Jose Ibarra Found Guilty of Murdering Georgia Nursing Student Laken Riley
Mar. 15, 2025A 26-year-old man was convicted in the murder of Laken Riley following days of anemotionally charged trialthat laid bare details of her gruesome killing.
Riley, 22, waskilled on Feb. 22 while she was out on a jogon the University of Georgia campus in Athens, Ga.
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Ibarra was found guilty on one count of malice murder, three counts of felony murder, and kidnapping, aggravated assault with attempt to rape, aggravated battery, obstructing a 911 call, tampering with evidence and peeping tom.
As Judge H. Patrick Haggard announced the verdict, Ibarra sat quietly and didn’t display a visible reaction.
“She marked him. She marked him for everyone to see. She marked him for you to see,” Ross told during her closing remarks, perABC.
Laken Hope Riley.Laken Riley/Facebook
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Laken Riley/Facebook
The slain woman’s friends and family shared an emotional moment in court as the verdict was read, perCNN.
Her mother was heard sobbing loudly, with the conviction coming just a day after the court sawRiley’s last ever message: sent to her mom, in which Riley asked her if she wanted to chat.
Riley’s father was seen tearing up following the verdict. Her friends and family hugged each other in support, per CNN.
Riley, a nursing student at Augusta University, disappeared on the morning of her death and was laterfound with “visible injuries.”
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LIVE: GA v. Jose Ibarra, Murder of Laken Riley Trial - Day 4
During the four-day long trial, the judge was shown extensive evidence including DNA and security footage that led to Ibarra’s conviction.
Prosecutors presented testimony from Riley’s roommate who first noticed she was missing, along with that of investigators and translators. The trial exposed Ibarra as a man seemingly lacking remorse,“giggling” when he was taken in for questioning, while presentingRiley’s last moments: amessage to her motherand, later, seen running on security footage.
Ibarra, a Venezuelan national, entered the country illegally in 2022, immigration officials previously said, perCBS, theLos Angeles TimesandABC News.
source: people.com
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