Laken Riley Deserved Better an editorial by Mallory Staples Georgia Freedom Caucus Chair

Laken Riley Deserved Better

On February 22 of this year, a beautiful future was stolen from us. Laken Hope Riley, a beloved student at the University of Georgia, was murdered by an illegal alien. Part of Woodstock City Church and Watkinsville First Baptist Church, serving as a very distinguished active member of the church, participating in various mission trips and serving the community, Laken’s presence on this earth made it a better place. Not only was she a kind and generous young woman, but she was a fiercely intelligent person on the path to becoming a distinguished nurse. The theft of this beautiful soul from us is unforgiveable.

Laken Riley’s murderer was an illegal alien named Jose Ibarra. Let me be clear, Ibarra should never have been allowed in our country. If not for Joe Biden and Democrats, this horrific event would have never occurred. When Ibarra illegally entered the country in 2022 near El Paso, Texas, he was apprehended and then released by the Biden Administration into the country. He then travelled to New York where he was arrested in 2023 by the New York Police Department, charged with acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17 and a motor vehicle license violation. While the responsible thing to do would have been to deport him immediately at this point, the Biden Administration did not care about its own citizens enough to ensure public safety. It came out during the trial that the Biden Administration paid for Ibarra to fly to Georgia. Joe Biden should have deported Ibarra, yet he instead decided to use taxpayer funds to send him to Georgia where he would commit this atrocity. These action and inactions by Joe Biden and his fellow Democrats are nothing short of evil. Shame on them.

I’m proud to say Ibarra has been convicted on all charges. He has since been sentenced to a penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Yet I must express a strong degree of disgust in this process. Georgia is a state that allows for the death penalty. The murder of such a beautiful soul like Laken Riley, and the theft of her long and promising future, deserves the full fist of justice. Shamefully, radical leftist District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez did not believe this horrific murder deserved the full fist of justice. DA Gonzalez refused to pursue the death penalty in this case. I am pleased that Ibarra will never again be a free person, yet the full fist of justice was appropriate, and DA Gonzalez shamefully refused to acknowledge the severity of this horrific crime.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr should have done anything possible to ensure justice. Even if he had been unable to overcome the unwillingness to pursue the full fist of justice by the DA, he had a duty to advocate for his client, the people of Georgia, and at least try. He could have argued neglect of duty, a violation of state interests, or any possible legal theory he could possibly think of. Failure against tough odds is not always shameful, yet the unwillingness to even try is certainly shameful. As per usual, the people wanted Chris Carr to do his job and simply put effort into something. As per usual, Chris Carr failed to even try. Chris Carr even thought it was a great idea announce he is running for Governor right after this trial ended. Shame on Chris Carr.

There is a theoretical instance where Ibarra could be charged federally for things such as a gender-based hate crime, kidnapping resulting in death, or anything else that the DOJ prosecutors would choose to bring. Upon conviction, the Trump DOJ could pursue the death penalty. However, this is admittedly a stretch, requiring various legal thresholds to be met and judicial discretion to strongly swing in the direction of justice. I refuse, however, to give up on the idea that this evil man could somehow still face the full fist of justice. Prior to President Trump, federal executions had been paused for 17 years. George W. Bush’s administration paused them in 2003, and this policy was continued through the Obama years until President Trump began carrying out capital punishment again. It is clear that President Trump is bold and fearless, and even more clear that he intends to govern that way. Therefore, no bold righteous acts are off the table.

We must not let this horrific murder go forgotten. We must not let this issue be forgotten until it is fixed. Laken Riley leaves behind a devastated family. Yet, it could have been anyone else’s daughter or sister who happened to be in that place at that time. I hope all will join me in praying for God’s comfort on this family following this tragedy. We, as a country, must stop these things from ever happening again.

Mallory Staples - State Chair Georgia Freedom Caucus

Mallory Staples is a former VFAF Veterans for America First endorsed congressional candidate and longtime VFAF Ambassador.

Watch Mallory Staples interview with VFAF President Robert M Cornicelli LINK: