Man accused of killing Georgia nursing student Laken Riley

A Venezuelan man “went trying to find females on the College of Georgia’s campus” earlier this yr and ended up killing nursing pupil Laken Riley after a battle, a prosecutor stated Friday. The person’s lawyer, although, stated the proof is circumstantial and does not show his shopper is responsible.

Jose Ibarra, who entered the U.S. illegally, is charged with homicide within the February killing, which helped fan the immigration debate throughout this yr’s presidential marketing campaign. Ibarra waived his proper to a jury trial, which means his case is being heard and determined by Athens-Clarke County Superior Court docket Choose H. Patrick Haggard.

Prosecutor Sheila Ross informed the choose that Ibarra encountered Riley Feb. 22 whereas she was operating on the College of Georgia campus in Athens. Riley, 22, was a pupil at Augusta College Faculty of Nursing, which additionally has a campus within the metropolis that’s about 70 miles east of Atlanta.

“When Laken Riley refused to be his rape sufferer, he bashed her skull in with a rock repeatedly,” Ross stated, including that the proof would present that Riley “fought for her life, for her dignity.”

On account of that struggle, Ibarra’s DNA was left below her fingernails, Ross stated. Riley referred to as 911 and, in a battle over her telephone, Ibarra’s thumbprint was left on the display screen, she stated.

That forensic proof is enough to show Ibarra’s guilt, however digital and video proof additionally show that Ibarra killed Riley, the prosecutor stated.

Protection legal professional Dustin Kirby referred to as the proof within the case graphic and disturbing, however he stated none of it proves that his shopper killed Riley.

“The proof on this case is excellent that Laken Riley was murdered,” he stated. “The proof that Jose Ibarra killed Laken Riley is circumstantial.”

The killing added gasoline to the nationwide debate over immigration when federal authorities stated Ibarra illegally entered the U.S. in 2022 and was allowed to remain to pursue his immigration case.

Republicans, together with President-elect Donald Trump, blamed Democratic President Joe Biden’s border policies for her demise. As he spoke about border safety throughout his State of the Union tackle weeks after the killing, Biden talked about Riley by title.

Riley’s mom, Allyson Phillips, and different relations packed the courtroom Friday morning however did not return after lunch. Phillips put her face in her arms and cried ceaselessly, particularly when pictures of her daughter have been proven and through descriptions of what occurred to her.

Ibarra, wearing a plaid shirt and darkish slacks and together with his toes chained, wore headphones to listen to a Spanish-language interpreter. He appeared attentive, generally trying up when pictures or video have been proven and different occasions trying down at his lap.

Throughout her opening assertion, Ross laid out a timeline utilizing doorbell and surveillance digicam footage, in addition to knowledge from Riley’s telephone and watch, to piece collectively her remaining moments.

Riley left dwelling at 9:03 a.m. and headed for wooded trails the place she usually ran. Information from her watch reveals that at 9:10 a.m., she was operating at a quick tempo when one thing occurred that made her “cease lifeless in her tracks.” She referred to as 911 at 9:11 a.m.

A 911 dispatcher answered however nobody responded when she repeatedly sought a response, after which the decision was ended by the caller. The dispatcher instantly referred to as again, however nobody answered.

“Her encounter with him was lengthy. Her struggle with him was fierce,” Ross stated, noting that Riley’s watch knowledge confirmed her coronary heart was nonetheless beating till 9:28 a.m.

Ross additionally performed safety digicam video that reveals a person she stated is Ibarra at 9:44 a.m. in a car parking zone at his house complicated. The person tossed one thing in a recycling bin after which appeared to toss something in close by bushes. Within the recycling bin, officers discovered a darkish hooded jacket with blood that turned out to be Riley’s on it and strands of lengthy darkish hair caught on a button. Within the bushes, they discovered black disposable kitchen gloves, one in all which had a gap within the tip of the thumb.

One other video from about 35 minutes later reveals what seemed to be the identical man sporting totally different garments and strolling towards a trash bin with a bag after which strolling again empty-handed. That bin was emptied earlier than police have been in a position to search it.

One among Riley’s three roommates testified that she grew to become frightened when Riley did not return from a run. The 4 mates used a telephone app to trace one another’s whereabouts, and Lilly Steiner testified that she grew to become extra frightened when she noticed that Riley’s telephone confirmed her in the identical location for a very long time.

Riley usually talked to her mom by telephone when she ran, and her mom additionally grew to become involved that morning when her daughter did not reply her calls.

Steiner and one other roommate, Sofia Magana, walked to the path the place the telephone app indicated Riley was positioned. They discovered what they believed was one in all Riley’s earbuds on the path and returned dwelling to name police.

One of many officers who responded discovered Riley’s body partially coated by leaves, 64 toes off the path. Though her shirt had been pulled up and her underwear was exhibiting above the lowered waistband of her operating tights, Ross stated there was no proof that Riley had been sexually assaulted.

Police arrested Ibarra the day after the killing.

Earlier than Ross performed video from the physique digicam of the officer who discovered Riley, she warned Riley’s household that her lifeless physique could be proven. Riley’s mom left the courtroom, however different relations and mates remained, a few of them crying or protecting their faces through the video.

Ibarra is charged with one rely of malice homicide, three counts of felony homicide and one rely every of kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, hindering an emergency phone name, tampering with proof and being a peeping Tom.

Prosecutors say that on the day of Riley’s killing, Ibarra peered into the window of an house in a college residential constructing, which is the idea for the peeping Tom cost.