Student Laken Riley's Heartbreaking Final Journal Entry Revealed ...
Laken Riley Murder Case: Jose Antonio Ibarra Sentenced to Life in Prison Without Parole
Laken Riley’s mind was set on her future, just before her tragic death.
As the Georgia nursing student’s February murder reached its conclusion in the courts—with Venezuelan citizen Jose Antonio Ibarra sentenced to life in prison on Nov. 20 after being convicted on 10 counts, including murder and aggravated assault with intent to rape—Riley’s loved ones mourned the life she could have led.
And in a heartbreaking moment during the hearing—which was streamed on Court TV—her stepfather John Phillips read Riley’s final journal entry aloud, dated December 2023, noting how her life “was abundantly and exceptionally full of promise.”
“‘To my future husband,’” Phillips read. “‘As silly as I feel writing this, my old small group leader once recommended it so here I am. To my future husband, I want you to know that I'm thinking about you. I'm working every day to become the best wife I can be by working through my current relationships to best prepare me for our and our kids one day.’”
And in addition to sharing her hopes that her future partner would share her Christian faith, Riley wrote, “I can't wait to love you in the best way I know how for the rest of our lives I pray you know and feel the importance of my love and hopes for our relationship no matter what challenges we face.”
After reading the entry aloud, Phillips addressed the judge, “Your Honor, that was our beautiful Laken. That is just a glimpse of what was tragically and brutally taken from her and us that day: the best daughter, sister, granddaughter, friend, overall person that you could ever hope to meet.”
Facebook/Laken Riley
“While it's true that none of our lives will ever be the same,” he continued, “we refuse to let this person rob Laken of the hope she gave to her family, loved ones, friends and the world as a whole. We will proudly carry this hope on in her name in the days ahead, and for the rest of our lives.”
Phillips’ words were one of multiple victim impact statements that were shared by Riley’s loved ones during the Nov. 20 court date.
During the day in court, Ibarra was convicted on 10 counts, including three for felony murder, one for malice murder, plus kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with intent to rape and being a "peeping Tom," as NBC News reported.
Following his conviction, the presiding judge sentenced Ibarra to two life sentences and 49 years in prison, all to be served consecutively.
Robin Rayne/ZUMA Press Wire
The conviction and sentencing come nine months after Riley was killed at the age of 22 while running on University of Georgia’s Athens campus. She was found dead in a forested area after her roommates called the police when she did not return home.
Ibarra’s DNA was discovered under Riley’s fingernails, according to evidence presented by the prosecution, and his thumb print was found on her iPhone. While he initially pleaded not guilty to his charges, Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard handed down the guilty verdict on the fourth day of Ibarra's bench trial. The defendant had waived his right to a jury trial and did not testify in his own defense.
Riley’s mother Allyson Phillips also shared an impact statement in court, mourning the loss of her daughter, who is survived by her parents, two sisters and a brother.
"This monster took away our chances to see Laken graduate from nursing school," Allyson said. “He took away our ability to meet our future son-in-law. He destroyed our chances of meeting our grandchildren, and he took my best friend."
She continued, “He took away every beautiful memory we won’t ever be able to make with her again."
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