Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old undocumented immigrant from Venezuela, was sentenced to life in prison without parole after being found guilty of murdering Georgia nursing student Laken Riley earlier this year.
Ibarra was convicted on 10 charges, including murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault, and tampering with evidence. His conviction follows a bench trial, where Judge H. Patrick Haggard reviewed evidence and testimony from both the prosecution and defense.
Riley, a student at Augusta University, was discovered dead in February in a wooded area near the University of Georgia trail she frequented. The 21-year-old was hit in the head with a stone and suffocated.
During the sentencing, Riley’s family delivered emotional victim impact statements, describing the deep loss they suffered. Her mother, Allyson Phillips, tearfully explained how the tragedy robbed them of future milestones with Riley, including her graduation and the opportunity to meet her grandchildren.
