Laken Riley case: Jose Ibarra convicted of kidnapping, killing Ga. nursing student who was out jogging

ATHENS, Ga. (TCN) -- A judge convicted a 26-year-old man of multiple charges related to the abduction and beating death of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student who was killed while out on a run in February.

Athens-Clarke County records show Jose Ibarra was found guilty on Nov. 20 of three counts of felony murder and one count each of malice murder, kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with intent to rape, aggravated battery, obstructing or hindering a person making an emergency phone call, tampering with evidence, and peeping Tom.

WAGA-TV reports Ibarra’s case was a bench trial, meaning the presiding judge delivered the verdict. The judge handed him two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, plus 27 years.

Riley was found dead in a wooded area on the University of Georgia campus on Feb. 22. Her friend contacted police and said she became worried when Riley left for a run around the intramural fields that morning but never returned home. Investigators arrested Ibarra the next day and indicted him in May.

According to WAGA, video showed Riley jogging on the University of Georgia campus. She reportedly texted her mother that day, "Good morning. About to go for a run if you’re free to talk." Her mom texted her back, but Riley never responded. Her mother said in another message, "Please call me. I’m worried sick about you."

Surveillance video also reportedly captured Ibarra throwing a jacket away that had Riley’s DNA on it, but his attorneys argued the man on the video could have been Ibarra’s brother.

WXIA-TV reports prosecutors claimed Ibarra went "hunting for females" the same day Riley was killed. Ibarra beat Riley with a rock, which the prosecutors said happened because she "refused to be his rape victim." Riley sustained cuts to her head, torso, neck, left hand, and left leg, as well as a skull fracture. Investigators discovered Ibarra’s DNA under Riley’s nails.

Prosecutors used GPS from Riley’s Garmin running watch to place her and Ibarra in the same general location around the time she died.

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