Final Moments of School Pupil Who Put Up ‘Fierce’ Battle with Killer Revealed

Riley’s physique was discovered on February 22, after she did not return residence from a run. Ibarra, 26, was arrested the next morning and charged with one rely of malice homicide, three counts of felony homicide and one rely every of kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, hindering an emergency phone name, tampering with proof and being a peeping Tom.

He has pleaded not responsible.

Whereas Ibarra was initially set for a jury trial, the decide agreed to a bench trial on Tuesday — which means the defendant’s destiny shall be determined by a decide and never a jury.

Through the first day of the trial, Riley’s mom, Allyson Phillips, was seen breaking down in courtroom (heart above)

Prosecutor Sheila Ross, in her opening statements on Friday, mentioned Ibarra “went attempting to find females on the College of Georgia campus and on his hunt he encountered 22-year-old Laken Riley on her morning jog.”

“When Laken Riley refused to be his rape sufferer, he bashed her cranium in with a rock repeatedly. The proof will present that Laken fought,” she continued. “She fought for her life, she fought for her dignity, and in that combat, she precipitated this defendant to depart forensic proof behind. She additionally marked her killer for the complete world to see.”

Ross then laid out the prosecution’s timeline, utilizing digital proof gathered from safety cameras, 911 calls and Riley’s personal health watch.

Per Ross, at 4:30am and 5:27am on the morning of Riley’s homicide, Ibarra shared photographs of himself to Snapchat during which he was seen sporting an Adidas hat, black jacket and hoodie (left above).

At 6:52am, a person showing to put on the identical outfit was then seen heading towards campus in safety footage (heart), the place he then tried to open one other pupil’s door whereas she showered (proper).

The prosecution mentioned this man, who they imagine is Ibarra, went as much as the door six occasions within the span of an hour, attempting to open it twice. The coed inside referred to as police, reporting a Peeping Tom.

At 9:03am, Riley was seen leaving her residence on a Ring digicam, earlier than a path cam picked her up at 9:05. That is the final time she was seen alive, headed towards the crime scene.

Then, at 9:11, mentioned Ross, Riley activated the emergency companies function on her telephone to name 911. The 1 minute, 8 second name was performed for the courtroom, during which the operator can been heard saying, “Howdy” repeatedly, earlier than asking, “Can anybody hear me?”

Solely the sounds of birds and a muffled male’s voice may very well be heard. When the telephone hung up, police tried calling again twice, however obtained no reply.

Riley’s physique was discovered shortly after 12:30pm that very same day, in a wooded space off the path.

“She was hidden, nearly underneath a tree, lined up with a bunch of leaves. Her breasts have been fully uncovered. All three layers of her clothes have been pulled up round her neck,” mentioned Ross. “Her underwear was protruding from her tights … [she had] extreme accidents to the left aspect of her head. She was lifeless, she was chilly.”

Utilizing medical knowledge pulled from her Garmin watch, Ross mentioned it confirmed Riley was operating and listening to music when “one thing” out of the blue occurred to her. “He does one thing to her, to make her cease lifeless in her tracks,” she claimed.

“Her coronary heart price remains to be going till 9:28am. Her encounter with him was lengthy. Her combat with him was fierce and that’s what the Garmin knowledge reveals,” added Ross. “As soon as her coronary heart stops at 9:28am, there is no extra motion type her Garmin.”

As police regarded for a lead, they began “dumpster diving,” mentioned Ross — with one officer discovering a black hoodie with “lengthy, darkish hair on it” and blood stains. A safety digicam pointed on the dumpster then confirmed somebody holding an Adidas hat and sporting the identical shirt Ibarra was seen in sporting in one other Snapchat photograph strolling towards the bin and dropping the jacket inside (break up above). He was additionally seen leaving one thing within the close by bushes, which have been later discovered to be black disposable gloves with blood on them.

Whereas police continued to look the world the next morning, they got here throughout Ibarra’s brother Diego sporting the identical Adidas hat. They ultimately bought a warrant for his residence and located Jose asleep inside.

Per Ross, DNA of each Riley and Ibarra was discovered on the jacket, whereas the hair was “per Laken’s” and appeared “forcibly faraway from her head.” Ross additionally mentioned Ibarra’s DNA was left underneath her fingernails, whereas his thumbprint was left on her iPhone display screen.

Detailing the assault on Riley, Ross additionally mentioned a sexual assault package got here again destructive for male DNA, although her underwear had been torn. She mentioned Riley suffered a posh, depressed cranium fracture, in addition to 8 lacerations of the cranium “which accurately appear like holes,” and abrasions to the neck, face and torso.

“The proof that Jose Ibarra killed anybody is circumstantial,” Ibarra’s lawyer, Dustin W. Kirby, shared in his opening assertion. Kirby additionally claimed it might take “gymnastics” for prosecutors to show his consumer was the killer.

“We waived a jury trial on this case, with the hope and belief that regardless of the character of this proof that you could possibly come to a verdict that was not only a approach of of easing this household struggling, nevertheless it was primarily based on an neutral and trustworthy evaluation of the proof on this case,” he additionally mentioned.

“If that occurs and the presumption of innocence is revered, there shouldn’t be sufficient proof to persuade you past an inexpensive doubt that Mr. Ibarra is responsible of the crimes charged,” he added.

A lot has been made from Ibarra’s legal historical past and immigration standing since his arrest.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed Ibarra entered the nation illegally from Venezuela in September 2022 — and was arrested by border patrol on the time. He was launched pending overview of his case. ICE additionally mentioned he was arrested once more a 12 months later, in August 2023, in New York and charged with appearing in a way to injure a baby lower than 17 and with motorized vehicle license violation. He was reportedly launched by NY authorities earlier than ICE may take him into custody.

Donald Trump referred to as consideration to the case all through his presidential marketing campaign, as he and different Republicans give attention to crimes allegedly dedicated by undocumented immigrants and border coverage.

The trial is ongoing.