Father Of Laken Riley Reads Heartbreaking Journal Entry After Illegal Immigrant Found Guilty Of Georgia College Student’s Murder

Absolutely heartbreaking. If you haven't been following along with the case of Laken Riley, the brutal murder of the Georgia college student back in February touched off a firestorm over illegal immigration after it was revealed that the man arrested for her murder, Jose Ibarra, was a Venezuelan national who was in the United States illegally. Riley was a 22-year old nursing student at Augusta University who went missing while out on a run at the nearby University of Georgia. When she didn't return home from her run, Riley was reported missing by her roommates, and her body was discovered a short time later by UGA police, brutally beaten after being targeted seemingly at random. The case became a political flashpoint when Ibarra was arrested for her murder and it was revealed that he was in the country illegally. Former President Donald Trump invoked Riley's death on the campaign trail over the summer as proof that stronger action was needed on immigration, and even met with her family personally back in March. https://twitter.com/TeamTrump/status/1767244328106156313 Well fast forward to today, and the 26-year old Ibarra was found guilty in a Georgia court on all counts for the murder of Laken Riley. Over the course of the trial, stunning testimony came out revealing that the man, who was allegedly a member of a Venezuelan gang, had actually flown to Georgia after receiving a voucher from the government for a flight to Atlanta: https://twitter.com/greg_price11/status/1858557291467075725 Naturally the entire situation is heartbreaking and infuriating beyond belief. But during Ibarra's sentencing, Riley's stepfather John Phillips gave a tearful victim impact statement, reading a journal entry from the promising young student that showed what a bright light she really was. The journal entry was a letter to her future husband that Riley had written, though she wasn't currently in a relationship, expressing her desire to prepare herself for the man God would eventually choose for her: "To my future husband, I want you to know that I am thinking about you. I am working everyday to become the best wife I can be. 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 life so I can best embody those characteristics. I pray that you know that it 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 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 thank Him for you before I even know 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 in my love, and hopes for our relationship. No matter what challenges we face, I pray that our trust and love for one another overrules the obstacle. May our relationship last forever. Your future wife, Laken." If that doesn't rip your heart in two, I don't know what will. Ibarra was ultimately sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, and while that's the only justice our system here on this Earth can give to Laken and her family, hopefully they find comfort knowing that their loved one is in a much better place right now. https://twitter.com/Julio_Rosas11/status/1859294006934372648