Runners across the country are pounding the pavement in memory of slain Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts — through a social media campaign launched in the wake of her death.
The hashtag #MilesforMollie has popped up across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as runners lace up in memory of the 20-year-old murder victim.
“I will NOT let fear overcome me when running, but you better believe I’m having too much fun shopping for a pink knife & pink pepper spray for my running belt. #MilesForMollie,” posted Twitter user Chelsea, using the handle @sunnysprinkle.
Instagram user @hungryforrunch posted that she confronted a man who catcalled her while on a run — with Tibbetts in mind.
“I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, he didn’t know that tonight, like many other runners, I was running for Mollie,” she posted. “Someone who went out for a run and didn’t return home. Stay safe out there friends. Don’t let pigs like his ruin what you love.”
Another Twitter user, @ChrissiRuns, urged runners to “get out there” and run in Tibbetts’ memory on Sunday.
Des Moines police Sgt. Paul Parizek told KCCI 8 that the campaign was a good idea.
“Any time you can take a positive message and overrun the trolls out there who have something negative to say, that’s a good thing,” Parizek told the station.
Tibbetts’ body was found Tuesday, more than a month after she had vanished. Preliminary autopsy reports show that she died of “multiple sharp force injuries,” according to multiple reports. The death was declared a homicide, according to the state medical examiner.
Investigators believe Cristhian Rivera, who they say is an undocumented immigrant, abducted Tibbetts when he saw her out on a run on July 18, when she first went missing.



