Name: Jose Ibarra Sentenced to Life in Prison for Laken Riley Murder
Uploaded: 2024-11-21T11:36:30.000Z
Description: Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, has been convicted of murder in the February killing of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

NTD Plus

News

News with integrity, from the United States and around the world. Focused reports and analyses that shed light on major issues the world deserves to know. NTD Evening News airs daily at 6 p.m. ET.

NTD Evening News

Lara Trump Interviews President Trump on Fox News

Chi Huynh

Why More Texas Families Are Choosing Homeschooling

Gov. DeSantis Proposes Major Property Tax Relief Plan for Florida Homeowners

Economic Security Is National Security: Bessent

Jane Werrell is an international correspondent and anchor for NTD News based in London. Jane is a part-time anchor for "NTD UK News."

Jane Werrell

Award-Winning Film Uncovers China's Organ Harvesting Trade

Chris Beers is an NTD News anchor and political correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Chris co-anchors "NTD News Today" weekdays at 10:00 am ET.

Chris Beers

Under Chinese Law, CCP Can Monitor Americans Through Apps: Joshua Philipp

Eliminating Property Tax in Florida Would Lift Burdens on Americans but Questions Remain: Executive VP of National Taxpayers Union

Tom Gantert is a reporter for The Epoch Times.

Tom Gantert

US News

State News

New Jersey

New Jersey Governor: Outside Agitators Are Fueling ICE Protest Violence

Nikou Bani

Free ‘After School Escape’ in NYC

Arleen Richards is NTD's legal correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers all major legal stories. Arleen holds a Doctor of Law (J.D.).


Arleen Richards

Ceasefire Extension Needed Before Iran Deal Can Be Reached: Middle East Affairs Analyst

Cary Dunst is the news anchor for NTD Evening News. He is also the co-host of NTD Good Morning.


Cary Dunst

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (June 1)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 31)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 29)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 28)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 27)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 26)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 25)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 24)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 23)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 22)

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

California

More Than 17,000 Under Evacuation Orders as Southern California Wildfire Threatens Homes

Joseph Lord is a congressional reporter for The Epoch Times.


Joseph Lord

Aldgra Fredly is a freelance writer covering U.S. and Asia Pacific news for The Epoch Times.

Aldgra Fredly

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized in Critical Condition: Spokesman

Rudy Blalock is a Southern California-based daily news reporter for NTD. Originally from Michigan, he moved to California in 2017 and the sunshine and ocean have kept him here since. In his free time, he may be found underwater scuba diving, on top of a mountain hiking or snowboarding, or at home meditating—which helps fuel his active lifestyle.

Rudy Blalock

40,000 Ordered to Evacuate as Chemical Tank Leaks, Threatens Explosion in California

Video of US Fighter Jet Shooting Down UFO Over Lake Huron Emerges in New Pentagon Files

Ryan Morgan is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on military and foreign affairs. He was previously a news writer for NTD. 


Ryan Morgan

Mari Otsu is NTD's White House correspondent based in Washington. 

Mari Otsu

World News

Middle East

Iran

3 US Warships Fend Off Iranian Attacks, Trump Says Ceasefire Still Holds

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

US Government Sues Chick-fil-A Over Religious Rights

Sports News

Kyle Busch, Two-Time NASCAR Champion, Dies at 41

Health News

3 Dead in Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship in Atlantic Ocean: WHO

Haika Mrema

Medical Plane Crash in New Mexico Mountains Kills 4, Sparks Wildfire

Daniel Monaghan is a reporter for NTD News covering culture, social issues, and education. He holds a BA in Political Science and Government.

Daniel Monaghan

California Mayor Resigns, Will Plead Guilty to Acting as Chinese Agent

Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, has been convicted of murder in the February killing of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard handed down the guilty verdict on Nov. 20. Ibarra had waived his right to a jury trial, leaving Haggard to try the case and determine the verdict.

Haggard handed down the sentence about an hour after finding Ibarra guilty on all 10 charges. These included one count of malice murder, three counts of felony murder, and one count each of kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with intent to rape, aggravated battery, obstructing an emergency call, and tampering with evidence.

Riley’s family and friends tearfully remembered her and asked the judge to sentence Ibarra to the maximum penalty. Her mother called him a “monster” and her father called him a “truly evil person.”

Ibarra did not react as an interpreter relayed their words to him.

The case had added fuel to the national debate about illegal immigration.

Ibarra entered the U.S. illegally in 2022 and was awaiting immigration proceedings, a detail that intensified discussions and highlighted controversies around border security and immigration policies during the presidential race. Former President Donald Trump and other Republicans met with Riley's parents before a March campaign rally.

Responding to the guilty verdict, Trump expressed sympathy to Riley’s family in a statement <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113516525402212824" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">posted</a> to his platform Truth Social.

“Although the pain and heartbreak will last forever, hopefully this can help bring some peace and closure to her wonderful family who fought for Justice, and to ensure that other families don’t have to go through what they have,” Trump said.

“It is time to secure our Border, and remove these criminals and thugs from our Country, so nothing like this can happen again!”

Riley, a student at Augusta University College of Nursing, was killed on Feb. 22 while jogging near the University of Georgia campus in Athens. Her body was found in a forested area near running trails, with an affidavit indicating that she had been beaten so brutally that her head was caved in.

Prosecutors argued that Ibarra killed Riley during a struggle, while the defense claimed there was insufficient evidence to prove that Ibarra was the killer.

The trial, which began last week, featured testimony from law enforcement, Riley's roommates, and a woman who lived in the same apartment as Ibarra. Large numbers of Riley's family and friends attended the trial.

An ICE spokesperson previously <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/democrat-sheriff-where-illegal-immigrant-allegedly-murdered-laken-riley-vowed-not-to-cooperate-with-ice-detainers-5597673">told</a> The Epoch Times that Ibarra was arrested by ICE agents in September 2022 after illegally crossing the border near El Paso, Texas. Following his arrest, he was paroled and released for further immigration processing.

In August 2023, Ibarra was arrested by New York police and charged with “acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17” and a motor vehicle license violation. However, he was released by the NYPD before immigration officers could file a detainer to initiate deportation proceedings.

After Ibarra's Feb. 23 arrest, ICE lodged a detainer, meaning Ibarra could face deportation after completing his sentence.

<em>The Associated Press contributed to this report.</em>

<em>From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/jose-ibarra-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-for-laken-riley-killing-5763092">The Epoch Times</a></em>

Latest

Videos

04_Top Stories

Latest Clips

Management

Immigration &amp; Border Security

Tom Ozimek is a senior reporter for The Epoch Times. He has a broad background in journalism, deposit insurance, marketing and communications, and adult education.

Tom Ozimek

Christina Corona is a California-based reporter for NTD News. She primarily covers California news, politics, and entertainment.  

Christina Corona

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.