Suspect convicted, sentenced to life without parole in Laken Riley murder
ATHENS, Ga. - Suspect Jose Ibarra was found guilty on all counts Wednesday morning and sentenced to life in prison without parole in his fast-moving trial over the murder of Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley.
Riley’s family and roommates cried as the verdict was read, but Ibarra didn’t visibly react.
Ibarra waived his right to a jury and the trial began Friday before Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard.
Haggard found Ibarra guilty of all 10 counts against him: one count of malice murder; three counts of felony murder; and one count each of kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with intent to rape, aggravated battery, obstructing an emergency call, evidence tampering and being a peeping Tom.
Prosecutor Sheila Ross told the judge that Ibarra encountered Riley while she was running on the University of Georgia campus on Feb. 22 and killed her during a struggle.
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Ross presented closing arguments Tuesday morning.
“Jose Ibarra has condemned himself. There is no way out for him ... The evidence in this case has been overwhelming … the evidence has been loud and clear. He is Laken Riley’s killer,” Ross said.
“In order to find this defendant not guilty you would have to dis-believe DNA, you would have to dis-believe fingerprint evidence,” Ross said. “And even if you did, you would still have [these photos] ... She got him; she scratched him.”
She continued:
“This was malice murder; he intended to kill her. Evidence from the medical examiner proves it. He put huge holes in her head with a rock. He did it more than once [for] no other reason than to silence her forever.”
Defense attorney Dustin Kirby said Riley’s death was a tragedy and called the evidence in the case graphic and disturbing. But he said there was not sufficient evidence to prove that his client killed Riley.
JUDGE DELIVERS THE VERDICTS IN LAKEN RILEY CASE:
During the trial, prosecutors called more than a dozen law enforcement officers, Riley’s roommates and a woman who lived in the same apartment as Ibarra. Defense attorneys called a police officer, a jogger and one of Ibarra’s neighbors on Tuesday and rested their case Wednesday morning.
The judge said that as he listened to the closing arguments, he wrote down on a legal pad two things the lawyers had said. He noted that prosecutor Sheila Ross called the evidence “overwhelming and powerful” and that defense attorney Kaitlyn Beck reminded him he was “required to set aside my emotions” in making his ruling.
After verdicts were read just before 11:30 a.m., court went into recess ahead of sentencing Wednesday afternoon.
When court resumed in the afternoon, Riley’s family and friends gave statements and the prosecution gave a presentation on the victim.
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Riley’s family and friends tearfully ed her and asked Haggard to sentence Ibarra to the maximum penalty. Her mother, Allyson Phillips, said there is “no end to the pain, suffering and loss we have experienced and will continue to endure.”
“This sick, twisted and evil coward showed no regard for Laken or human life. We are asking that the same be done for him,” she told the judge.
Riley’s younger sister, Lauren Phillips, a freshman at the University of Georgia, talked about the pain of living without her “favorite person” and “biggest role model” and the effect her sister’s death has had on her.
“I cannot walk around my own college campus because I’m terrified of people like Jose Ibarra,” she said.
LAKEN RILEY’S LOVED ONES SPEAK ABOUT HER:
Ibarra did not react as an interpreter relayed their words to him, but did appear to be looking at the speakers at times.
Defense attorney John Donnelly asked Haggard to give Ibarra two consecutive life sentences but to allow him the eventual possibility of parole.
Prosecutor Sheila Ross asked the judge for the maximum sentence, saying Riley’s family should never have to worry about Ibarra being released. Prosecutors decided before trial not to seek the death penalty.
“You can’t bring her back and it’s horrible. What you can do is give comfort with your sentence,” Ross said.
Haggard ultimately gave Ibarra the maximum sentence he could impose, including life in prison without the possibility of parole on the malice murder count.
Haggard acknowledged the sentencing will not bring closure for the family and friends of Riley.
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The murder of Riley on the University of Georgia campus at the hands of a man in the country illegally became a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration during this year’s presidential race.
On Tuesday, defense attorneys had planned on calling two more witnesses, but after talking to prosecutors Tuesday evening, they instead submitted a series of exhibits to the judge.
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The killing added fuel to the national debate over immigration when federal authorities said Ibarra illegally entered the U.S. in 2022 and was allowed to stay while he pursued his immigration case.
Riley’s parents, roommates and other friends and family packed the courtroom each day, many of them getting emotional as they listened to witness testimony.
Ibarra, dressed each day in a collared shirt and dark slacks with his feet chained, appeared attentive throughout the trial.
Gov. Brian Kemp reacted to the verdict.
“Though we are glad that justice has been delivered on behalf of Laken Riley, we continue to mourn her loss with her family and friends and know that she should still be with us today,” he said in a statement. “The information revealed in this trial was heartbreaking, and we applaud the bravery of Laken’s loved ones for reliving that horrible day to ensure her killer faced the consequences of his senseless actions. We will not let ourselves forget Laken or stop working to ensure her memory lives on.”
He further lambasted policies that allowed Ibarra to stay in the country illegally.
“Open border policies failed Laken Riley,” he said.
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