ATHENS — A superior court judge will soon begin deliberating the fate of Jose Ibarra, accused of killing nursing student Laken Riley on the University of Georgia campus in February.
The prosecution and the defense delivered closing arguments Wednesday after three days of testimony.
Ibarra, a Venezuelan who authorities say entered the country illegally in 2022, waived his right to a jury trial, opting instead to have Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard listen to the evidence and render a verdict.
Special prosecutor Sheila Ross spent 45 minutes painting Ibarra as a man on the prowl, “looking for victims, looking for females,” on Feb. 22 when Riley was killed. The physical evidence that Ross pointed to included Ibarra’s DNA under Riley’s right fingernails and a thumbprint on Riley’s phone that matched Ibarra. Ross also showed photos taken by police that documented scratches on Ibarra the day after 22-year-old Riley was killed.
Data, from Riley’s Garmin watch and Ibarra’s cellphone, proves they encountered each other on the running trails of the University of Georgia, said Ross. Her blood and hair were present on a jacket discarded by Ibarra, Ross argued.
“The three forms of evidence — physical, video and digital — twist this very powerful knot that this defendant can not get out of,” Ross said. “There is no way out for him.”
Ibarra, 26, is charged with felony murder, malice murder, kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with intent to rape, aggravated battery, hindering a 911 call and tampering with evidence.
“While the evidence is voluminous, it is circumstantial,” said defense attorney Kaitlyn Beck. She tried to poke holes in the state’s argument, questioning the reliability of the DNA evidence, asserting that cross contamination could have occurred and offering up Diego Ibarra, Jose Ibarra’s brother, as a suspect.
If convicted, Jose Ibarra faces life in prison without parole.
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