11 Disturbing Details of Laken Riley's Murder Uncovered as Trial Begins

Jose Ibarra, 26, is accused of killing Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, while she was jogging near the University of Georgia. Ibarra’s bench trial got underway Friday, with emotional opening statements and graphic testimony. He faces life in prison if convicted. Law&Crime’s Jesse Weber has the latest.

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[markm]

Absolutely despicable. He should never see the light of day again.

[Sndyj]

She had such wonderful and caring friends. They immediately knew something was wrong.

[maggiem]

He was arrested for shoplifting at Walmart. If they would have put him away for deportation, Laiken wd be alive.

[AChoosen]

His DNA was underneath her fingernails. He was seen trying to break in to a girls apartment that same morning on the same campus. He was seen throwing her jacket into the dumpster and hiding his gloves from the crime that had her blood on them.

[christinalester]

I realize everyone is entitled to a defense, but its hard to imagine how someone agrees to represent this guy.

[Courtenay-Dawn]

I just want to hug that sweet roommate. Seeing her lip quiver broke me 😢

[courtneyrose]

How is the evidence circumstantial? His dna is literally in her fingernails

[raspybob]

The government gave him a free plane ride to carry out the killing! Whoever gave him a plane ticket should be in jail too!

[heleneseri]

I just think its very disrespectful to advertise your sponsor in the middle of such a story. Please do it before you start the story.

[Volfanj]

He can't be serious, no evidence 😢, that lawyer is out of his mind

[johnfarmer]

Will the family be able to sue New York or even DHS for not deporting or jailing this guy?

[cathybridge]

I hope how he sat there so emotionless gets taken into account in regards to sentencing. What a horrible, disgusting excuse for a human

[olir]

Not to turn this political but if the US did a better job at vetting whom comes in and who we keep this woman would probably still be alive. He literary was convicted of a felony in NY and we still alowed him to stay

[TheIndecisiveWigWearer]

His attorney said that this is a case of circumstantial. No, it’s not. They have his thumb print on her phone, digital evidence and DNA. DISGUSTING.

[kinorspielmann]

Prosecution attorney doing a great job. Clear. Concise. Focused. (All too often not the case.)
Defense attorney: the usual BS. Painful to listen to such a confected package of lies countering reality.

[donnae]

Why would he go to prison why not the death penalty? Why should we have to pay taxes on him for the rest of his life to get free food in a place to live?

[inuyali]

Why do we even give him the right to a counsel when he's illegal here in the US? Life behind bars? Sure but why here with our tax money?!

[pprotectas]

So if this monster gets convicted for life his punishment is free food, housing and medical care that will cost taxpayers millions???!!! Horrible...

[AtlantasMostHated]

Damn his face while they played the video when they found her and gave her CPR told me everything…what a stone cold killer. That dude is a monster. he didn’t even flinch watching her deceased in the video smh…rip Queen justice is coming !

[edu]

The valiant effort of the police officer who found her is heartbreaking. The poor family going through this trial for someone here illegally. Border control!!