As everyone has no doubt heard by now, Jose Ibarra was convicted last week of murdering Athens nursing student Laken Riley. But just because the trial is over, don’t expect Riley’s name to fall out of the headlines. With President-elect Donald Trump planning a mass roundup of undocumented immigrants when he takes office in January, the border will continue to be a political issue leading up to the 2026 elections.
Superior Court Judge Patrick Haggard found Ibarra, a Venezuelan seeking asylum in the U.S., guilty of murdering Riley while she was jogging on a UGA Intramural Fields trail in February. Special prosecutor Sheila Moore, appointed by District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez to handle the case, presented surveillance camera and DNA evidence tying Ibarra to Riley’s murder. Haggard sentenced Ibarra to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Ibarra’s attorney, public defender John Donnelly, waived his right to a jury trial and requested a bench trial instead.
The death penalty has also resurfaced as an issue. “If there was ever a case where the death penalty was appropriate, this was it,” said Athens state Rep. Houston Gaines, Gonzalez’s longtime nemesis.
While campaigning in 2020, Gonzalez pledged never to seek the death penalty. She has said she made the decision not to seek it against Ibarra in consultation with Riley’s family, who agreed after learning about the expense and lengthy appeals involved.
After the verdict, state Sen. Colton Moore (R-Trenton) criticized state Attorney General Chris Carr for not taking over the case to seek the death penalty. Carr’s office, however, said he didn’t have jurisdiction.
“Laken Riley’s death should never have occurred,” Carr said in a statement. “It was preventable, which only makes this tragedy even more devastating.
“As the father of a daughter who attends UGA, it was absolutely gut-wrenching to hear the evidence that Laken fought for her life and fought for her dignity, and the statements made by her family and friends in court broke my heart.
“We’re grateful to Sheila Ross of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council for ensuring a conviction was obtained, and we will continue to pray for all who knew and loved Laken.”
Last week, Carr became the first candidate to formally jump into the race for governor. Gov. Brian Kemp is term-limited and reportedly is considering running against Sen. Jon Ossoff in 2026 or for president in 2028. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger are also likely to run. Rumored names on the Democratic side include 2014 candidate Jason Carter, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond and U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath.
Carr’s candidacy means the AG race will be wide open, and state Sen. Bill Cowsert (R-Athens) is among those considering running. “I am honored that so many of my Senate colleagues and conservative leaders around the state have encouraged me to run,” Cowsert told the AJC. “I am seriously considering it and will make a decision after the upcoming legislative session.”
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