts was watching dogs at the home of her boyfriend's brother in Brooklyn, a town of about 1,400, when authorities say they believe she went for a jog and was last seen around 7:30 p.m. local time.
Later that evening Tibbetts' boyfriend, Dalton Jack, said he opened a Snapchat message from Tibbetts with a photo that made it appear she was indoors.
A reward fund for information leading to her safe return had grown to more than $400,000, Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa said. Wiley said the money will be used for information that helps authorities track down anyone who might have been responsible for her death.