Jose Ibarra, the illegal immigrant charged with murdering Augusta University student Laken Riley, has pleaded not guilty to 10 counts. In a motion filed on Thursday, Ibarra's defense team is seeking to suppress a list of evidentiary items, including cellphones, DNA, and social media accounts, arguing they were illegally obtained.
Jose Ibarra, the suspect accused of murdering Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley, has pleaded not guilty to 10 counts. Ibarra, a 26-year-old illegal immigrant from Venezuela, is charged with malice murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault, obstructing a 911 call, tampering with evidence, and peeping.
Jose Ibarra Pleads Not Guilty in Laken Riley Murder Case, Motions to Suppress Evidence
In a hearing held on Friday, Ibarra's defense attorney filed a motion to suppress a list of evidentiary items, including cellphones, a buccal swab, and social media account data. The defense argues that the items were unlawfully collected by law enforcement and that detectives entered Ibarra's residence without a search warrant.
Specifically, the motion seeks to suppress "(a) two cellular devices believed by the State to belong to Defendant and the information contained within them; (b) genetic and physical information taken from the person of Defendant; (c) the contents of Defendant's social media accounts, which include Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram; and (d) location data obtained from Google, Inc."
Jose Ibarra Pleads Not Guilty in Laken Riley Murder Case, Motions to Suppress Evidence
Ibarra's defense team is arguing that the aforementioned items were obtained through an illegal search and seizure, violating Ibarra's Fourth Amendment rights. They claim that detectives entered Ibarra's apartment without a warrant and seized his belongings without his consent.
In addition to the motion to suppress evidence, Ibarra's defense is also challenging the DNA evidence presented by the prosecution. They argue that the DNA testing performed during Riley's autopsy did not exclude Ibarra but also did not exclude another known individual associated with the case.
Jose Ibarra Pleads Not Guilty in Laken Riley Murder Case, Motions to Suppress Evidence
The prosecution alleges that Ibarra killed Riley by inflicting blunt-force trauma to her head and "asphyxiating her in a manner unknown to jurors." The suspect is also accused of kidnapping Riley, attempting to rape her, and obstructing her from making a 911 call.
The judge presiding over the case has not yet ruled on Ibarra's motions. A trial date has been set for November, during which a jury will determine Ibarra's guilt or innocence.
Jose Ibarra Pleads Not Guilty in Laken Riley Murder Case, Motions to Suppress Evidence
Ibarra's case has sparked debate about the role of illegal immigration in crime and the need for stricter border security. The suspect illegally crossed into the United States through El Paso, Texas, in September 2022 and was released into the country via parole.
His older brother, Diego Ibarra, is charged with green card fraud and has ties to a known Venezuelan gang in the U.S. In the wake of Laken Riley's murder, the University of Georgia has invested millions of dollars in safety measures, including increased police presence, emergency blue lights, and a university-focused rideshare program.
Jose Ibarra Pleads Not Guilty in Laken Riley Murder Case, Motions to Suppress Evidence
