ATHENS, Ga. — The chilling 911 call that captured Georgia nursing student Laken Riley’s horrifying final moments was played in court Friday – leaving her grieving mother in a flood of tears during the first day of opening statements.
Riley, 22, triggered the emergency function on her cell phone and called 911 while jogging on the University of Georgia campus around 9:11 a.m. on Feb. 22, prosecutor Sheila Ross told the Athens-Clark County courtroom.
Only a male voice was heard on the brief, muffled audio that was played in court.
Those in the courtroom listened to the operator repeating herself, saying “Clark County 911. Hello, Clark County 911. Can anyone hear me?”
The call hung up at 9:12, and the operator tried to call back but received no answer, Ross explained.
Riley’s mother, Allyson Phillips, was seen sobbing during the 911 call.
The suspect, Jose Ibarra, sat stone-faced as the call was called in court.
Prosecutors said Riley fought for her life for a staggering 18 minutes before she was killed.