Another chapter is winding down in the tragic story of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley’s murder.
On Wednesday, Nov. 20, her murderer, illegal immigrant Jose Ibarra, 26, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Ibarra “was convicted on three counts of felony murder and counts of malice murder, kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with intent to rape and ‘peeping Tom'” according to NBC News.
BREAKING: Illegal immigrant Jose Ibarra sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole for m*rdering 22-year-old Laken Riley.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 20, 2024
Judge H. Patrick Haggard found Ibarra guilty of all 10 counts he was facing.
Ibarra was seen looking down as the sentence was read.
While… pic.twitter.com/gXuo9F9Imj
Riley’s stepfather, John Phillips, shared a heartbreaking letter written by Riley to her future husband shortly before her murder. The journal entry, written on Dec. 17, 2023, according to Phillips, showcases her strong Christian faith, as well as her dedication to living a life that glorifies the Lord.
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Here are the words Phillips read before the courtroom prior to Ibarra’s conviction:
To my future husband, as silly as I feel writing this, my old small group leader once recommended it, so here I am.
To my future husband, I want you to know that I’m thinking about you.
I’m working every day to become the best wife I can be by working through my current relationships to best prepare me for ours and our kids one day.
I am focusing on God and what He defines as a faithful Christian wife so that I can best embody those characteristics.
I pray that you know that is with my full faith and trust in God, that I know this relationship has been handcrafted by Him.
I pray that we continue to glorify the Lord, prioritize Him in every aspect of our lives, and raise our family, our future family, to be God-fearing Christians as well. I pray God is the center of our relationship as it is a gift from Him.
I thanked Him for you before I even knew you and can’t wait to love you in the best way I know how for the rest of our lives.
I pray you know and feel the importance of my love and hopes for our relationship. No matter what challenges we face, I pray that our trust in God and love for one another overrules the obstacle.
May our relationship last forever, your future wife, Laken.
While Laken’s killer will never see another day of freedom, her family still grieves over losing her at such a young age. Pray that they, and all families who have endured such painful loss, find comfort and healing in the embrace of the Lord God Almighty.
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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
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