Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old migrant from Venezuela, faces 10 charges, including malice murder, three counts of felony murder,

kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with intent to rape, aggravated battery, obstruction of a person making an emergency call, tampering with evidence, and Peeping Tom.

On the eve of jury selection for his murder trial, Ibarra waived his right to a jury trial during a pre-trial hearing and requested a bench trial. A judge will now hear the case and render a verdict instead of a jury. The presiding judge, Superior Court Judge Patrick Haggard, is known for his no-nonsense approach.

Haggard has personal experience with violent crime, as his father, a salesman, was fatally shot during a gunfire exchange with two men attempting to rob him in a Georgia apartment complex in 1992.

Special Prosecutor Sheila Ross alleges that Ibarra was "hunting for women" on the day of Laken Riley's murder. Ross stated that Riley fought fiercely against her attacker, leaving marks on Ibarra and securing his DNA under her fingernails.

She highlighted video evidence allegedly showing Ibarra disposing of a black jacket in a dumpster.

The same jacket, according to Ross, contained both Riley's and Ibarra's blood. Additionally, Ibarra is accused of leaving a fingerprint on Riley's iPhone while attempting to stop her from calling 911.

Joining Nancy Grace today: 

• Darryl Cohen – Former Assistant District Attorney (Fulton County, Georgia) Former Assistant State Attorney (Florida), and Defense Attorney: Cohen, Cooper, Estep, & Allen, LLC; Facebook: “Darryl B Cohen;” X: @DarrylBCohen
• Caryn L. Stark – Psychologist, Renowned TV and Radio Trauma Expert and Consultant; Instagram: carynpsych/FB: Caryn Stark Private PracticeRobert Crispin – Private Investigator, Former Federal Task Force Officer for United States Department of Justice, DEA and Miami Field Division, Former Homicide and Crimes Against Children Investigator, “Crispin Special Investigations” CrispinInvestigations.com, Facebook: Crispin Special Investigations, Inc.
• Sheryl McCollum  – Forensics Expert & Cold Case Investigative Research Institute Founder; Host of Podcast: “Zone 7;” X: @149Zone7
• Scott Eicher - A founding member of the FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team (C.A.S.T); Historical Cellular Analysis Expert; Former FBI agent of 22 years; Former Police Officer and Homicide Detective with Norfolk Virginia Police Dept. having served 12 years; Currently with Precision Cellular Analysis handling Criminal, Defense and Civil case
• Dr. Kendall Crowns – Dr. Kendall Crowns – Affiliated Faculty: University of Texas Medical Branch
• Dave Mack - CrimeOnline iInvestigative  Reporter