Laken Riley’s Greatest Good friend Says She ‘Cannot Do Something by Herself Anymore’ As Homicide Trial Wraps

Mates of slain Georgia school pupil Laken Riley gave emotional witness statements in court docket on the final day of the four-day-long homicide trial, shortly after the decide rendered a responsible verdict upon Jose Ibarra.

“Laken Riley was my finest good friend, the particular person I informed every little thing to and the particular person I trusted with something. The ache of the final 9 months has been indescribable,” Riley’s good friend Sophia Palomino, 22, mentioned at the start of her assertion.

After noting all of the issues she would not have the ability to share with Riley, she tearfully defined how her finest good friend’s loss of life has impacted her life: “I get to let you know that I am unable to do something on my own anymore, even in broad daylight. I get to let you know {that a} city I used to like being in simply fills me with dread.”

“I let you know the load of vacancy I really feel after I nonetheless go to textual content her typically,” Palomino added. “This wasn’t only a life taken; it was a future stolen … The loss of life of my finest good friend has modified my life without end.”

Connolly Huth, one other good friend of Riley’s who was amongst those that notified police of her disappearance, wore one of many late nursing pupil’s shirts whereas giving her witness assertion.

“As I rise up right here at the moment, I’m carrying one in all Laken’s shirts. This shirt has sat in my closet for months, not as a result of I am saving it for an event, however as a result of I can’t afford to not keep in mind this stuff like this about her,” Huth mentioned whereas preventing again tears.

On Wednesday, Nov. 20, Jose Ibarra was sentenced to life in jail with out parole for killing the 22-year-old Augusta College nursing pupil on Feb. 22 whereas she was out for a jog.

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Riley’s mom, Allyson Phillips, additionally shared a heart-wrenching assertion after the decision. “Jose took no pity on my scared, panicked and struggling little one.”

“There is not any finish to the ache, struggling or loss. On that horrific day, my valuable daughter was attacked, crushed, and proven no mercy,” she mentioned. “This sick, twisted, evil coward confirmed no respect of Laken’s life.”