Testimony resumes in the trial of the man accused of killing Georgia student Laken Riley

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Testimony resumed Monday in the trial of the man accused of killing Georgia nursing student Laken Riley with police officers describing searching the man's apartment and questioning him and others who lived there.

Jose Ibarra who entered the U.S. illegally two years ago, is charged with murder and other crimes in Riley’s February killing. He waived his right to a jury trial, meaning Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard will hear and decide his case.

Ibarra, 26, took selfies of himself early on the day Riley was killed, according to testimony from an FBI agent who analyzed data from cellphones seized from the apartment where Ibarra lived with his two brothers and two other people. He could be seen in those photos wearing a black Adidas baseball cap and a dark hooded jacket.

A few hours before Riley was killed, a man in a black Adidas baseball cap was seen on surveillance video at the door of a first-floor apartment in University of Georgia housing complex. The female student who lived there told police she had heard the door jiggling and that she saw someone looking into her window, prosecutor Sheila Ross said during her opening statement on Friday.

Police officers using a grainy screen shot from that surveillance video approached a man wearing a black Adidas cap the day after the killing. That turned out to be Diego Ibarra.

University of Georgia police Sgt. Joshua Epps testified that he was called to question Diego Ibarra outside of the apartment where the Ibarras lived. Epps testified that he did not see any signs of recent injuries on Diego Ibarra.

Outside the apartment, police also questioned Argenis Ibarra, Jose Ibarra and Rosbeli Elisbar Flores Bello. Epps and Corporal Rafael Sayan, who speaks Spanish and helped with the questioning, testified that they noticed recent scratches on Jose Ibarra.

When asked why his knuckles were red, Jose Ibarra told them it was because of the cold but didn't really give any explanation for several scratches on his arms, Sayan said.

Security video from the apartment complex showed a man throwing something into a trash bin while wearing a shirt with a distinctive pattern. A crime scene specialist from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation testified there was a lot of clothing in the one-room apartment but that she didn't find that shirt in the apartment and didn't find any bloody clothing.

A police officer testified on Friday that he found a dark hooded jacket in the trash bin seen in the video, and testing later showed that it had Riley's blood on it.

Flores Bello identified the man in the video as Jose Ibarra and confirmed that identification on the witness stand on Monday. She also said she had previously seen him wearing the dark hooded jacket and thought it was strange he was throwing it away.

The trial began Friday with testimony from Riley's roommates and from law enforcement officers. Riley’s parents, roommates and other friends and family packed the courtroom on Friday and again on Monday.

During her opening statement, Ross used security and doorbell camera video, as well as data from Riley's watch and phone, to establish a timeline of the 22-year-old student's final moments.

Ross said Ibarra encountered Riley while she was running on the University of Georgia campus and killed her during a struggle. Riley was a student at Augusta University College of Nursing, which also has a campus in Athens, about 70 miles (113 kilometers) east of Atlanta.

Defense attorney Dustin Kirby said in his opening that Riley's death was a tragedy and called the evidence in the case graphic and disturbing. But he said there is not sufficient evidence to prove that his client killed Riley.

The killing added fuel to the national debate over immigration when federal authorities said Ibarra illegally entered the U.S. in 2022 and was allowed to stay in the country while he pursued his immigration case.

Ibarra is charged with one count of malice murder, three counts of felony murder and one count each of kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, hindering an emergency telephone call, tampering with evidence and being a peeping Tom.

Allyson Phillips, mother of Laken Riley, second left, listens during the trial of Jose Ibarra at Athens-Clarke County Superior Court on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool)

Jason Riley, center, Laken Riley's father, listens during the Jose Ibarra trial at Athens-Clarke County Superior Court on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool)

Prosecutor Sheila Ross speaks to the University of Georgia Police Rafael Sayan during the second day of the trial of Jose Ibarra at Athens-Clarke County Superior Court on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool)

Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard, right, confers with prosecutors and attorneys for Jose Ibarra during the second day of the trial of Jose Ibarra at Athens-Clarke County Superior Court on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool)

Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard speaks during the trial of Jose Ibarra at Athens-Clarke County Superior Court on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool)

Prosecutor Sheila Ross shows a piece of evidence to University of Georgia Police Josh Epps during the trial of Jose Ibarra at Athens-Clarke County Superior Court on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool)

Jose Ibarra listens through an interpreter during the second day of his trial at the Athens-Clarke County Superior Court on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool)

Jose Ibarra, accused of killing a Georgia nursing student earlier this year, listens through an interpreter during his trial at Athens-Clarke County Superior Court, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (Hyosub Shin/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Daniel Jones' tenure as the New York Giants starting quarterback is over.

The Giants benched the struggling 27-year-old on Monday and coach Brian Daboll plans to start fan favorite Tommy DeVito against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week in an attempt to end a five-game losing streak.

Not only was Jones benched, Daboll said he will be the No. 3 quarterback for the final seven games, while fellow veteran Drew Lock remains the backup.

“Obviously not playing the way any of us want to play, and that on all of us,” Daboll said. “But felt like this was a decision that we needed to make here to try to spark things, change things up and we went with Tommy again.”

Daboll said he spoke with the quarterbacks Monday but he would not disclose what was said although he said Jones wanted to remain the starter. Daboll refused to comment on his talks with co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch.

They will have decisions to make as the Giants (2-8) appear headed for a second straight losing season.

Obviously one will be Jones' future — he has two years and $80 million left on his contract — along with that of Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen, who also was hired in 2022.

By not playing Jones the rest of the season, the Giants are trying to avoid an injury. If he were hurt and unable to play at the start of next season, it would trigger a $23 million guarantee on his contract.

Daboll said Jones, who was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 draft, will stay with the team the rest of the season.

Derek Carr left the Las Vegas Raiders late last season after he was benched for the final two games.

“We had a talk right before the meeting today,” Daboll said referring to Jones. "Never easy. Got a lot of respect for for how he goes about his business, for how Drew does for how he does. Those aren’t easy conversations,”

Daboll had hinted there might be a change after the Giants headed into their bye week following an overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers (3-7) in Germany on Nov. 10. The coaching staff reviewed film during the week, discussed the situation and decided to change things.

Daboll said other players might get more playing time in a late evaluation.

Jones has eight touchdown passes and seven interceptions this season. He is 3-13 in his past 16 starts and New York ranks last in the league in scoring, averaging 15.6 points per game.

Jones got a four-year, $160 million contract after leading the Giants to a surprising playoff appearance in Daboll’s first season in 2022. He saw limited action last season because of a neck injury and later an ACL tear. He played behind a poor offensive line in 2023 and has been inconsistent this season.

Hired after developing Josh Allen in Buffalo, Daboll never could get Jones back to his 2022 form. That season, Jones had 15 touchdown passes, seven rushing TDs, five interceptions and hit 67% of his passes. In his career, Jones has 70 touchdowns and 47 interceptions.

“It’s just not on Daniel you know that’s on me, that’s on an entire offensive performance,” Daboll said. "So again making this decision to try to spark it to give Tommy an opportunity again, he did some nice things when he was in there and he played as a rookie. And I know he’s he’s eager for the opportunity.”

DeVito had been listed as the third quarterback every game this season but jumped ahead of Lock, largely because the New Jersey product nicknamed “Tommy Cutlets" was 3-3 as a rookie free agent starter out of Illinois after Jones and backup Tyrod Taylor were hurt last season.

Daboll said DeVito has had more than 700 snaps in the preseason and as a starter last year. He added he has practiced well this season and has a greater knowledge of the offense in his second season.

“We'll do everything to get him ready, Daboll said.

The Giants are in line to have a high draft pick and likely will take a quarterback. The 2025 draft is not considered rich in quarterbacks.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young greets New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones after their overtime win in an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Munich, Germany. (AP Photo/Lennart Preiss)

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) attends a news conference after a practice session in Munich, Germany, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. The New York Giants are set to play the Carolina Panthers in an NFL game at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Sunday. (AP Photo/Lennart Preiss)

New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito (15) in action after an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sept. 15, 2024 in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones watches during the second half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Munich, Germany. (AP Photo/Lennart Preiss)