On Friday, the trial began in the Laken Riley case, where the suspect, 26-year-old Venezuelan illegal immigrant Jose Antonio Ibarra, stands accused of kidnapping, aggravated assault with an attempt to rape, and murder.
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Prosecutors gave a horrific opening statement detailing the 22-year-old Augusta University nursing student’s final moments, including revealing how and where her body was found on February 22, 2024, and the placement of her clothing, the audio of the 911 call – where she couldn’t be heard but a man’s voice could be, and video evidence showing the suspect dumping clothing items at an apartment complex dumpster about 15 minutes after allegedly murdering Riley.
From Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin:
Prosecutors making opening statement in the Laken Riley case. Horrible stuff. State says she was found by police with her skull bashed in by a rock, her breasts were exposed, pants pulled down, underwear contorted. Her alleged killer is a Venezuelan illegal alien caught & released at the TX border by the Biden/Harris admin in 2022. Prosecutors say he left a fingerprint on her iPhone. She was able to call 911, a male voice could be heard, and then the call hangs up. Prosecutors say she fought back, his DNA was under her nails. Her Garmin watch was tracking her medical data until the moment her heart stopped.
They have the suspect on surveillance video walking away from the area where Riley’s heart stopped minutes afterwards where he is seen dumping clothing into a dumpster. First time this video has been seen.
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They have the suspect on surveillance video walking away from the area where Riley’s heart stopped minutes afterwards where he is seen dumping clothing into a dumpster. First time this video has been seen.
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) November 15, 2024
Here’s that video:
🚨This is horrifying but necessary to watch:
Jose Ibarra — the illegal alien animal who murdered Laken Riley — is seen on surveillance video dumping clothes into a dumpster shortly after Laken’s heart stopped.
We don’t have to live like this.
It’s time to secure our border. pic.twitter.com/f3fmzprdWS
— Steve Cortes (@CortesSteve) November 15, 2024
Here, special prosecutor Sheila Ross described how Riley’s body was found:
GRAPHIC: Georgia state prosecutor Sheila Ross details the crime scene in which police found Laken Riley’s dead, mutilated, and violated body, allegedly at the hands of a violent illegal immigrant.
It didn’t have to be this way…. pic.twitter.com/niHLyX0AuV
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) November 15, 2024
“The evidence will show that Laken fought. She fought for her life, she fought for her dignity, and in that fight, she caused this defendant to leave forensic evidence behind,” Ross said in her remarks. “She also marked her killer for the entire world to see.”
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SEE ALSO: The More We Learn About the Alleged Murderer of GA Nursing Student, the Worse It Gets
Ross said forensic, digital, and video evidence would be presented at the trial.
As Ross laid out her case, Ibarra could be seen listening to and watching the presentation, wearing a translation headset:
Here’s the beginning of Georgia prosecutor Sheila Ross’s opening statement in the trial of the illegal immigrant for his alleged murder of Laken Riley pic.twitter.com/eogMlNySaZ
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) November 15, 2024
Riley’s family, including her mother, Allyson Phillips, were in the courtroom as the trial got underway.
This is a developing story that RedState will be following closely.
FLASHBACK: Laken Riley’s Heartbroken Dad Speaks Out, Killer ‘Might Not Have Been Here Had We Had Secure Borders’
Way to Go, Joe: The Appalling Footnote to the Laken Riley Murder Case – and the George Floyd Connection
