An Iowa judge ordered Cristhian Rivera, the 24-year-old illegal 
immigrant accused of murdering Mollie Tibbetts, held on $5 
million cash-only bond Wednesday -- with Rivera's first court 
appearance coming just minutes after Tibbetts' family members 
broke their silence about their broken hearts.

Rivera was mostly stoic and looked straight ahead in the 
courtroom. He wore headphones and used an interpreter when the 
judge spoke, only answering "Yes" when asked if he understood 
the proceeding.

Later, given another chance to speak, Rivera declined.

Rivera's lawyer, Allan Richards, filed a motion for a private 
hearing, after an earlier defense motion for a gag order was 
rejected. Richards argued the case had already become too 
politicized.

Cristhean Rivera, 24, is accused of murdering Mollie Tibbetts.

"The government has weighed in at the highest levels," Rivera's 
lawyer said.

If convicted of murdering the Iowa University sophomore, Rivera 
faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

"Christhian is a young man who has been working a number of 
years for a respectable business in this community," Richards 
said before bail was set. "No criminal record. we urge in court 
to be fair."

A preliminary hearing in the case was set for Aug. 31 at 2 p.m.

Less than a half hour before Rivera walked into court, Tibbetts' 
family members issued their first statement since Mollie's body 
was found in an Iowa cornfield.

"Our hearts are broken," the statement said.