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.
Dr. Shari Schwartz – Forensic Psychologist (Specializing in Capital Mitigation and Victim Advocacy); Author: “Criminal Behavior” and “Where Law and Psychology Intersect: Issues in Legal Psychology;” X: @TrialDoc” Twitter: https://twitter.com/TrialDoc, Author: “Criminal Behavior” and “Where Law and Psychology Intersect: Issues in Legal Psycholo
Additional Guest
- Gregory Morse – Partner at the law firm of King Morse, PLLC. Current CJA counsel (Southern District of Florida), Former West Palm Beach Public Defender’s Office. Author: “The Untested,” Website: kingmorselaw.com
- Brian Fitzgibbons – VP of Operations for USPA Nationwide Security; Instagram: @uspa_nationwide_security, Kingsman Philanthropic’s 2022 rescue missions of women and children in Ukraine, Iraq War Veteranide_security
- Lisette Guillen – On-site host of ‘Case Files Chicago’,, Facebook: chicagolisette, IG: Lisette Guillen, LinkedIn: Lisette Guillen, TikTok: Bluangelwings
- Joining Nancy Grace today:
- Jamie Baum – mother
- Jason Waddell – father
- Abby Smith – sister
- Paige Baum – sister
“Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” on Fox Nation is also a national radio show on SiriusXM channel 111, airing for two hours daily starting at 12 p.m. EST. You can also subscribe and download the daily podcasts at iHeart Podcasts.
[Featured image: Emma Baum/Handout]
