Additional Coverage:
- Jose Ibarra sentenced to life without parole for murder of Georgia student Laken Riley (newsbreak.com)
Immigrant Convicted in Georgia Nursing Student’s Murder
A Venezuelan man, Jose Ibarra, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for murdering Georgia nursing student Laken Riley.
Ibarra, who entered the US illegally in 2022, was found guilty after waiving his right to a jury trial. Prosecutors argued that Ibarra was seeking women to attack and that Riley fought back, leading to her death.
The defense claimed insufficient evidence, questioning how Ibarra’s fingerprints were found on Riley’s phone if he wore gloves.
Riley’s family and friends testified about the devastating impact of her loss. Her roommate expressed guilt for not accompanying her on the run. Riley’s mother described the stolen memories and the destruction of her family’s future.
President-elect Donald Trump, who used Riley’s death for anti-immigration rhetoric, praised the verdict, saying it brings closure to her family and prevents similar tragedies.