Aside from revealing the final moments of a college student who was found dead in the woods earlier this year, reports have also released information about the victim’s killer and his sentencing.
Months after news concerning the death of a 22-year-old college student in Georgia circulated in public spheres, media outlets have revealed the last text message Laken Riley sent to her mom. Surveillance footage of her final moments, which was captured minutes before her life was taken, has also been released.
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During the recent court trial of Riley’s killer, Jose Ibarra, 26, which began last week (week of November 11), prosecutors read out Riley’s message on Tuesday, November 19. The late nursing student had sent the text at 8:55 a.m., mere moments before she went for a jog on the University of Georgia’s (UGA) campus.
Reading from a transcript of the message, UGA police Sergeant Sophie Raboud disclosed, “Good morning about to go for run if you’re free to talk [sic].” Riley then attempted to call her mother at 9:03 a.m. but could not reach her, as she did not answer.
Seven minutes later (at 9:11 a.m.), the late student had called 911. At 9:24 a.m., Riley’s mom returned her daughter’s call.
However, she did not hear from her again. As a result, the panicked mom sent a text, which read, “Please call me. I’m worried sick about you.”
According to WSB-TV, Riley’s stepfather and sister had also tried reaching out to her, but to no avail. Aside from reading transcripts of Riley and her mom’s text messages, the surveillance video showing Riley jogging minutes before her demise was played for everyone in the courtroom, including Judge H. Patrick Haggard.
At 9:05 a.m., the young woman was seen jogging along Milledge Avenue Extension in Athens. She sported an all-black outfit, including leggings, a jacket, and running shoes. Footage also showed Riley jogging with her phone in her left hand.
Continuing on her jog, Riley passed a bus stop, where multiple students were seen waiting. She headed south before she went on a different trail that led into a woodsy area, going east toward the Intramural Fields (IM Fields) at 9:06 a.m.
Additional surveillance footage was played in the courtroom which showed Riley’s roommates, Sofia Magana and Lily Steiner, searching for her along the same running trails with Magana’s dog.
After Ibarra’s defense attorneys had their opportunity to state their case, Judge Haggard delivered his verdict. Ibarra, who had informed the judge he would not be testifying in his own defense during the trial, was found guilty on several counts. He has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
BREAKING: Jose Ibarra, an undocumented Venezuelan immigrant, was found guilty on all counts for the killing of Laken Riley, a nursing student in Georgia. https://t.co/33M97DhpzC pic.twitter.com/U1I8BPVvfM
— CBS News (@CBSNews) November 20, 2024
Riley’s final movements captured on cameras, iPhone location
Around 8 a.m. on February 22, Riley was hanging out at home with her iPad. She took notes. Did her homework. Watched Netflix.
She and her roommate and occasional running partner, Connolly Huth, chatted about their weekend plans. At about 8:45 a.m., Huth left for class. She’d never see Riley again.
Riley set off on her run not long after. Around 9:05 a.m., a trail camera spotted her jogging toward what would soon become a crime scene.
Mourners placed running shoes at a memorial near the site of Laken Riley’s killing in Athens, Georgia. Holly Yan/CNN
Riley’s mother would normally speak with her daughter during her runs. She called Riley around 9:06 a.m.
Riley did not pick up.
Her mom then called Riley’s three roommates, each of whom shared their phone’s locations with one another, including Riley’s.
Cell phone service issues with provider AT&T that day had hindered the roommates’ efforts to locate Riley. They couldn’t reach her for hours.
Lilly Steiner and Sofia Magana, Riley’s roommates, searched the trail for her around 11:30 a.m.
Riley’s last-known Find My location in the middle of Oconee Forest Park guided them.
There was no sign of Riley.
The women instead came across a single AirPod. It was Riley’s.
With no cellular service in the woods, they returned home to call the University of Georgia police.
They reported her missing around 12:05 p.m.
Riley’s smartwatch data captures struggle
The Garmin smartwatch Riley wore captured crucial data that prosecutors say give clues as to what happened as she struggled for her life.
Around 9:10 a.m., the data analyzed by the FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team appeared to show something happening that halted Riley’s morning run. She initiated her phone’s SOS function around that time. She called 911.
Data from the smartwatch showed Riley’s heart rate dropping over the next several minutes.
After a few more minutes, her smartwatch moved about 65 feet away from the trail into the woods.
Sometime during Riley’s fight for her life and the struggle over her phone, she gathered beneath her right fingernails what prosecutors say was Ibarra’s DNA.
Riley’s call to the Athens-Clarke County Police Department ended at 9:12 a.m. Her phone disconnected the call.
Dispatchers attempted to call her back. There was no answer.
Her heart rate continued to show on the smartwatch data until just before 9:30 a.m.
The data revealed a struggle that lasted several minutes.
At 9:28 a.m., the smartwatch showed no further movement. Riley’s heart stopped.