On February 22, Georgia nursing student Laken Riley texted and called her mother, Allyson Phillips, as she prepared to go for a run. At 8:55 a.m., Riley sent her last outgoing communication, a text to her mother saying, 'Good morning, about to go for a run'[3].

Riley called her mother at 9:03 a.m. to see if she had time to chat. However, by the time her mother called back about 20 minutes later, Riley had encountered Jose Ibarra on a wooded running trail at the University of Georgia. Prosecutors allege that Ibarra killed Riley after a struggle, with data from her smartwatch indicating her heart stopped beating at 9:28 a.m.[1][4].

Following Riley's failure to respond, her mother sent several texts, initially casual but increasingly concerned. At 9:37 a.m., Phillips texted, 'Call me when you can.' When her calls went unanswered, she texted again at 9:58 a.m., saying, 'You're making me nervous not answering while you're out running. Are you OK?' Another text was sent at 11:47 a.m., reading, 'Please call me. I'm worried sick about you.' These texts were read aloud in court by Georgia police Sgt. Sophie Raboud, who examined data from Riley's phone[1][4].

Ibarra, 26, is charged with murder and other crimes in Riley's death and has pleaded not guilty. The trial, which began on a Friday, includes testimony from multiple witnesses, including law enforcement officers and individuals who knew both Riley and Ibarra. The case has drawn national attention due to Ibarra's immigration status and the subsequent political discussions surrounding border security[1][4].

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