Laken Riley Murder Suspect Was 'Giggling' When Taken in for Questioning the Day After Killing: Police

Mar. 15, 2025

Laken Hope Riley.Photo:Laken Riley/Facebook

Laken Riley/Facebook

Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University, wasbrutally killedafter she went for a jog on the University of Georgia campus on Feb. 22.

Jose Ibarra, 26, was arrested in connection with her death and iscurrently on trialin Athens, Ga.

Cpl. Rafael Sayan, a UGA police officer, was reportedly assisting the investigation with his Spanish language skills during police interviews with the suspect on Feb. 23.

Sayan told the court that Ibarra and his two brothers were very “relaxed and calm” when speaking to police, CNN reports.

Ibarra’s two brothers were questioned during the investigation because they matched the suspect’s description, but were ruled out after DNA evidence allegedly linked only Ibarra himself to the crime scene, according to CNN.

“There was a lot of laughing, giggling,” Sayan said, per CNN, adding that all three brothers were laughing about how they’d been woken up in the morning and escorted out of their apartment.

Jose Antonio Ibarra.Clarke County Sheriff’s Office

Clarke County Sheriff’s Office

Monday marked the second day of the trail already rife with emotions, includingtestimony from Riley’s roommate, the playing of Riley’s 911 call moments before her death as well as police interrogation tapes, according to CNN.

Ibarra has been charged with murder, kidnapping and assault among other charges,PEOPLE previously reported,citing online court records.

He is a Venezuelan citizen who immigration officials said entered the country illegally in 2022, perCBS, theLos Angeles TimesandABC News, among several other outlets.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go torainn.org.

source: people.com