LAKEN RILEY ACT, NAMED AFTER MURDERED UGA STUDENT, SIGNED INTO LAW

Congress passes the Laken Riley Act and now, President Trump has signed it into law. It mandates that illegal immigrants accused of theft, burglary, assaulting a law enforcement officer, and any crime that causes death or serious bodily injury, must be detained until their trial.

Jose Ibarra, the sole suspect in the murder of University of Georgia jogger Laken Riley, found guilty on all charges. The ten charges include three counts of felony murder, malice murder, kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with intent to rape, and “peeping Tom.”

In emotional testimony, University of Georgia Police Sgt. Sophie Raboud detailed the final moments of Riley’s life, breaking down the timeline into minutes. Before her final jog, Riley texted her mother at 8:55 a.m., asking if she was free to talk. At 9:03 a.m., Riley called her mother. She then listened to music and was seen on a trail camera at 9:05 a.m., holding her iPhone in her left hand as she jogged toward the intramural fields. By 9:06 a.m., Riley ran out of the camera’s view.

Minutes later, at 9:11 a.m., Riley activated the SOS function on her iPhone to call 911. The dispatcher was unable to speak with her before the call was disconnected. The dispatcher attempted to call back twice but received no answer. Riley’s phone later received a call from her mother at 9:24 a.m. When Riley failed to respond, her mother sent a text at 9:38 a.m. reading, “Call me when you can.”

During closing arguments, State Prosecutor Shelia Ross outlined the evidence supporting each charge, describing Ibarra as “a monstrously guilty individual.”

Defense attorney Kaitlyn Beck presented two alternative theories: that DNA was transferred onto clothes found in the apartment, implicating Ibarra’s brother Diego as the murderer, or that Ibarra may have been an accomplice but not the primary culprit.

Ultimately, Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard found Jose Ibarra guilty on all counts.

Joining Nancy Grace today:

• Philip Dubé – Court-Appointed Counsel, Los Angeles County Public Defenders: Criminal & Constitutional Law; Forensics & Mental Health Advocacy
• Dr. Angela Arnold – Psychiatrist, Atlanta GA. Expert in the Treatment of Pregnant/Postpartum Women, Former Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynecology: Emory University, Former Medical Director of The Psychiatric Ob-Gyn Clinic at Grady Memorial Hospital
• Sheryl McCollum – Forensics Expert & Cold Case Investigative Research Institute Founder; Host of Podcast: “Zone 7;” X: @149Zone7
• Scott Eicher- founding member of the FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team (C.A.S.T); Historical Cellular Analysis Expert; Former FBI agent of 22 years; Former Police Officer and Homicide Detective with Norfolk Virginia Police Dept. having served 12 years; Currently with Precision Cellular Analysis handling Criminal, Defense and Civil case
• Dr. Kendall Crowns - Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth), Lecturer: Burnett School of Medicine at TCU (Texas Christian University)
• Dave Mack - CrimeOnline Investigative Reporter

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