GUILTY GA - University of Georgia Laken Hope Riley, 22, found dead near University of Georgia intramural fields, foul play suspected, 22 Feb 2024

[Curious Me]

I'm not worried though. I think there's plenty of evidence, whether you want to call it circumstantial or some other word, to prove it was Ibarra without a doubt. MOO, I believe the Judge will find him guilty and not want the horrible man out ever attacking more women. For understandable reasons, I can't stand to look at that horrible defendant without feeling big outrage and anger. It's made watching the trial uncomfortable seeing his face and expressions. ​

 

[justtrish]

Did anyone watch today's testimony?

It's clear the defense doesn't have anything substantial because they called the neighbor who was sleeping with Diego Ibarra and before that they called a man who was jogging and saw someone they couldn't describe or really say much about, not even what race the person was and it sounds like his story was all over the place.

 

[justtrish]

Man Caught on Video Before Allegedly Killing Laken Riley

I do appreciate this witness testifying. It's too bad this male running witness couldn't say for sure if it was the defendant. He did think he saw a logo on the hat, but not what the logo was. It would've been great if he could've pointed to Ibarra and loudly said it was him.​

Runner on UGA's campus recalls moment he called police | Jose Ibarra trial

I don't think that man saw the killer. The defense called him and it seems is trying to suggest this man who was seen by the person testifying seemed out of place could be the killer. He had maybe khaki pants on and white shoes. It was after the murder took place and the state showed that Ibarra was back at his place disposing of evidence at the time that this jogger would have seen the mystery man looking out of place.

 

[Curious Me]

Did anyone watch today's testimony? It's clear the defense doesn't have anything substantial because they called the neighbor who was sleeping with Diego Ibarra and before that they called a man who was jogging....

I don't think that man saw the killer. The defense called him and it seems is trying to suggest this man who was seen by the person testifying seemed out of place could be the killer.... snipped to reply

Thanks for filling in the details, @justtrish. I've been watching, but doing a bunch of multi-tasking in between, with scattered attention, so I missed some.

I did hear that neighbor woman that was sleeping with that icky defendant. She didn't sound very credible. She has a criminal history herself? Well, if that's the best the defense can do with those two witnesses, I'm very hopeful Ibarra should get LWOP.
​

 

[Sheila Terranova]

Does anyone have a clip please of Riley’s 911 call or could please tell me what Riley said? (Sorry to be lazy searching, I’ve been taking care of my ex husband who has heart failure).

 

[Justice101]

Does the prosecution have DNA of the victim on the defendant's jacket?

 

[dotr]

'Witness goes over Laken Riley's final phone activity before attack'​

Thursday, Feb. 22​

Laken Riley's phone data reveals last text messages from her mother | Timeline

On Tuesday, during Day 3 of Ibarra's trial, Laken Riley's last phone activity was in the spotlight.

www.11alive.com

8:55 a.m. | Last outgoing communication on Riley's phone before she called 911. She texted her mother saying, "Good morning, about to go for a run. If you're free to talk."
9:03 a.m. | Riley called her mom. Her phone was locked immediately after she made the phone call to her mom.
9:11 a.m. | Riley calls 911-- a dispatcher answered, but no one responded and the call was ended by the caller.
9:12 a.m. | Two additional phone calls came back from 911, calling Riley's phone back, but no one answered.
9:24 a.m. | An incoming call from her mom and the call is not answered.
9:37 a.m. & 9:38 a.m. | Additional text messages come in from family members, including a text message from Riley's mom that said, "Call me when you can." That message is not read.
9:51 a.m. | Incoming call from her mom that was not answered.
9:53 a.m. | She received another call from her mom, but the call was not answered.
9:58 a.m. | Incoming text from her mom, "You're making me nervous not answering while you're out running. 'Are you OK?'" and the text is not read.
11:04 a.m. | Incoming call from her mom that was not answered.
11:12 a.m. | Incoming call from her mom that was not answered.
11:19 a.m. | Incoming call from her sister that was not answered.
11:47 a.m. | Incoming text from her mother, "Please call me; I'm worried sick about you."
12:07 p.m. | Incoming call from her mom that was not answered.
12:20 p.m. | Incoming call from her stepfather that was not answered.''

 

[justtrish]

Does anyone have a clip please of Riley’s 911 call or could please tell me what Riley said? (Sorry to be lazy searching, I’ve been taking care of my ex husband who has heart failure).

Start at about 6 minutes into this witness and you can hear the call. They also play the 911 call made by the woman alone in her apartment that same morning that he tried to get into her apartment.

 

[justtrish]

Does the prosecution have DNA of the victim on the defendant's jacket?

I believe so. I am still looking for that specific testimony.

The defendants DNA was under Laken Riley's fingernails.

 

[Megnut]

Does the prosecution have DNA of the victim on the defendant's jacket?

"...in addition, a blood-like stain on a navy blue jacket found in a dumpster contained the DNA of Riley and Ibarra," the expert testified.

https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/laken-riley-murder-trial-11-19-24/index.html#:~:text=In%20addition%2C%20a%20blood%2Dlike,25%20witnesses%20over%20three%20days.

 

[Justice101]

Thanks on the DNA references?

I thought the one witness that clipped her fingernails said there was no DNA on them. Maybe she was just the gatekeeper for all the samples and was not the person responsible for testing.

His DNA under her fingernails is very damning to him.

 

[CHEL]

Does the prosecution have DNA of the victim on the defendant's jacket?

dbm. double post.

 

[CHEL]

How is he okay with blaming his brother for this murder? Pathetic.

 

[Sustained]

How is he okay with blaming his brother for this murder? Pathetic.

Likely the defense team told Ibarra they were going to try to deflect blame to Diego and assured JI that Diego would never actually be convicted of the murder.

 

[Justice101]

Likely the defense team told Ibarra they were going to try to deflect blame to Diego and assured JI that Diego would never actually be convicted of the murder.

The defense seems to not have anything concrete to defend their client. So they are just throwing out supposition, what ifs and open ended questions about others who could have done it but who LE didn't hone in on.

As you know, this tends to not work with a jury, isn't usually sufficient to create reasonable doubt....and certainly not with a seasoned judge.

From what little I have watched regarding the testimony and what you all have stated here that I missed, looks like the prosecution has a very very solid case.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

Does anyone have a clip please of Riley’s 911 call or could please tell me what Riley said? (Sorry to be lazy searching, I’ve been taking care of my ex husband who has heart failure).

I don’t have a link to the 911 call but I can tell you that Laken Riley does not say anything. It is a short audio with sounds similar to a scuffle going on.

 

[Megnut]

Guilty on all charges

 

[Leilei]

Judge has ruled - GUILTY of all charges.
As it should be.
IMO.

 

[Megnut]

Judge wasted no time. Took a brief recess before rendering his verdict, offering both sides a recess before sentencing. Recess for one hour.

 

[MassGuy]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1859271829900472421