It was as much as the choose to each convict and sentence Ibarra, after the prosecution opted for a bench trial — which means there was no jury. After the choose convicted him of homicide, Riley’s household gave statements, urging the choose to condemn him to life with out parole.

Ibarra, a Venezuelan man who entered the nation illegally, was discovered responsible of killing the 22-year-old College of Georgia faculty pupil earlier this 12 months. Riley’s physique was discovered on February 22, after she didn’t return house from a run.

On Wednesday, Riley’s mom, Allyson Phillips, was the primary to provide an impression assertion.

“On February 22 of 2024, our household and buddies got a life sentence with out a probability of parole. Jose Ibarra took no pity on my scared, panicked and struggling youngster,” she mentioned. “There isn’t a finish to the ache, struggling and loss that we’ve skilled and can proceed to endure.”

“On that horrific day, my treasured daughter was attacked, crushed and proven no mercy. She fought for her life and dignity and to avoid wasting herself from being brutally raped,” she continued. “This sick, twisted and evil coward confirmed no regard for Laken or human life. We’re asking the identical be achieved to him.”

Phillips went on to record all of the issues Riley’s household won’t ever see her do going ahead.

“None of os will ever be the identical. This monster took away our possibilities to see Laken graduate from nursing faculty. He took away our potential to fulfill our future son-in-law. He destroyed our possibilities of assembly our grandchildren and he took my greatest pal,” she mentioned, getting choked up. “He ripped away each lovely reminiscence we are going to ever have the ability to make along with her once more.”

Riley’s stepfather, John Phillips, adopted his spouse, calling his stepdaughter somebody who was “abundantly and exceptionally stuffed with promise” and a “shining beacon” for all who knew her.

“I might stand right here and inform the world the issues that made her a beautiful particular person … [but] I believe one in all her final journal entries, dated 12.17.23, says it greatest,” he mentioned, earlier than studying her entry for the court docket.

“To my future husband, I need you to know that I am fascinated about you. I am working every single day to turn into the very best spouse I may be, by working by my present relationships to greatest put together me for ours and our youngsters at some point,” she wrote, saying she was fascinated about her “future household” with a person she hadn’t but met.

“I can not wait to like you in one of the simplest ways I understand how for the remainder of our lives. I pray you understand and really feel the significance of my love and hopes for our relationship,” she continued. “It doesn’t matter what challenges we face, I pray our belief in God and love for each other, overrules the impediment. Might our relationship final eternally, your future spouse, Laken.”

“That, Your Honor, that was our lovely Laken,” mentioned Phillips after he completed studying the entry. “That, Your Honor, is only a glimpse of what was tragically and brutally taken from her and us that day: the very best daughter, sister, granddaughter, pal, total person who you possibly can ever hope to fulfill.”

“Whereas it is true that none of our lives will ever be the identical, we refuse to let this particular person rob Laken of the hope she gave to her household, family members, buddies and the world as an entire,” he concluded. “We are going to proudly carry this hope on in her identify within the days forward, and for the remainder of our lives as a result of collectively, we are able to all maintain hope alive.”

Ibarra was given life in jail with out parole; The prosecution didn’t search the loss of life penalty within the case.

All through Ibarra’s trial, prosecutors claimed that “when Laken Riley refused to be his rape sufferer, he bashed her cranium in with a rock repeatedly.” Digital proof gathered from safety cameras, 911 calls, and Riley’s personal health watch have been offered in court docket by the prosecution; the protection, in the meantime, argued the proof was circumstantial.