Photo: Clarke County Sheriff's Office
Jose Ibarra, the man accused of killing Laken Riley, a former student at the University of Georgia, has been convicted of murder. The verdict was delivered by Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard on Wednesday (November 20). Ibarra, a 26-year-old undocumented immigrant from Venezuela, had waived his right to a jury trial, leaving the decision to the judge.
Judge Haggard sentenced Ibarra to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Riley, 22, was an avid runner and a student at Augusta University College of Nursing in Athens. She was jogging in the University of Georgia's Oconee Forest Park on the morning of February 22 when Ibarra attacked her. According to the prosecution, Ibarra struck Riley in the head with a rock and asphyxiated her.
The defense argued that there was not sufficient evidence to prove that Ibarra was responsible for Riley's death. However, the prosecution presented evidence, including DNA from Riley's fingernails that linked to Ibarra's genetic profile and a thumbprint belonging to Ibarra found on Riley's phone. The prosecution also presented surveillance footage showing a man, identified as Ibarra, discarding a bloody jacket into a dumpster near the crime scene.
The case has drawn national attention due to Ibarra's immigration status. Federal authorities stated that Ibarra illegally entered the U.S. in 2022 and was allowed to stay in the country while he pursued his immigration case. This detail has fueled the national debate over immigration.