ATHENS, Ga. (Atlanta News First/Gray News) – In a case that became a flashpoint in the nation’s debate over immigration during the 2024 election, the bench trial for the suspect in the murder of a nursing student on the University of Georgia campus begins Friday.
Jose Ibarra, 26, is the suspect who illegally entered the U.S. from Venezuela charged in the Feb. 22, 2024, death of Laken Hope Riley.
The body of the 22-year-old Augusta University student was found on the sprawling University of Georgia campus after a friend told police Riley had not returned from her morning run.
Riley died of blunt force trauma in the attack. Police believe there is no connection between her and Ibarra, who waived his right to a jury trial earlier this week and agreed to a bench trial.
Ibarra faces charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call and concealing the death of another.
State Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard is presiding over Ibarra’s trial.
Ibarra’s arrest warrants accuse him of “disfiguring” Riley’s skull by hitting her with an unidentified object. He also allegedly dragged her body to a “secluded area” to hide the death, according to the warrants.
Riley grew up in Atlanta’s northern suburbs, graduated from River Ridge High School in Cherokee County where she ran on the cross-country team and then attended the University of Georgia in Athens. She later transferred to Augusta University’s nursing college, attending classes on its Athens campus. She remained active in the sorority she had joined at the University of Georgia.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed Ibarra “was paroled due to detention capacity at the Central Processing Center in El Paso” in Texas. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have said Ibarra entered the U.S. illegally.
The issue of illegal immigration was a key focus in President-elect Donald Trump’s successful quest to reclaim the White House.
As Ibarra’s trial is about to begin, the U.S. senator who authored a bill in Riley’s name is renewing calls for its passage.
Republican U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, of Alabama, introduced the Laken Riley Act back in March. The legislation would require Immigration and Customs Enforcement to arrest individuals who enter the U.S. illegally who commit theft, burglary, larceny or shoplifting offenses and mandate that they are detained until they are removed from the United States. It would also allow states to bring civil actions against federal officials who refuse to enforce immigration law or who violate the law.
When the new Congress convenes in January, Republicans will have majorities in both the U.S. House and Senate, along with Trump occupying the Oval Office.
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