A new recording between Layling Franco, wife of Jose Antonio Ibarra, charged with the murder of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley, has caused the case to take a dramatic turn.
Laken Riley, a nursing student from Augusta University disappeared during her run on the University of Georgia campus on February 22, 2024. A police search initiated by a concerned friend led to Laken's body being recovered with authorities soon arresting Jose Ibarra, who has been charged with her murder among other crimes.
The evidence, including the jail call where Laylign France is seen doubting Jose Ibarra and urging him to tell her the truth about Riley's death, is a crucial part of the prosecution's narrative as the trial unfolds.
What did Layling Franco say in her jailhouse call to Jose Ibarra
During Jose Ibarra's trial, prosecutors introduced a translated recording of a May phone call between him and his 23-year-old wife, Layling Franco. FBI linguist Abeisis Ramirez testified about the conversation, which was originally in Spanish.
In the call, Ibarra claimed he had been seeking employment at the University of Georgia. Layling Franco, however, expressed frustration, urging him to be honest. She repeatedly pressed him, asking:
“What happened with the girl?” and insisted that he “must know something.”
In the recording, Franco also told him that she couldn't believe that he saw someone dying and did not call 911. FBI agent Ramirez noted that when Layling Franco challenged Ibarra about the evidence, highlighting the discovery of his DNA, he dismissed her concerns by saying:
“Layling, enough.”
The tense exchange underscores cracks in their communication, with Layling Franco seemingly doubting Ibarra's account and pressing for clarity.
What did Layling Franco say about Ibarra before the call recordings came to light?
According to her interview with the Independent, Layling Franco separated from Ibarra in November 2023. She expressed shock upon learning about his alleged involvement in the case. After Ibarra's February arrest, Layling Franco initially defended him, describing her husband as a devoted family man and expressing disbelief at the allegations.
She described him as a 'calm man' who treated her well during their time together.
She also criticized media portrayals and public opinion, calling for fairness during his trial. While speaking to The Post, Layling Franco said:
"He wasn't aggressive, none of that. We had problems as a couple but our problems weren't physical. We wouldn't punch but we'd raise our voices...I want to talk to [Jose]. I have a lot of faith that this wasn't him, that there was a misunderstanding somewhere. But if he did, he has to pay for what he did, truly."
Other evidence tying Ibarra to Laken Riley's death
DNA evidence: Ibarra's DNA was discovered on Riley's body, specifically under her fingernails. This evidence suggests a physical altercation and the prosecution argued it directly connects him to the crime scene.
Surveillance footage: Footage from the University of Georgia, where Riley was last seen alive, showed a man resembling Ibarra. The timeline of events in the footage aligns with Riley’s disappearance, bolstering the claim of Ibarra's presence near the location.
Selfies: Authorities also looked at Jose Ibarra's selfies which showed that on the day of the murder, he was wearing a black T-shirt with 'a very distinct white pattern'. The description seemed consistent with the T-shirt that Ibarra was wearing under the navy blue jacket in the surveillance footage which he removed and stuffed into the recycling bin.
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Witness testimonies: According to FirstAlert4, Sgt. Joshua Epps testified about questioning Diego, and later turning their attention to Jose Ibarra. Both Epps and Corporal Rafael Sayan, who assisted in the investigation and spoke Spanish, noted that Jose had scratches on his arms and red marks on his knuckles. When asked about the injuries, Jose explained the redness on his knuckles as being caused by the cold, offering no clear explanation for the scratches.
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