Jose Ibarra was recently found guilty of killing 22-year-old college student Laken Riley. His trial has shed light on the last moments of her life. Text messages and surveillance videos shown in court have given us a glimpse into the terrible events that led to her death.
Riley’s mom got her last message right before she went for a run on the grounds of the University of Georgia. It said, “Good morning, about to go for a run if you’re free to talk.” Riley tried to call her mom at 9:03 a.m. but couldn’t get through because her mom didn’t answer.
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Riley called 911 after seven minutes, but it was too late. People found her body in the woods behind Lake Herrick and said she was dead right there. Ibarra, who is 26 years old, was caught and charged with murder, murder with intent, and other crimes.
Ibarra’s actions were a “crime of opportunity,” and the trial showed that he had no past ties to Riley. Riley was last seen running along Milledge Avenue Extension, just minutes before she died. Sofia Magana and Lily Steiner, who live with her, were seen looking for her on the same running tracks.
As Riley’s family and friends try to come to terms with the loss of a young life, they have written many moving memories. Lauren Phillips, her sister, wrote a sad post on Instagram about Riley, calling her her “built-in best friend.”
Magana and Connolly Huth, Riley’s roommates, also wrote notes about how she changed their lives. Riley was her “best friend,” and she always put others before herself, Magana remembers. Huth shared a collection of movies that showed the fun times they had together, like laughing so hard on the front porch and going out at night.
People in the community are sad about Laken Riley’s death, but her family and friends are comforted by the memories they have of her.
