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

The man on trial for murder in connection with the February 2024 death of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley was allegedly in high spirits, at times giggling, when he was taken in for questioning by investigators, prosecutors alleged in court on Monday.

Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University, was brutally killed after 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 is currently on trial in Athens, Ga.

On Monday, Nov. 18, on the trial’s second day, a law enforcement official told the court that Ibarra was in an upbeat mood when he was being questioned by authorities the day after the killing, CNN reports.

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. 

Monday marked the second day of the trail already rife with emotions, including testimony 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, per CBS, the Los Angeles Times and ABC News, among several other outlets.

Ibarra has pleaded not guilty to the charges, per ABC News, WSB-TV and the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

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 to rainn.org.