Mollie Tibbetts' Father's Column

As a mother I can’t imagine the pain of a parent when losing a child under any circumstance, but especially under a tragic circumstance. I have family and friends close to me who have gone through such a painful ordeal, but still I have no idea of the pain. On top of that, I can’t imagine how difficult it should have been for Mollie Tibbett’s father to write the column below.

As I read the column to my husband Doug Aldeen, mixed emotions ran in my heart: Together - after we got married - we blended our family, a total of six children, all of them young adults, five young men and one young woman. My stepdaughter just happened to graduate from the University of Iowa.

I am a Hispanic immigrant and my two sons are Hispanics born in the USA. I spent years in ministry as a missionary in Mexico and Central America. One of my sons, who just graduated from Georgetown University (SFS), moved a few weeks after graduation to live far away in Asia. None of our kids live with us and we desire the best for them in their lives and studies. We see them as often as we can; we love them and pray God takes care of them.

We are horrified with crimes committed in our cities, country and all over the world. Crime is horrible. We believe in the rule of law. We hope that God comforts all the hearts of those who have lost a child. But as Mollie’s father said, the person who murdered their daughter will receive a fair trial, as it should be. If convicted, he will face the consequences society has set.

I ask you to please read the column, regardless of whether you agree completely with his opinion or not. Please be sensitive as he is pointing to real issues and a real problem that is going on in America. I really hope his thoughtful analysis of his daughter’s death - and what happened in the news and social media after it - will open the eyes of those who do not understand some of the issues.

From Mollie Tibbetts' father: Don't distort her death to advance racist views