Updated on Nov. 20 at 2:20 p.m.
Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan migrant, will serve life in prison without parole after he was found guilty of murder in the case of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley, who was killed on the University of Georgia campus in February.
Ibarra was found guilty in all 10 charges against him: malice murder, three counts of felony murder, kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with the intent to rape, aggravated battery, obstructing a 911 call, tampering with evidence, and a peeping tom charge.
He waived his right to a jury trial, and Athens-Clarke County Superior Judge H. Patrick Haggard had his verdict ready 15 minutes after closing arguments ended.
“I wrote down two things in the closing. One was a statement by (prosecutor Sheila) Ross that the evidence was overwhelming and powerful, and then I also wrote down what (defense attorney Katilyn) Beck said. That I’m required to set aside my emotions,” the judge said.
“Both of those statements are correct.”
Sobs echoed through the courtroom as the judge announced guilty verdicts on all counts. Riley’s family and roommates attended the 4-day trial and heard hours of timelines, DNA analysis and descriptions of her injuries.
During closing statements Wednesday morning, prosecutors for the state reiterated the combination of physical DNA and fingerprint evidence, various surveillance video evidence and FBI analysis of cell phone location and usage pointed to Jose Ibarra as the murderer.
Defense attorneys cast doubt on the state’s scientific evidence and methodology and said an alternate explanation could be that Jose’s brother Diego killed Laken Riley, and Jose could have gotten involved after the killing.
Before sentencing, Riley’s family and friends spoke to the judge.
“The moment I got the call from my husband that Laken had not returned from her morning run … I knew in my heart that something horrific had happened to her,” said Carrie Howell, a longtime family friend. Howell’s kids grew up with Riley and her sister, Lauren Phillips.
“I was begging the Lord for her to still be alive and, for how terrible this would be, that she was just kidnapped and would be physically unharmed and alive,” Howell said. “That sounds so crazy but at the time seemed better than the alternative.”
“Can you imagine your pleading prayers with the Lord that this person ‘just’ be kidnapped?”
Riley’s mom, Alysson Phillips, described the feelings of being robbed.
“Laken’s life was not the only life taken on the day Jose Ibarra attacked her,” she said. “He took away the ability from Laken of graduating nursing school, from meeting our future son-in-law. He took our chances of meeting our grandchildren. He took my best friend.”
Riley’s death fueled the debate on immigration in the U.S. In Georgia, the state legislature passed the Georgia Criminal Alien Track and Report Act of 2024, which included sweeping changes to local police’s relationship with ICE.
Nationally, some politicians invoked Riley’s killing to emphasize their points on restricting immigration.
“This criminal should never have been allowed to enter our country, and he certainly should not have been allowed to stay after shamelessly breaking our laws. Open border policies failed Laken Riley, and today’s verdict is a reminder that the safety of our communities must remain our number one priority,” Governor Brian Kemp said in a statement following the verdict.
