Laken Riley’s Mother Sobs as Chilling Bodycam Audio Is Played in Court

The murder ​trial of Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, began in ‍Athens, Georgia, regarding the brutal killing ​of Laken Riley, a nursing student from Augusta University. Riley was attacked while running on the University of Georgia campus ⁣on February ⁢22, ‌2024. Prosecutor Sheila Ross described the horrific crime, stating that Ibarra assaulted​ Riley with a rock after she refused to submit to sexual assault.

During the proceedings, Riley’s mother, Allyson Phillips, was visibly distressed and left the courtroom ‌before ​graphic⁤ bodycam ​footage from the responding officer was shown. The ‍officer discovered Riley’s body after her 911 call was traced to her location; she had suffered ⁤severe head injuries. Ibarra, who crossed into the U.S. illegally in ​September 2022, is facing accusations that have stirred political debate, with figures like ​President-elect Donald Trump blaming President Joe⁣ Biden’s border policies for the tragedy. The case has garnered significant media attention and has implications within the ongoing discourse around immigration and safety.


Laken Riley’s mother was seen sobbing and left the courtroom before bodycam footage of police discovering her daughter’s body was shown in a Georgia courtroom.

The murder trial began Friday for illegal immigrant Venezuelan Jose Ibarra — allegedly stone-faced throughout it all — in Athens, Georgia.

Riley, a nursing student at Augusta University College of Nursing, had gone a run on the University of Georgia’s campus when Ibarra allegedly attacked her on February 22.

“When Laken Riley refused to be his rape victim, he bashed her skull in with a rock repeatedly,” prosecutor Sheila Ross told Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard, according to CBS News.

Before Ross played footage from Athens-Clarke County police sergeant Kenneth Maxwell, who found Riley’s body, Allyson Phillips, Riley’s mother, left the courtroom.

Haggard had invited people to do so, warning the images would be graphic. Maxwell nodded in agreement.

WARNING: The following video contains language that some viewers may find offensive.

Police had been alerted to Riley’s location from her cell phone after she made a 911 call at 9:11 a.m. on February 22. The dispatcher answered, but no one responded. The dispatcher then called back, but no one picked up.

Maxwell’s bodycam begins with the the sound of him stepping on leaves off the running trail looking for Riley’s body.

He then comes upon it.

“Ah s***,” the officer says, “I found it.”

“I found her! Ma’am, ma’am. Ma’am. I need EMS immediately. It’s at the location where the cell pinged. Ma’am, ma’am, ma’am. She’s down, she’s not breathing!” Maxwell said.

The officer performed CPR trying to revive Riley.

He observed that there had been blunt force trauma to the head.

The officer also noted her shirt had been removed above her breasts and her running tights had been pulled down and her underwear was bunched up toward the top.

Riley’s murder became a 2024 presidential campaign issue, with President-elect Donald Trump and other Republicans blaming President Joe Biden’s lax border policies for her death.

Ibarra illegally crossed the southern border into the U.S. in September 2022 at El Paso, Texas.




Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.



" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Related Articles

Sponsored Content
Back to top button
Available for Amazon Prime
Close

Adblock Detected

Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker