Laken Riley’s killer Jose Ibarra has been found guilty of her murder.
The undocumented Venezuelan migrant, 26, had pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 22-year-old nursing students in February 2023 near the University of Georgia.
Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard found him guilty after waiving his right to a jury trial. The trial started on Friday.
Riley’s family cried as the decision was read, while Ibarra showed no strong reaction.
The case fueled the immigration debate during this year’s presidential elections.
Laken Riley’s killer Jose Ibarra has been found guilty of her murder
Riley’s body was found less than an hour after she was reported missing, near a lake on the University of Georgia campus. She studied there until 2023, after which she transferred to Augusta.
Her housemates reported her missing after becoming concerned that she had been away longer than usual.