Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan national, is set to appear in court on Tuesday ahead of his trial next week for the murder of Augusta University student Laken Riley on the University of Georgia campus in February. Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, was attacked and killed while jogging along pedestrian trails on UGA's campus.
Ibarra, along with his brothers who are also in the U.S. illegally from Venezuela, resided in an apartment building near the on-campus park where the tragic incident occurred. UGA Police Chief Jeffrey Clark described the murder as a 'crime of opportunity.'
In May, a Georgia grand jury indicted Ibarra on multiple charges including malice murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, obstructing a 911 call, tampering with evidence, and being a 'peeping Tom.' The latter charge stemmed from an incident where Ibarra allegedly spied on a university staff member through a window on the same day as Riley's murder.
Despite attempts by the defense to have certain charges removed from the case, the judge ruled in favor of retaining them. Additionally, DNA and cellphone evidence that the defense sought to suppress will be permitted in court.
Ibarra, who illegally entered the U.S. through El Paso, Texas, in September 2022, is scheduled for trial on November 18, with jury selection starting on November 13.
His older brother, Diego Ibarra, faces charges of green card fraud and has alleged ties to a Venezuelan gang known as Tren de Aragua.
Riley's tragic death has been a focal point in discussions surrounding illegal immigration, with her case being referenced during the 2024 presidential election debates. The incident has brought attention to the broader issue of illegal immigrants being involved in violent crimes, with several other cases of females allegedly killed by illegal immigrants in recent years.
