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The trial has commenced for Jose Ibarra, who stands accused of the heinous murder of University of Georgia student Laken Riley. The case, unfolding in Athens, Georgia, sees the 26-year-old Venezuelan national, who reportedly entered the United States illegally, on trial for the February 22 murder of Riley. She tragically lost her life after failing to return from her morning jog.

Prosecutor Sheila Ross, in her opening statements, described Ibarra’s actions as predatory, characterizing his behavior as "hunting for females" around the university campus. According to Ross, when Riley rejected Ibarra’s alleged attempt to sexually assault her, he violently bashed her skull in with a rock. Ross noted that Riley courageously fought back, leaving forensic evidence that ultimately marked her attacker.

The prosecution presented a detailed timeline of events, pieced together through digital evidence from security cameras, 911 calls, and data from Riley's fitness watch. On the morning of the murder, Ibarra was reportedly seen sharing photos on Snapchat around 4:30 am and 5:27 am, wearing an Adidas hat, a black jacket, and a hoodie. Security footage later captured a man dressed similarly attempting to enter another student's door while she was showering, an action reported to police as a "Peeping Tom" incident.

Riley was last observed alive by a trail cam at 9:05 am, with her Ring camera capturing her leaving home at 9:03 am. A 911 call was made from her phone at 9:11 am, but only birds and a muffled male voice were heard on the call—no response was received when the operator tried to reconnect. Tragically, Riley's body was discovered at 12:30 pm in a wooded area, her clothing disheveled and severe head injuries apparent.

Medical data from Riley's Garmin watch revealed she was running and listening to music when her heart rate abruptly escalated, indicating a violent encounter that lasted until 9:28 am, the moment her heart stopped.

In their investigation, officers discovered a black hoodie with hair and bloodstains in a dumpster, which matched the attire Ibarra was seen wearing in social media photos. DNA analysis revealed that both Riley's and Ibarra’s genetic material were present on the hoodie. Additionally, Ibarra's DNA was identified under Riley's fingernails and his thumbprint was found on her phone.

Detailing the injuries, Ross highlighted the severity of Riley's trauma, with a complex skull fracture and multiple skull lacerations. Despite the negative results for male DNA in the sexual assault kit, evidence was clear that Riley had endured a brutal and fatal attack.