Jose Ibarra, an undocumented immigrant, seeks a new trial for the murder of Laken Riley.

Jose Ybarra Seeks New Trial in Murder Case of Nursing Student Laken Riley

The undocumented immigrant convicted of murdering nursing student Laken Riley is back in court, asking for a new trial. This case has stirred national conversations surrounding immigration and resulted in a federal law named after the victim.

Jose Ybarra, currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole, is set to appear in Georgia’s Athens-Clarke County Superior Court on Friday. His post-conviction attorney is arguing for a new trial, and Judge Patrick Haggard, who oversaw the original case, will hear these arguments.

Ybarra was found guilty on all counts in November 2024 for the murder of 22-year-old Riley, who tragically lost her life during a violent confrontation with him on February 22, 2024, while she was driving through the University of Georgia campus.

Riley, a student at Augusta University’s College of Nursing, went missing before her body was discovered near a campus lake.

In the appeal process, Ybarra’s legal team has undergone a psychiatric evaluation, asserting that he is unfit to stand trial. The upcoming hearing will specifically address whether errors made during the initial trial merit a retrial.

Notably, media outlets have been instructed to refrain from showing Ybarra when entering or leaving the courtroom, or if he appears shackled during the proceedings.

Riley’s murder raised significant concerns about illegal immigration and violent crime, becoming a pivotal topic during President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign. Following this, Trump signed the Laken Riley Act, which mandates the detention of undocumented immigrants accused of violent crimes.