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

[Sheila Terranova]

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?

That’s fantastic that you had the courage to intervene .

 

[justtrish]

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 ...

I believe one of his brothers was committing crimes also, so I have no sympathy for him and any side effects he might face due to his brothers crimes. He was not on the up and up either.

I am glad justice was served today for the crimes that Jose committed. It's tragic because he never should have had the opportunity to commit these crimes due to the crimes he had already been committing while living in the US. I sure hope something can change in the bigger picture so that anyone coming here to commit crimes is not allowed to take sanctuary anywhere.

 

[justtrish]

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 am curious if they typically pick those that might not call the police. I think if she had allowed him to do what he intended to do, he may not have killed her. That is not me saying she is to blame for her death. I am saying if he didn't expect a fight, then he may not have set out to kill someone he might only have been intending SA. He had no weapon and it seemed it was maybe trying to get in to the one lady who was in her house. I wonder if he had done this before and picked other immigrants who may not report the crimes due to not wanting police involvement. I am not sure this "man" was thinking through if anyone would miss her. He likely wanted what he wanted and just got angry when she fought back. If he's had success before, this may not have occurred to him.

I think he has done this before because doing what he did at that time when others could come along, I do think he was bold and if he's got away with other SA before, it might have given him confidence to go to this more public place to do it.

I'm curious what his criminal history is like in his country. I believe there is a known gang connection.

 

[eloquence]

I believe one of his brothers was committing crimes also, so I have no sympathy for him and any side effects he might face due to his brothers crimes. He was not on the up and up either.

I believe all three brothers are currently in custody... I feel for their mother.

 

[mickey2942]

I am curious if they typically pick those that might not call the police. I think if she had allowed him to do what he intended to do, he may not have killed her. That is not me saying she is to blame for her death. I am saying if he didn't expect a fight, then he may not have set out to kill someone he might only have been intending SA. He had no weapon and it seemed it was maybe trying to get in to the one lady who was in her house. I wonder if he had done this before and picked other immigrants who may not report the crimes due to not wanting police involvement. I am not sure this "man" was thinking through if anyone would miss her. He likely wanted what he wanted and just got angry when she fought back. If he's had success before, this may not have occurred to him.

I think he has done this before because doing what he did at that time when others could come along, I do think he was bold and if he's got away with other SA before, it might have given him confidence to go to this more public place to do it.

I'm curious what his criminal history is like in his country. I believe there is a known gang connection.

I can't help but wonder if many of these undocumented immigrants came to the United States to avoid jail or prison in their own country. They don't stop their behavior, but no doubt a United States prison is better than one in their country.

 

[HMSHood]

The whole case is messed up. Jose Ibarra is no different from the likes of Adam Lanza, Gertrude Baniszewski, Yoselyn Ortega, John Wayne Gacy, Rebecca Grossman, Dean Corll, Lori Drew, Eric Harris, Nikolas Cruz, Salvador Ramos, Elliot Rodger, Stephen Paddock, Osama bin Laden, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Hideki Tojo, and Pol Pot.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

I believe all three brothers are currently in custody... I feel for their mother.

At least her sons are alive. And honestly, their parents probably knew what kind of sons they raised and aren't shocked by their incarceration. JMO.

 

[Justice101]

I am curious if they typically pick those that might not call the police. I think if she had allowed him to do what he intended to do, he may not have killed her. That is not me saying she is to blame for her death. I am saying if he didn't expect a fight, then he may not have set out to kill someone he might only have been intending SA. He had no weapon and it seemed it was maybe trying to get in to the one lady who was in her house. I wonder if he had done this before and picked other immigrants who may not report the crimes due to not wanting police involvement. I am not sure this "man" was thinking through if anyone would miss her. He likely wanted what he wanted and just got angry when she fought back. If he's had success before, this may not have occurred to him.

I think he has done this before because doing what he did at that time when others could come along, I do think he was bold and if he's got away with other SA before, it might have given him confidence to go to this more public place to do it.

I'm curious what his criminal history is like in his country. I believe there is a known gang connection.

deleted

 

[justtrish]

I can't help but wonder if many of these undocumented immigrants came to the United States to avoid jail or prison in their own country. They don't stop their behavior, but no doubt a United States prison is better than one in their country.

Oh I believe this for sure. What I don't understand is continuing to commit crimes and risk being caught and returned to the place you are trying to avoid. I guess a leopard can't change it's spots so expecting someone who is a criminal in one place to not be one somewhere else is maybe too much to expect.

I know I wish he never would have made it to Georgia. I wish he would have tried to get into that first apartment and failed and then just went home to sleep. I wish he would have been 5 minutes slower in getting to that trail on Feb 22.

Listening to all the beautiful things said about Laken yesterday and the world is definately a little less brighter without her in it. Some things we may never understand in this life.

 

[arielilane]

@149Zone7

Once again watching her roommates, her friends that she called family speak on her behalf got me. When Connolly said she was wearing Laken’s shirt that she had been given - powerful moment.

 

[arielilane]

@audpants

Laken Riley's mother speaks in court ahead of Jose Ibarra's sentencing."Your honor, on February 22nd of 2024, our family and friends were given a life sentence without a chance of parole. Jose Ibarra took no pity on my scared, panicked and struggling child.”


"There is no end to the pain, suffering and loss that we have experienced or will continue to endure on that horrific day. My precious daughter was attacked, beaten and show no mercy. She fought for her life and dignity and to save herself from being brutally raped.”


"This sick, twisted and evil coward showed no regard for Laken or human life.”


Philips described her daughter a "smart, hardworking, kind, thoughtful, and most importantly, a child of God." She "had a personal relationship with Jesus, and she loved being the hands and feet of his hands and feet in this world," Philips said.


12:55 PM · Nov 20, 2024

 

[arielilane]

Posted two days ago.


@149Zone7

I told y’all Diego Ibarra would not testify - he is a known gang member and he’s lawyer don’t won’t him on the stand.

4:42 PM · Nov 19, 2024

 

[Katiegam]

You know the case is a slam dunk when the 1st defense witness is called to say he saw a suspicious character on the running trails @ ~9:40am but couldn't see his face and identify his race and Ross basically embarrassed him on the stand. 2nd witness from the apartment complex (Diego's sometimes GF) was just as bad. Sheila Ross is a rock star prosecutor and has done nothing to change my opinion during this trial. I can't imagine the judge taking more than a few hours to make the guilty call and issue the LWOP sentence.

Kudos to the ACPD for apprehending the entire Ibarra clan and forwarding to the appropriate jurisdiction for prosecution.
With Ibarra jailed for life, perhaps the Riley family and the entire UGA community can begin to heal. UGA has had its share of other issues including a few alleged dorm rapes the last few years, but I hope all female runners can get out there without fear of attack.

This is all so true. As a local Athenian, UGA grad, and current local high school teacher (where many of my students go on to UGA, had quite a few that were classmates or sorority sisters with Laken), I am so grateful for Sheila Ross. Our current DA is, shall I say, inept and thankfully has been voted out of office. I am exceedingly thankful that Ross was appointed to prosecute this case. ACCPD and UGAPD did a remarkable job with this case - proud to be in Athens!

 

[Katiegam]

The judge: no such thing as closure, it can be an effort to breathe...

He acknowledges that a sentence won't help with that.

LWOP, plus life, plus 20, plus 12 months, plus 12 months, plus 5 years consecutive

The judge's dad was killed in an armed robbery - It's so clear he understand the depth of grief and loss.

 

[Katiegam]

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

I've read in quite a few places that he committed similar crimes back in Venezuela, but I have not seen any sources stating such. I'd be interested in seeing these sources if anyone has them.

 

[JoeFromLB]

He'll commit no more crimes for the rest of his life, but there's a fair chance that another inmate may commit a violent crime on him during his incarceration. He will have a large target on his back to be sure.
Not losing any sleep over him. Good riddance.

 

[arielilane]

DAILY TRIAL UPDATES​

DAY 4 – 11/20/24​

• Ibarra is given the maximum sentence on each count:
  • Count 1 (Malice Murder) – Life without the possibility of parole
  • Count 2 (Felony Murder) – Vacated as a matter of law
  • Count 3 (Felony Murder) – Vacated as a matter of law
  • Count 4 (Felony Murder) – Vacated as a matter of law
  • Count 5 (Kidnapping with Bodily Injury) – Life in prison, consecutive to count 1
  • Count 6 (Aggravated Assault with Intent to Rape) – 20 years to serve, consecutive to count 5
  • Count 7 (Aggravated Battery) – Merges with count 1
  • Count 8 (Obstruction or hindering a person making an emergency telephone call) – 12 months, consecutive to all the other time
  • Count 9 (Tampering with Evidence) – 12 months, consecutive to all the other time
  • Count 10 (peeping Tom) – 5 years, consecutive to count 6.

GA v. Jose Ibarra: The Murder of Laken Riley

Jose Ibarra is facing life in prison without parole if convicted in the death of nursing student Laken Riley.

www.courttv.com

11/20/2024

 

[Justice101]

Question, sorry I haven't followed that closely:

How soon after Laken's body was found was the "interview" of the perpetrator in the bed in his apartment?

How did they identify this apartment so fast?

 

[Skigirl]

It is possible the friend could track her location on life 360 or a similar app. If it was not moving for an extended period of time that could explain how the police found her so quickly.

Turns out that @Lulu777 nailed it on the day after the crime.

 

[Skigirl]

Question, sorry I haven't followed that closely:

How soon after Laken's body was found was the "interview" of the perpetrator in the bed in his apartment?

How did they identify this apartment so fast?

They had two other incidents in the area near his apartment that morning -- one was a peeping Tom call, and the other was a man trying to break in. They found camera footage of the man involved in the peeping Tom incident, who was wearing a hooded jacket. Another camera nearby showed a man putting a hooded jacket into the dumpster at his apartment complex about 16 minutes after the murder and stashing gloves in a hedge. From there, I believe that when they started talking to people at the complex, he was sitting outside his apartment (the article is a little vague, but the body cam footage was shown at trial and he was seated on a chair right outside the door) and they started chatting with him and noticing that he could be the person they saw on camera, and while talking to him, noticed some fresh scratches. Laken Riley murder suspect seen with multiple scratches day after killing: Officers