Twenty-six-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra, an illegal immigrant, was arrested after police identified him as a suspect in the tragic murder of college student Laken Riley, who was killed while jogging on the University of Georgia campus in February. Riley was found dead with signs of blunt force trauma and asphyxiation.

Today, Sheryl McCollum and Nancy Grace discuss the recent conviction of Jose Antonio Ibarra for the brutal murder of Laken Riley in Athens, Georgia. They reflect on the courtroom proceedings, the lack of remorse from Lbarra, and the heart-wrenching impact statements from Laken's family and friends. Nancy shares her personal experience with loss and the long-term effects of dealing with the murder of a loved one. This episode will close with an 18-minutes of silence in honor of Laken's fight for her life.

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Welcome! Nancy and Sheryl introduce this week’s crime roundup

• (0:20) Justice served - conviction of Laken Riley's Killer

• (1:00) Emotional impact the trial had on the family

• (4:00) Nancy shares personal reflections

• (6:00) “Her friends and family have a life sentence.”

• (9:00) Discussion on the term “Peeping Tom” and its trivialization of crimes

• (12:00) Concerns about the sufficiency of the life without parole sentence

• (14:00) Reflections on grief and moving forward

• (15:45) Eighteen minutes of silence in Laken’s memory

• (34:30) Thank you for listening!

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Nancy Grace is an outspoken, tireless advocate for victims’ rights and one of television's most respected legal analysts. Nancy Grace had a perfect conviction record during her decade as a prosecutor. She is the founder and publisher of CrimeOnline.com, a crime- fighting digital platform that investigates breaking crime news, spreads awareness of missing people and shines a light on cold cases.

In addition, Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, a daily show hosted by Grace, airs on SIRIUS XM’s Triumph Channel 111 and is downloadable as a podcast on all audio platforms - https://www.crimeonline.com/

Connect with Nancy:

X: @nancygrace

Instagram: @thenancygrace

Facebook: @nancygrace

Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an Emmy Award winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnLine, Forensic and Crime Scene Expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department. She is the co-author of the textbook., Cold Case: Pathways to Justice.

Connect with Sheryl:

Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com

X: @ColdCaseTips

Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

*The names in this case discussion have been changed to protect the investigation's integrity.

Guest Bio and Links:

Clay Bryant is a retired chief of police, author, and cold case expert with decades of experience in law enforcement. Known for his meticulous attention to detail, Clay has solved numerous high-profile cases, bringing closure to families and communities.

Clay is the author of three books:

The Cold Case Murder of Fred Wilkerson: Untangling the Black Widow's Web in West Georgia

Solving the West Georgia Murder of Gwendolyn Moore: A Cry From the Well

Solving the Murder of Vieng Phovixay: Evil Dwells in West Georgia (True Crime)

In this episode of Zone 7, Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum and returning guest, Clay Bryant dive into the gruesome case of a victim, whose dismembered body was found in a burning black bag in December 2007. Clay uncovers the investigation's unique challenges, including the victim's posthumous identity theft perpetrated by the suspect, who assumed her benefits and life. The victim’s identity remained a mystery until 2023 when advances in DNA technology and ancestry databases provided a breakthrough.

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Welcome back to Zone 7 with Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum
• (0:15) A brief background of the case discussed
• (0:35) Sheryl introduces guest, Clay Bryant back to Zone 7
• (3:30) Identifying the victim
• (5:00) The adoption connection
• (7:00) Identity theft and fraud
• (8:00) Tracking the imposter/suspect
• (16:30) Evidence of dismemberment in the apartment
• (19:00) Arrest made on the suspect
• (21:00) Ongoing investigations and collaborations
• (29:30) “Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore, it's upon the logic rather than the crime that you should dwell.” -A.C.D
• Thanks for listening to another episode! If you’re loving the show and want to help grow the show, please head over to iTunes and leave a rating and review!

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Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an Emmy Award winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnLine, Forensic and Crime Scene Expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department. She is the co-author of the textbook., Cold Case: Pathways to Justice. Sheryl is also the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a collaboration between universities and colleges that brings researchers, practitioners, students and the criminal justice community together to advance techniques in solving cold cases and assist families and law enforcement with solvability factors for unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnapping cases.

Social Links:

• Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com
• Twitter: @ColdCaseTips
• Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today Nancy Grace and Sheryl McCollum critique the developments of the Laken Riley murder trial in Athens, Georgia. Nancy and Sheryl focus on the defense's controversial decision to opt for a bench trial rather than a jury trial. They cover the prosecution's compelling evidence, including DNA and video footage, emotional testimonies, and a 911 call capturing the victim's final moments. They also dive into the implications of pre-existing knowledge that a judge would have versus a jury, the emotional toll on the victim's family, and the broader political and social issues at play.

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Welcome! Nancy and Sheryl introduce this week’s crime roundup
• (0:10) Sheryl introduces The Laken Riley trial
• (0:25) The decision for a bench trial
• (3:00) Prosecution's emotional opening statements
• (4:30) Evidence breakdown: DNA, fingerprints, and surveillance footage
• (11:30) Prosecution's strong case
• (12:45) Defense lawyer’s strategy in questioning the evidence
• (14:00) The defense’s claim of “circumstantial” evidence
• (18:00) Final thoughts

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Nancy Grace is an outspoken, tireless advocate for victims’ rights and one of television's most respected legal analysts. Nancy Grace had a perfect conviction record during her decade as a prosecutor. She is the founder and publisher of CrimeOnline.com, a crime- fighting digital platform that investigates breaking crime news, spreads awareness of missing people and shines a light on cold cases.

In addition, Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, a daily show hosted by Grace, airs on SIRIUS XM’s Triumph Channel 111 and is downloadable as a podcast on all audio platforms - https://www.crimeonline.com/

Connect with Nancy:

X: @nancygrace

Instagram: @thenancygrace

Facebook: @nancygrace

Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an Emmy Award winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnLine, Forensic and Crime Scene Expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department. She is the co-author of the textbook., Cold Case: Pathways to Justice.

Connect with Sheryl:

Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com

X: @ColdCaseTips

Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.