Woke Georgia DA refused to ask for death penalty in Laken Riley murder case

Jose Ibarra, the illegal immigrant and suspected Tren de Aragua gang member found guilty of murdering Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, will not receive the death penalty. The progressive district attorney in the office that prosecuted the case vowed to never use the death penalty and has set a policy to "take into account collateral consequences" for illegal immigrant defendants. Ibarra was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Ibarra, 26, was found guilty on all counts, including malice murder, three counts of felony murder, kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with the intent to rape, aggravated battery, obstruction of a 911 call, tampering with evidence, and a "peeping tom" count as well. Prosecutors in the case did not seek the death penalty, which has drawn criticism.

District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez, who is a progressive Democrat overseeing the office, told media that it was integral to justice that the case "transcend political considerations" and her office has not sought the death penalty, per Newsweek. Additionally, she lost her reelection bid to Republican Kalki Yalamanchili earlier this month.

Gonzalez has never sought the death penalty in any case, per the outlet. A copy of her policies that were made public stated, "Cases which are legally eligible for the death penalty are eligible for sentences of life without parole and life with parole eligibility after serving thirty years. Both of these sentences constitute very substantial punishment. Decisions to seek the sentence of life without parole are a sentence of death in prison."

The policies also stated that the office "take[s] into account collateral consequences to undocumented defendants" during cases against illegal immigrants. Heavy backlash occurred after Ibarra was not sentenced to the death penalty.

GOP Georgia state Rep. Houston Gaines wrote in a post on X, "While this case was fortunately handed over to a competent prosecutor for the state, our local District Attorney made the choice to not pursue the death penalty. On Day 1 in office, she said she’d never seek the death penalty (she also said she'd 'take into account the collateral consequences to undocumented defendants'). If there was ever a case where the death penalty was appropriate, this is it."

GOP Georgia State Sen. Colton Moore called on the state Attorney General to step in, "I am officially calling on Attorney General Chris Carr to file an emergency motion to intervene and demand the death penalty for the murderer of Laken Riley."

"District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez let her radical political agenda stand in the way of justice. By refusing to seek the death penalty, she denied Laken’s family, friends, and community the full measure of justice they deserve," he added.

Prosecutors said that Riley fought for her life for 18 minutes as Ibarra attempted to rape her, ultimately killing her in cold blood, per the New York Post. During the trial, it was revealed that Riley's mother, Allyson Phillips, had not received her daughter's last text or call before she was murdered. “Good morning, about to go for a run. Are you free to talk?” Riley had messaged her mother. She tried to call Phillips by phone at 9:03 am and didn't hear back. Riley was attacked seven minutes later.