A Georgia state senator is putting the heat on Attorney General Chris Carr, demanding action in the brutal murder case of Laken Riley. Senator Colton Moore wants Carr to push for the death penalty against Jose Ibarra, the man convicted of stalking, raping, and murdering Riley earlier this year. However, Carr’s office says their hands are tied, claiming they don’t have the legal power to step in.
Laken Riley, a nursing student at the University of Georgia, was out for an early morning jog on campus when her life was tragically cut short. Prosecutors say Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old undocumented immigrant, attacked her on a wooded trail. Riley fought with incredible courage for 18 minutes before Ibarra struck her with a rock, ending her life. His DNA was found under her fingernails, making the case against him undeniable.
The District Attorney at the time, Deborah Gonzalez, decided not to seek the death penalty. In court documents, she mentioned concerns about “collateral consequences” for undocumented defendants. Instead, Ibarra was sentenced to life without parole—a punishment Gonzalez says is just as severe and was supported by Riley’s grieving family.
But Senator Moore isn’t buying it. He’s calling Gonzalez’s decision a political move and says it robs Riley’s family and the community of true justice. “Why even have the death penalty if we’re not going to use it for crimes like this?” Moore asked. He also criticized Athens, calling it a “sanctuary city” where criminals might not fear the harshest punishments.
On social media, Moore made his stance clear: “District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez let her radical political agenda stand in the way of justice. By refusing to seek the death penalty, she denied Laken’s family, friends, and community the full measure of justice they deserve.”
Moore believes Attorney General Carr could—and should—intervene, citing Georgia’s Constitution, which he claims gives the AG authority over felony cases. “He’s the state’s top law enforcement officer,” Moore said. “He should have known this DA wouldn’t go for the death penalty.”
Carr’s office disagrees, explaining their role is limited to representing the state in the Georgia Supreme Court during death penalty appeals—not deciding to seek it in the first place. Still, Carr expressed deep sympathy for Riley’s loved ones, calling her death “absolutely gut-wrenching.”
The case took another twist this month when Gonzalez lost her re-election bid. She had already handed over Ibarra’s prosecution to another attorney, Sheila Ross, earlier this year. While Gonzalez’s office defended the life sentence as appropriate, Moore and others argue it falls short given the brutality of the crime.
For now, the debate rages on. Riley’s tragic death has sparked outrage and raised tough questions about justice, politics, and the role of capital punishment in Georgia.
