Jose Ibarra, the sole suspect in the murder of University of Georgia jogger Laken Riley, has been found guilty on all charges. The ten charges include three counts of felony murder, malice murder, kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with intent to rape, and “peeping Tom.”
In emotional testimony, University of Georgia Police Sgt. Sophie Raboud detailed the final moments of Riley’s life, breaking down the timeline into minutes. Before her final jog, Riley texted her mother at 8:55 a.m., asking if she was free to talk. At 9:03 a.m., Riley called her mother. She then listened to music and was seen on a trail camera at 9:05 a.m., holding her iPhone in her left hand as she jogged toward the intramural fields. By 9:06 a.m., Riley ran out of the camera’s view.
Minutes later, at 9:11 a.m., Riley activated the SOS function on her iPhone to call 911. The dispatcher was unable to speak with her before the call was disconnected. The dispatcher attempted to call back twice but received no answer. Riley’s phone later received a call from her mother at 9:24 a.m. When Riley failed to respond, her mother sent a text at 9:38 a.m. reading, “Call me when you can.”
During closing arguments, State Prosecutor Shelia Ross outlined the evidence supporting each charge, describing Ibarra as “a monstrously guilty individual.”
Defense attorney Kaitlyn Beck presented two alternative theories: that DNA was transferred onto clothes found in the apartment, implicating Ibarra’s brother Diego as the murderer, or that Ibarra may have been an accomplice but not the primary culprit.
Ultimately, Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard found Jose Ibarra guilty on all counts.
Joining Nancy Grace today:
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[Featured image:Laken Riley/Handout]
