The story of the grisly murder of a female nursing student in Georgia from earlier this year at the hands of an illegal immigrant reignited fears women have about personal safety and inspired a new round of debate around immigration reform. On Nov. 20, a judge passed down sentencing for Laken Riley’s killer, bringing part of the story to a close.
Riley was a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University in Georgia and an experienced runner. According to a March 27 article from the New York Times, she participated several times in the Georgia High School Association State Cross-Country Final.
Riley texted her mother at 8:55 a.m. asking if she wanted to talk on her run. Six minutes later, Riley called 911, according to a Nov. 20 ABC News article. Camera footage from the trail later that morning shows her roommates looking for her. They reported her missing at 12:05 p.m., and her body was found 65 feet off the trail covered in leaves about half an hour later.
It was evident that she had been struck in the head multiple times with a rock, CNN reported on May 31. She died from a lack of oxygen and blunt force trauma to the head.
The killer, Jose Antonio Ibarra, is a 26-year-old undocumented immigrant from Venezuela whose DNA was found collected underneath Riley’s fingernails and on her phone, leading to him being charged with the crime.
Data reviewed by CNN suggests no significant connection exists between immigration and any increase in crime rates, the news outlet reported on Nov. 16, but both Republicans and Democrats invoked Laken’s killing in connection with immigration reform and border security.
Ibarra was convicted of malice murder and aggravated assault with the intent to rape on Nov. 20, according to a New York Times article from the day of the trial. Ibarra requested the case be decided solely by the judge and not a jury, so the decision was left in the hands of Superior Court Judge Patrick Haggard. Ibarra unsuccessfully requested the case to be moved out of Athens, Georgia. Ibarra’s lawyers argued that his brother Diego could have been the culprit, but the verdict sentenced Ibarra to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Riley’s friends, family and the country have rallied together to raise money and show their support. They raised more than $80,000 for her funeral through a GoFundMe.
