### Tragic Incident on University Running Trail Highlights Dangers

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) - The heart-wrenching case of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley came to light as her mother, Allyson Phillips, recalled their last communication. Riley messaged and phoned her mom on the morning of February 22 to see if she had time for a chat while heading out for a run. However, subsequent calls and texts from Phillips went unanswered, increasing her concern with each passing minute.

Riley’s final phone call to her mother was at 9:03 a.m., but by the time Phillips tried calling back around 20 minutes later, her daughter had encountered 26-year-old Jose Ibarra on a wooded trail at the University of Georgia. Prosecutors revealed that Ibarra attacked Riley, resulting in a fatal struggle. Data from Riley's smartwatch indicated that her heart stopped beating at precisely 9:28 a.m.

After failing to reach her daughter on the phone, Phillips' text messages to Riley quickly escalated from casual to frantic. At 9:37 a.m., she sent, "Call me when you can." Further calls and texts, including messages saying, "You're making me nervous not answering while you're out running. Are you OK?" and "Please call me. I'm worried sick about you," went unanswered, intensifying the family's worry.

During the trial, Georgia police Sgt. Sophie Raboud tearfully read out these texts, joined by emotional testimonies from Riley’s family and friends. Surveillance footage from cameras near the trail showed Riley engaging in her run on that harrowing morning, adding to the courtroom’s somber mood.

Ibarra is currently facing charges of murder and other crimes related to Riley's death. He opted out of a jury trial, thereby placing the final verdict in the hands of Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard. The prosecution concluded its case on Tuesday after calling numerous witnesses, including law enforcement officials and individuals connected to both Riley and Ibarra. Ibarra decided not to testify in his defense.

This tragic event also sparked discussions on immigration, as federal authorities disclosed that Ibarra had entered the U.S. illegally in 2022 and remained in the country while his immigration case was in progress. Riley, aged 22, was a committed student at Augusta University College of Nursing, which is located about 70 miles east of Atlanta, in Athens.

Surveillance videos also depicted a suspicious man, identified as Ibarra, lingering around an apartment belonging to a female graduate student. This man was recorded attempting to enter the apartment and peering through its window early on the morning of Riley’s death, going up to the door multiple times within an hour.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Lucas Breyer detailed the scene where Riley’s body was found. His testimony revealed that her attire had been significantly disturbed, suggesting a violent altercation took place during the tragic incident.