Jose Ibarra's Trial Date Set for November, Accused in Laken Riley Murder Case

Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, has had his trial date set for November 18th in connection with the murder of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University. The suspect is facing life imprisonment without parole.

Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard set the proposed trial date after Ibarra pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges during his arraignment in late May. Haggard anticipates jury selection to begin on November 13th and hopes to conclude the trial by Thanksgiving.

Laken Riley's mother, Allyson Phillips, and stepfather, John Phillips, were present at the status hearing where the trial date was announced. Allyson Phillips was visibly emotional throughout the proceedings.

Jose Ibarra's Trial Date Set for November, Accused in Laken Riley Murder Case

Jose Ibarra is charged with malice murder, felony murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, hindering an emergency telephone call, tampering with evidence, and spying. Prosecutors will seek a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Riley was attacked on February 22nd while she was out for a run along dirt trails on the University of Georgia campus in Athens. Ibarra allegedly caused her death by inflicting blunt-force trauma to her head and "asphyxiating her in a manner unknown to jurors," an indictment states.

Jose Ibarra's Trial Date Set for November, Accused in Laken Riley Murder Case

The suspect is also accused of going to an apartment on UGA's "University Village Housing Building 'S,'" where he "peeped through" a window and "spied upon" a university staff member on the same day he allegedly killed Riley.

Ibarra lived in an apartment building that sits on the edge of the on-campus park where Riley was running. UGA Police Chief Jeffrey Clark described the murder as a "crime of opportunity."

Jose Ibarra's Trial Date Set for November, Accused in Laken Riley Murder Case

The scenic loop Riley ran that morning is easily accessible from behind Ibarra's apartment complex. It is a five-minute walk from Ibarra's door to the approximate scene where Riley was found dead.

Fox News' Chelsea Torres and Bill Melugin contributed to this report.

Jose Ibarra's Trial Date Set for November, Accused in Laken Riley Murder Case