Murdered University of Georgia student Laken Riley’s smartwatch and other technology helped paint a picture of what happened to her, according to the FBI.
As previously reported by CrimeOnline, Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, allegedly attacked and killed 22-year-old Laken Riley in February while she was out for a jog in Athens, near the University.
According to CNN, the FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team was able to analyze Laken Riley’s smartwatch—a Christmas gift—to better understand the events surrounding her death back in February.
“This watch captured a lot of important data,” prosecutor Sheila Ross said.
Data from the watch indicates that Riley went out for a jog at 9:10 a.m. At that time, she “stopped dead in her tracks.” Close to that same moment, the SOS function on Riley’s phone was activated to call 911.
“She was on this trail with the defendant for about four minutes, and then, four minutes later, her Garmin (smartwatch) moved 65 feet into the woods,” Ross told Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard.
According to the watch’s data, Riley put up a “long” and “fierce” fight against her attacker. Ross stated, “Once her heart stops at 9:28 a.m., there’s no more movement from her smartwatch.”
Riley’s iPhone also played a crucial role in determining that something was wrong and helped authorities locate her.
On Friday, Lilly Steiner, one of Riley’s roommates, testified that she used the iPhone ‘Find My’ feature to check on Riley’s whereabouts early that morning.
“I checked her location to see where she was, and I saw that she was on a run on a trail that she typically ran,” Steiner said.
Around 10:45 a.m., Steiner became concerned after noticing that Riley’s location had not changed for an extended period. She and another roommate used the iPhone feature to check on their friend.
Upon arriving at the trail, they discovered what they believed to be Riley’s AirPod. They photographed the AirPod and brought their concerns to the University of Georgia police around 12:05 p.m.
As previously reported on CrimeOnline, Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, allegedly attacked and killed 22-year-old Laken Riley in February while she was out for a jog in Athens, near the University.
Ibarra has pleaded not guilty to charges including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another.
Police do not believe Ibarra had any prior relationship with or knowledge of Riley before their encounter. He lived in the community but was not a college student, nor was he a U.S. citizen.
CNN also reported that evidence against Ibarra was found on Riley’s cell phone. Ibarra’s print was discovered on Riley’s phone, according to testimony from Daniella Stuart, a crime scene specialist with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
“He left behind his left thumbprint on her iPhone in the area where you would swipe to unlock,” as well as “reddish stains suspected to be blood.”
Ibarra’s defense claims that much of the technological evidence is circumstantial and does not prove their client is guilty.
Ibarra’s trial is still ongoing and is scheduled to proceed on Monday.
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[Feature Photo: Laken Riley/Facebook]
