Aside from revealing the final moments of a college student who was found dead in the woods earlier this year, reports have also released information about the victim’s killer and his sentencing.
Months after news concerning the death of a 22-year-old college student in Georgia circulated in public spheres, media outlets have revealed the last text message Laken Riley sent to her mom. Surveillance footage of her final moments, which was captured minutes before her life was taken, has also been released.
During the recent court trial of Riley’s killer, Jose Ibarra, 26, which began last week (week of November 11), prosecutors read out Riley’s message on Tuesday, November 19. The late nursing student had sent the text at 8:55 a.m., mere moments before she went for a jog on the University of Georgia’s (UGA) campus.
Seven minutes later (at 9:11 a.m.), the late student had called 911. At 9:24 a.m., Riley’s mom returned her daughter’s call.
However, she did not hear from her again. As a result, the panicked mom sent a text, which read, “Please call me. I’m worried sick about you.”
According to WSB-TV, Riley’s stepfather and sister had also tried reaching out to her, but to no avail. Aside from reading transcripts of Riley and her mom’s text messages, the surveillance video showing Riley jogging minutes before her demise was played for everyone in the courtroom, including Judge H. Patrick Haggard.
At 9:05 a.m., the young woman was seen jogging along Milledge Avenue Extension in Athens. She sported an all-black outfit, including leggings, a jacket, and running shoes. Footage also showed Riley jogging with her phone in her left hand.
Continuing on her jog, Riley passed a bus stop, where multiple students were seen waiting. She headed south before she went on a different trail that led into a woodsy area, going east toward the Intramural Fields (IM Fields) at 9:06 a.m.
Additional surveillance footage was played in the courtroom which showed Riley’s roommates, Sofia Magana and Lily Steiner, searching for her along the same running trails with Magana’s dog.
After Ibarra’s defense attorneys had their opportunity to state their case, Judge Haggard delivered his verdict. Ibarra, who had informed the judge he would not be testifying in his own defense during the trial, was found guilty on several counts. He has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
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Ibarra is convicted of taking Riley’s life back in February of this year (2024). On February 22, around 12:07 p.m., one of Riley’s friends called the UGA Police Department. The friend was concerned for Riley, who had not returned from her morning run at the IM Fields that same day.
Responding immediately, officers began their search at approximately 12:20 p.m. They located Riley in the woods behind Lake Herrick shortly after.
She was unconscious and had visible wounds on her body. Officers administered medical aid, however, emergency medical responders determined she was dead upon their arrival.
At the time, the UGA Police Department was actively investigating the homicide in collaboration with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, federal law enforcement partners, and the Athens-Clarke County Police Department.
