Laken Riley seen in tragic final security camera footage at her ‘killer’s trial
Gruesome footage of nursing student Laken Riley’s final moments has been shown in court during the trial of her accused killer.
Riley, 22, was seen on security footage running through the University of Georgia campus at 9:05 a.m., just minutes before she was attacked on February 22 earlier this year.
The tragic video caused heartbreaking reactions in court on Tuesday, with Riley running near her home with her phone in her hand about 23 minutes before her death.
According to a smartwatch that tracks her heart rate, Riley died at 9:28 a.m. after allegedly being hit in the head with a rock.
Another video, recorded about an hour earlier, contained images of a man believed to be her killer, Jose Antonia Ibarra. The figure was dressed in dark clothing and was seen around the apartment complex near Riley’s jogging path.
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.
After walking her usual route and using Find My Friends, her friends noticed that she had been at the same location for hours and when they got there, they found one of her Airpods on the floor.
Riley, 22, was seen on security footage jogging through the University of Georgia campus at 9:05 a.m., just minutes before she was attacked on February 22 earlier this year.
According to a smartwatch that tracked her heart rate, Riley died at 9:28 a.m. after allegedly being hit in the head with a rock.
Ibarra had arrived in Texas illegally in 2022 and his case sparked renewed debate over the border crisis and illegal immigration. Ibarra has also been confirmed to have ties to the deadly Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua
As Riley’s accused killer now stands trial for her death, Georgia Special Prosecutor Sheila Ross has painted a tragic picture of her gruesome fate.
She told the court: ‘When Laken Riley refused to be his rape victim, he repeatedly struck her skull with a rock.’
Ross also claimed there was significant forensic evidence linking Ibarra to the crime. She added: ‘During her fight she caused this defendant to leave behind forensic evidence.’
An examination found scratch marks all over Ibarra and the court heard his DNA was a direct match to that under Riley’s fingernails.
‘The evidence will show that Laken fought. She fought for her life. She fought for her dignity.”
“She marked her killer for all the world to see. It’s his DNA. Just his DNA, under Sheen’s right fingernails… He left his fingerprint on her iPhone, which was found next to her body at the crime scene.”
Ross said the forensic evidence alone should be enough to warrant a guilty verdict, but it was also revealed that a man identified as Ibarra was seen on CCTV footage dumping a bloodied jacket into a dumpster at his home, just 15 minutes after Riley’s heart stopped.
It was later examined and a mixture of both Riley and Ibarra’s DNA was found on that same jacket.
Another video captured a man, reportedly 26-year-old Ibarra, dressed in dark clothing and lurking around an apartment complex near Riley’s jogging path about an hour earlier
An examination found scratch marks all over Ibarra and the court heard his DNA was a direct match to that under Riley’s fingernails.
As the trial continues, Ibarra confirmed today through a translator that he understood his rights and did not wish to testify
Long strands of dark brown hair were wrapped around a button on the jacket and “were consistent with Riley’s hair and forcibly removed from her head.”
Ross added that Riley was found outside the running path and that she was “hidden under a tree” and covered in leaves.
The court also heard her breasts were visible and her underwear had been forcibly torn. A sexual assault and rape kit returned a negative result.
Ibarra’s attorney, Dustin Kirby, claimed that the evidence against Ibarra for Riley’s murder was “circumstantial” and that “evidence that anyone had any intent or certainly committed an assault is speculation.”
Ibarra had arrived in Texas illegally in 2022 and his case sparked renewed debate over the border crisis and illegal immigration.
The Department of Homeland Security also confirmed that Ibarra is a member of the ruthless Tren de Aragua gang, which has made national headlines and committed heinous crimes across America.
He denies killing Riley. When police officer Rafael Sayan showed up at Ibarra’s house to ask about the murder, he noticed that his brothers and Ibarra were laughing and giggling.
Emotional scenes played out in court, with Riley’s sister overwhelmed during Ibarra’s trial
“There was a lot of laughing and giggling, especially when they talked about being woken up and pulled out of the apartment,” Sayan said.
“I would say the atmosphere or atmosphere was very relaxed and calm.”
As the trial continues, Ibarra confirmed today through a translator that he understood his rights and did not want to testify, CNN reported.
He is being tried without a jury, after waiving his right to a jury. Prosecutors have said they are dropping their case against Ibarra, and testimony will continue Wednesday morning with more witnesses.