ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — On Tuesday, Jose Ibarra chose to waive his right to a jury trial regarding the death of Laken Hope Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student from Augusta University. This tragic case, which unfolded on the University of Georgia campus, has stirred considerable debate surrounding national immigration policies.
Riley’s body was discovered on February 22, near some running trails, after a friend reported her missing following a morning run. Authorities have characterized her death as a seemingly random act of violence. Ibarra was arrested the following day and remains in the Athens-Clarke County Jail without bond.
Prosecutors have charged Ibarra with multiple offenses, including one count of malice murder, three counts of felony murder, and several other charges such as kidnapping and aggravated battery. The indictment reveals that on the day of the incident, Ibarra was seen peering into a window of a university housing apartment, leading to the charge of peeping Tom.
During a court session, Ibarra’s attorney, Kaitlyn Beck, presented a signed waiver to the judge indicating his decision to forgo a jury trial, which means his case will be decided solely by the presiding judge. After questioning Ibarra with the assistance of a translator, Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard confirmed that Ibarra made this choice voluntarily.
Initially, jury selection was slated to begin on Wednesday, but the defense requested a delay, citing insufficient time to have an expert analyze DNA evidence. The prosecution has opted not to pursue the death penalty but has indicated intentions to seek a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Ibarra, a Venezuelan citizen, entered the U.S. illegally in 2022. After his arrest, immigration officials confirmed that he was allowed to remain in the country while his immigration case was pending. This situation has garnered significant political attention, with Republicans exploiting Riley’s murder for their campaign discussions about border security. Following the incident, then-President-elect Donald Trump directly attributed her death to the border policies enacted by President Joe Biden.
In a relevant moment during his State of the Union address after Riley’s death, President Biden specifically mentioned her name while addressing the issue of border security, underscoring the case’s prominence in the ongoing national dialogue about immigration.
Throughout the legal proceedings, defense attorneys have attempted to relocate the trial from Athens, separate the peeping Tom charge for individual consideration, and exclude certain evidence and expert testimony, but these motions have not been successful.
