The man accused of murdering Laken Riley is facing life in prison without parole if convicted at trial, and he's requested a bench trial, meaning a judge will decide his fate.
Jose Ibarra, 26, is standing trial on multiple charges for the death of 22-year-old Riley. The nursing student was killed while jogging on the University of Georgia campus in February.
An indictment charges Ibarra with 10 charges: malice murder, three counts of felony murder, kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with intent to rape, aggravated battery, obstruction or hindering a person making an emergency telephone call, tampering with evidence and peeping Tom.
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Ibarra is accused of attempting to rape Riley, “asphyxiating her” and “seriously disfiguring her head by striking her head multiple times with a rock.” A tampering with evidence charge is for allegations he disposed of his jacket and gloves to conceal the crime.
Ibarra is also accused of spying on a woman at an apartment at the UGA Village Housing complex the day Riley was killed.
Ibarra’s trial is scheduled to begin on Friday, Nov. 15.
