Jose Ibarra was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison without parole for the murder of nursing student Laken Riley on the University of Georgia campus.
A judge found him guilty of all 10 charges against him, including felony murder, aggravated assault with the intent to rape, obstructing a 911 call, and tampering with evidence.
Ibarra is a Venezuelan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally in 2022. He was granted temporary permission to stay in the country while his immigration case was being processed.
“All Things Considered” host Jim Burress and WABE immigration reporter Emily Wu Pearson discuss the latest developments of the case and its political implications, as it became a flashpoint in the debate around U.S. immigration policy this election cycle.
During trial proceedings over the past few days, prosecutors described how, while on a morning run, Riley encountered Ibarra who stopped her in her tracks, dragged her nearly 65 feet off the path, and beat her to death.
