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

[Megnut]

Today is about Laken...

But I look at the MONSTER who killed her over a failed SA...

What a waste of his own life. He was once somebody's baby, and how does someone get from there... to here?

Loitering for an hour, assaulted Laken, then murdered her brutally.

The pain, hers. Then her family's. Her friends and roommates. And all for what? To live the rest of his sorry life behind bars, where he really ought to have been already.

He must be a pretty hardened soul and the judge stacked the sentence so he won't ever be out, it's the only way to protect the rest of the world's daughters. Vile predator.

This was a swift trial and for that I'm glad. Not drawn out over years, but my heart is heavy for her lives ones, the pain still so raw.

Her mom and sister broke me.

My thoughts will remain with them. The grief, it'll never go away. At best they'll learn knew ways to carry it.

JMO

 

[Justice101]

Predators often target female joggers running alone. When I was in my 30's, I would run alone in the early morning in a park on a trail alongside a river. I would never do that nowadays as I've heard far too many cases of joggers who became victims. Some manage to break away, but many don't. Here is some advice for women who run alone, although sad to say, I think women need to avoid this risky activity entirely. Running while female: Women share how they stay safe

She ran with someone a lot unless their schedules didn't sync up.

So sad.

May he rot in prison.

 

[Justice101]

Watching a mother cry like that for her (senselessly) murdered daughter made me cry.

And I am a 64 year old man.

 

[Kaley Smith]

She ran with someone a lot unless their schedules didn't sync up.

So sad.

May he rot in prison.

Yes I know. I heard her running partner give her victim impact statement, and how guilty she feels for not being with her that day. No one should feel guilty except the killer.

 

[ACG2x]

The letter to her future husband from her journal that her stepfather read aloud was beyond heartbreaking. Laken sounded like such a thoughtful, intelligent and articulate woman. Let that animal fade into obscurity and rot.

 

[Sustained]

I think because although the evidence is strong, it is circumstantial, dp wasn't on the table from the start.

The evidence was quite strong.

District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez will seek life without the possibility of parole for Ibarra

Jose Antonio Ibarra entered a not guilty plea Friday to charges of murdering Laken Riley.

www.wuga.org

One other minor side effect of Ibarra's actions is that his entire family was charged with immigration violations, will serve prison time, and then be deported. If he had not murdered Laken and since Athens is a "sanctuary" city, the rest of the Ibarras would not have been caught.

My opinions always ...

 

[mickey2942]

Predators often target female joggers running alone. When I was in my 30's, I would run alone in the early morning in a park on a trail alongside a river. I would never do that nowadays as I've heard far too many cases of joggers who became victims. Some manage to break away, but many don't. Here is some advice for women who run alone, although sad to say, I think women need to avoid this risky activity entirely. Running while female: Women share how they stay safe

I know. I have participated in "Take Back the Night" events for over 45 years. Let that sink in...and it is worse than it has ever been. No where is safe.

I hate that we can't go out running in fresh air, outside. I am stuck on my treadmill, in my house!!! At 5 am, I put on my running shoes, and I want to go outside. I should be able to, I live in a very safe, rural, upscale area. But, it is also isolated, and these days, you just don't know.

Run on a treadmill at the gym, or at home.

 

[Tricia]

Hey Everyone,
We need your help keeping Websleuths ad-free.
Subscribe to DNA Solves and make a monthly donation. Five dollars or whatever you can do is greatly appreciated. That's all you have to do to keep the obnoxious ads off of Websleuths.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR A MONTHLY DONATION TO DNA SOLVES
By subscribing and making a monthly donation, you will be helping the families finally get the answers they deserve.
Please do not discuss this on this thread. CLICK HERE if you would like to discuss further or have any questions.
Thank you,
Tricia Griffith
Manager/Websleuths.com

 

[acutename]

Today is about Laken...

But I look at the MONSTER who killed her over a failed SA...

What a waste of his own life. He was once somebody's baby, and how does someone get from there... to here?

Loitering for an hour, assaulted Laken, then murdered her brutally.

The pain, hers. Then her family's. Her friends and roommates. And all for what? To live the rest of his sorry life behind bars, where he really ought to have been already.

He must be a pretty hardened soul and the judge stacked the sentence so he won't ever be out, it's the only way to protect the rest of the world's daughters. Vile predator.

This was a swift trial and for that I'm glad. Not drawn out over years, but my heart is heavy for her lives ones, the pain still so raw.

Her mom and sister broke me.

My thoughts will remain with them. The grief, it'll never go away. At best they'll learn knew ways to carry it.

JMO

I am always amazed that these attackers are so impulsive- does it not occur to them that the victims will be missed? Do they think that their victims are of zero value to society and that they can toss them like used tissues? There is something so fundamentally wrong in their heads. IMO.

 

[HmmMysterious]

I'm so glad this waste of space will rot in prison until the day he finally leaves this world. I feel so bad for Laken's friends and family right now. Rest in peace to a brilliant individual taken far too soon.

 

[Tapeartree]

Predators often target female joggers running alone. When I was in my 30's, I would run alone in the early morning in a park on a trail alongside a river. I would never do that nowadays as I've heard far too many cases of joggers who became victims. Some manage to break away, but many don't. Here is some advice for women who run alone, although sad to say, I think women need to avoid this risky activity entirely. Running while female: Women share how they stay safe

I used to run in my younger years, as well. I remember those weird vibes I would occasionally get. I quickly learned to stay in busy areas, but that has it's own issues with a lot of crazy drivers on the road. Sad to say, I gave it up. I agree that women need to avoid this risky activity. Life isn't fair that way.

 

[Kaley Smith]

I am always amazed that these attackers are so impulsive- does it not occur to them that the victims will be missed? Do they think that their victims are of zero value to society and that they can toss them like used tissues? There is something so fundamentally wrong in their heads. IMO.

Yes. Totally. I once saw a crime starting to unfold before my eyes when I went to my local convenience store. Two guys were arguing on the street across from the store when I went in. When I came out, lo and behold, one guy now had a baseball bat and was coming towards the other man. I yelled, "STOP!! I'm watching! I'm a witness!" The guy with a bat stopped. I kept talking... "Don't do it. Don't! It's not worth it! You could end up in jail! I'm a witness!" (I felt safe enough because there was a street between us, and I could run into the store if he came after me.) Bat man turned, shouted in disgust, "You're a witness to nothing!" and walked away. The other fellow came across the street to thank me. He said the other guy accused him of stealing his baseball cap. Can you imagine someone could have ended up dead and another one in prison for years over a baseball cap?

 

[Tapeartree]

I am always amazed that these attackers are so impulsive- does it not occur to them that the victims will be missed? Do they think that their victims are of zero value to society and that they can toss them like used tissues? There is something so fundamentally wrong in their heads. IMO.

I think they are incapable of seeing someone as a human. They can't get past their own desire to get what they want. They lack empathy and have never really cared about anything or anyone.

 

[Sustained]

I used to run in my younger years, as well. I remember those weird vibes I would occasionally get. I quickly learned to stay in busy areas, but that has it's own issues with a lot of crazy drivers on the road. Sad to say, I gave it up. I agree that women need to avoid this risky activity. Life isn't fair that way.

No need for women to give it up - just schedule times when you can run with a group or at least one partner. Easier said than done but better than the possible alternative.

 

[Tapeartree]

I know. I have participated in "Take Back the Night" events for over 45 years. Let that sink in...and it is worse than it has ever been. No where is safe.

I hate that we can't go out running in fresh air, outside. I am stuck on my treadmill, in my house!!! At 5 am, I put on my running shoes, and I want to go outside. I should be able to, I live in a very safe, rural, upscale area. But, it is also isolated, and these days, you just don't know.

Run on a treadmill at the gym, or at home.

Yes, I did this. I quit running and bought an elliptical for home. It doesn't compare to breath of fresh air and feel I had running. Used to love going out on a crisp, cool morning. I always felt very energized, and I miss that feeling.

 

[JoeFromLB]

I think they are incapable of seeing someone as a human. They can't get past their own desire to get what they want. They lack empathy and have never really cared about anything or anyone.

Right.
And accordingly, they need to be taken out of society. Period.
My own opinion.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

She deserves any justice possible, not him getting a plea deal.

I was trying to comment on what a waste of time and money this trial was considering how guilty he was, but I think I said it pretty clunky and it definitely didn’t come out right.
I was thinking more of him pleading guilty with no stipulations and being sentenced to LWOP.
It’s very possible the state refused to bargain, insisting that he get the maximum. I would applaud that. I am glad he got the maximum.

 

[PrairieWind]

I was trying to comment on what a waste of time and money this trial was considering how guilty he was, but I think I said it pretty clunky and it definitely didn’t come out right.
I was thinking more of him pleading guilty with no stipulations and being sentenced to LWOP.
It’s very possible the state refused to bargain, insisting that he get the maximum. I would applaud that. I am glad he got the maximum.

It is pretty rare for a defendant charged with first degree murder to just plead guilty. They get an attorney appointed who pretty much has to advise them to not do that. In this case, since the DA didn't seek a death penalty, there really was no plea agreement to offer. I do think the DA did a good job of getting this case to trial so quick. And kudos to the court as well.

 

[x_files]

I rarely post but have been a member here for a number of years.
The Judge absolutely got it right in my opinion.
I don't think this guy from Venezuela had a clue about the advanced forensic technology that is available here.
He took a life, now he will suffer the consequences.
I cannot fathom how incredibly painful it has been for her family to go through the trial. A guilty verdict is justified but it won't bring this beautiful young woman back to her family.
She wanted to be a nurse. She had so much to give to the world.

I wonder how many crimes he has committed but wasn't caught before?!

 

[x_files]

Yes I know. I heard her running partner give her victim impact statement, and how guilty she feels for not being with her that day. No one should feel guilty except the killer.

There's no guarantee he wouldn't have attacked them both. It would be harder without a gun or knife, but there's no guarantee he wasn't crazy enough to attack both.
But it does seem there's safety in numbers.