The Murder of Laken Riley

The horrifying murder of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley near a jogging trail in Athens, Georgia, has left a community in shock and raised troubling questions about public safety and immigration policy. Laken, a University of Georgia student, fell victim to Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant with a history of criminal behavior, on the morning of February 22, 2024.

Laken’s day began like any other. At 8:55 a.m., she texted her mother, Allyson Phillips, saying, “Good morning, about to go for a run if you’re free to talk.” When her mother didn’t answer, Laken turned on her music and set out for her jog. At 9:05 a.m., a trail camera captured her running with her iPhone in hand toward the university’s intramural fields.

At 9:11 a.m., Laken made an SOS call to 911. The dispatcher received muffled sounds but could not make contact before the call disconnected. Attempts to call her back went unanswered. Around the same time, Laken’s mother and sister tried reaching her without success. By 11:47 a.m., her mother texted, “Please call me, I’m worried sick about you.”

When Laken failed to return, her roommates, using her phone’s location tracking, began searching for her along the trail. At 12:05 p.m., they reported her missing to campus police. At 12:38 p.m., Laken’s body was found 65 feet off the trail. Her Garmin watch showed her heart had stopped at 9:28 a.m.

Prosecutors revealed disturbing details about the crime. Laken’s clothes were forcibly displaced, indicating an attempted sexual assault. DNA evidence under her fingernails and on a jacket found in a dumpster tied Ibarra to the crime. Security footage showed him disposing of the jacket, and his identity was confirmed by his brother and roommate.

Prosecutors described Ibarra’s actions as premeditated. On the day of the murder, he wore a hoodie, disposable gloves, and a black hat and went out “hunting for females” on campus. An eyewitness later testified to seeing a man behaving suspiciously in the area.

Jose Ibarra faced 10 charges, including malice murder, felony murder, kidnapping, and aggravated assault. After three days of testimony, Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard found Ibarra guilty on all counts. The sentencing followed victim impact statements from Laken’s family and friends. Ibarra received life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The charges against Ibarra included:

• Malice murder – Guilty
• Felony murder – Guilty
• Felony murder – Guilty
• Felony murder – Guilty
• Kidnapping with bodily injury – Guilty
• Aggravated assault with intent to rape – Guilty
• Aggravated battery – Guilty
• Obstruction or hindering a person making emergency telephone call – Guilty
• Tampering with evidence – Guilty
• Peeping Tom – Guilty

Jose Ibarra’s journey to Athens exposes glaring failures in U.S. immigration policy. Despite being flagged by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a member of Tren de Aragua one of the world’s most dangerous gangs Ibarra was not deported due to a lack of detention space. He was relocated to New York, where he stayed in Manhattan’s Roosevelt Hotel, receiving taxpayer-funded housing, healthcare, and legal aid.

In August 2023, Ibarra was arrested in New York for endangering a minor and a vehicle license violation but was released without bond. Later, under the Biden administration’s resettlement program, he was flown to Georgia. In October, he was cited for shoplifting but not detained. An arrest warrant issued in December went unexecuted, allowing him to remain free and ultimately commit murder.

Laken’s murder has deeply affected the University of Georgia community, shattering the sense of security on campus. “She did everything right,” said fourth-year student Allison Mawn. “She told her friends where she was going, had her location tracking on, and even managed to call for help. And still, it wasn’t enough.”