Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old illegal immigrant from Venezuela, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the brutal murder of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student from Georgia.
The sentencing, which occurred Wednesday afternoon, marked the culmination of a harrowing case that has left Riley’s family, friends, and community grappling with immeasurable grief.
Laken Riley murder, Jose Ibarra, has been sentenced to life in prison. pic.twitter.com/el0rjbwRDl
— Resist Times (@resistupdates) November 20, 2024
Ibarra was found guilty of all charges, which included malice murder, felony murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, hindering an emergency telephone call, tampering with evidence, and being a “peeping Tom.”
Despite the overwhelming evidence presented against him, Ibarra chose not to testify in his own defense.
BREAKING: Jose Ibarra found guilty on all 10 counts in Laken Riley murder trial. pic.twitter.com/A3b3If5ZJ5
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 20, 2024
Riley disappeared on the morning of February 22, 2024, while on her routine run through the University of Georgia campus in Athens. Known for speaking to her mother during her runs, Riley attempted to call her mother around 9 a.m. that day.
When her mother missed the call and subsequent attempts to