A trial begins for the man accused of killing nursing student Laken Riley

ATHENS, Georgia (Atlanta News First/Gray News) – In a case that became a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration during the 2024 election, the trial of the suspect in the killing of a nursing student on the University of Georgia campus begins Friday.

Jose Ibarra, 26, is the suspect who illegally entered the US from Venezuela charged in the February 22, 2024, death of Laken Hope Riley.

The body of the 22-year-old Augusta University student was found on the sprawling campus of the University of Georgia after a friend told police Riley had not returned from her morning run.

The 22-year-old's body was found on the University of Georgia campus after a friend told... — The 22-year-old’s body was found on the University of Georgia campus after a friend told police she had not returned from her morning run.(Facebook)

Riley passed away blunt trauma during the attack. The police assume that there is no connection between her and Ibarra waived his right to a jury trial earlier this week and agreed to a trial.

Ibarra is charged with malice murder, murder, aggravated assault, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, obstructing a 911 call and concealing the death of another.

State court judge H. Patrick Haggard presides over the trial against Ibarra.

Ibarra’s arrest warrant accuses him of “mutilating” Riley’s skull by hitting her with an unknown object. He also allegedly dragged her body to a “remote area” to conceal the death, according to arrest warrants.

Riley grew up in the northern suburbs of Atlanta, graduated from River Ridge High School in Cherokee County, where she was on the cross country team, and then attended the University of Georgia in Athens. She later transferred to Augusta University’s nursing school and took classes on the Athens campus. She remained active in the fraternity she had joined at the University of Georgia.

The US Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Ibarra was “paroled due to detention capacity at the Central Processing Center in El Paso” in Texas. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have said Ibarra entered the U.S. illegally.

The matter of illegal immigration was a major focus of the president-elect Donald Trump’s successful quest Unpleasant regain the White House.

As Ibarra’s trial is about to begin, the U.S. senator who authored a bill in Riley’s name is renewing calls for its passage.

Republican US Senator. Katie Britt, of Alabama, introduced the Laken Riley Law back in March. The legislation would require this Immigration and Customs Enforcement to arrest persons who enter the United States illegally and commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting, and require that they be detained until removed from the United States. It would also allow states to bring civil lawsuits against federal officials who refuse to enforce immigration law or who violate the law.

When the new Congress convenes in January, Republicans will have a majority in both the US House and Senate, while Trump will occupy the Oval Office.