The murder trial of 26-year-old Jose Ibarra continues today. He’s accused of killing 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley. Prosecutors say Ibarra posted photos of himself on social media hours before Riley’s death.
FBI agent Jamie Hipkiss testified that video from a security camera showed a man dressed in similar clothing putting a blue jacket into a dumpster. When that jacket was recovered and tested, authorities say they found Riley’s DNA.
“At 5:37, the same images that were seen on the phone are in fact in the Snapchat records, and those are the two images of him wearing the navy blue jacket and the black hat,” Hipkiss said. “And in both those images, geolocates the area of his apartment.”
Testimony also included a witness describing seeing a person similarly dressed trying to enter her apartment and looking through her window.
“The person had a black hood, black hat, black jacket, and black gloves.”
The defense pointed out that the witness could not identify the person.
“Did you see any of the face?” Defense attorney Kaitlyn Beck asked. “No.” “You only saw the cap? “Yes.” “And on the 911 call, you’re describing what happened, you say that you’re not really sure if it’s a man or a woman.” “Yes.”
Ibarra is charged with felony murder, malice murder, kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with intent to rape, aggravated battery, hindering a 911 call and tampering with evidence. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges.
If convicted, Ibarra could face life in prison.
