BREAKING UPDATE: Jose Ibarra sentenced to life in prison after he was found guilty of murdering Georgia nursing student Laken Riley

Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, has been found guilty of murdering Georgia nursing student Laken Riley. He was sentenced on Wednesday afternoon to life in prison without parole.

Ibarra, 26, chose not to testify on his own behalf, NewsNation reported. Ibarra was charged with one count of malice murder, three counts of felony murder and one count each of kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, hindering an emergency telephone call, tampering with evidence, and being a "peeping Tom," CBS News reported. Ibarra was found guilty on all charges.

Prosecutors are seeking a life sentence for Ibarra without the possibility of parole. Athens District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez said in February that her office would not seek the death penalty for Ibarra and the office would "take into account collateral consequences to undocumented defendants."

 

Riley, 22, was found dead on February 22 in a wooded section of the University of Georgia campus in Athens after she had gone for a run that morning. A friend called the police around noon concerned that Riley had not returned. 

Riley often spoke with her mother on the phone while out for her runs, and her mother had missed a call from Riley at around 9 am. Her mother attempted to call and message her daughter several times, which were shown in court Tuesday.

Prosecutors said during opening statements Friday that Ibarra "went hunting for females on the University of Georgia’s campus" when he killed Riley. The student was found with Ibarra’s DNA under her fingernails, her head smashed in, and her breasts exposed.

Defense Attorney Kaitlyn Beck said during closing arguments that the prosecution’s evidence was "circumstantial" and required a higher burden of proof, with defense attorneys arguing during the case that someone else possibly killed Riley, like Ibarra’s brother, Diego, with whom Ibarra shared a one-bedroom apartment, along with others. Beck said because of this, it is "more than possible that one brother’s DNA would get on another brother’s clothes." A DNA specialist on Tuesday said that the DNA samples from Riley’s fingernails matched a profile of Jose Ibarra’s blood found on a jacket found in a dumpster.

Prosecutor Sheila Ross said during closing arguments Wednesday, "Laken Riley herself has given you all the evidence you need alone to find this man guilty of every single count in this indictment. She did fight, and it is a direct result of that fight that gives you all the physical evidence you need to convict him," per Fox News. Ross added, "He killed her because she would not let him rape her."

Ibarra entered the country illegally in September 2022, and was "was paroled into the United States due to lack of detention capacity," Senator Josh Hawley said. In 2023, Ibarra was arrested in New York for child endangerment.

Trump wrote as victim impact statements were being read out, "JUSTICE FOR LAKEN RILEY! The Illegal who killed our beloved Laken Riley was just found GUILTY on all counts for his horrific crimes. Although the pain and heartbreak will last forever, hopefully this can help bring some peace and closure to her wonderful family who fought for Justice, and to ensure that other families don’t have to go through what they have. We love you, Laken, and our hearts will always be with you. It is time to secure our Border, and remove these criminals and thugs from our Country, so nothing like this can happen again!"

Riley’s mother, Allyson Phillips, said that on February 22, "our family and friends were given a life sentence without a chance of parole." She said that "there is no end to the pain, suffering, and loss that we have experienced or will continue to endure on that horrific day."

"He ripped away every beautiful memory we will ever be able to make with her again," she added.

Phillips pleaded for the judge to "give this monster life without any chance to parole" so Ibarra never "gets the chance to hurt anyone else ever again."

Phillips’ husband and Riley's stepfather, John, read out one of Riley’s last journal entries from the end of 2023, in which she addressed her future husband. "While it’s true that none of our lives will ever be the same, we refuse to let this person rob Laken of the hope she gave to her family, loved ones, friends in the world," he added. He said that "we will proudly carry this hope on in her name in the days ahead and for the rest of our lives, because together, we can all keep hope alive." He urged the judge to "protect the world from this truly evil person" and sentence him to life without parole. 

Lauren Phillips, Riley’s younger sister, said that Riley was "my most favorite person" and "biggest role model." "I now have this hole in my heart and in my life that I know will never be filled."

"Jose Antonio Ibarra has completely and utterly ruined my life, and I can only pray that he receives a sentence that ruins his."

Jason Riley, Laken’s father, said, "my daughter had so many dreams, so many hopes for the future. She had worked so hard to become a nurse, to work with children, and spread the love of God." 

"I hope justice is served for her, not only because I’m her father, but because she deserves it."

Riley’s roommate, Connolly Huth, said Riley was her "devoted and loyal running partner for two years and my best friend forever."

"I live with excruciating guilt every day that I was not accompanying Laken on this run, and that it was her and not me, and I hope and pray that it will never happen again to anyone," she said, recounting how she no longer runs every day and constantly looks over her shoulder in public "wondering if I am next."

"Your Honor, I wish to proclaim the maximum sentence for the defendant as I will never be the same, her loving, beautiful family will never be the same, and this world will never be the same. I hope this sentencing sets a precedent so it stops and fails to happen to anyone again. Laken was a hero and a warrior. She died a hero and a warrior."

Lilly Steiner, another roommate of Riley, told the judge that while she and the other roommates graduated in May and move on with their lives and careers, "Laken can’t." She also urged the judge to hand down the highest sentence possible. Fellow roommate Sofia Magana said "the loss of my best friend has shattered my world in ways I never thought possible."

"Spaces that were one filled with joy or peace I fear for my safety. I now live my life in a fear, constantly looking over my shoulder with a new reality that the unexpected can happen," she said.

The prosecution showed video footage of the distraught family on the day that Riley’s body was found, social media videos that showcased who Riley was as a person, as well as a mural that had been set up for Riley in the community that still remains up.

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