Murdered nursing student Laken Riley’s terrifying 911 call was played in court – leaving her mother in tears

ATHENS, GA. – The terrifying 911 call that captured Georgia nursing student Laken Riley’s terrifying 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 running on the University of Georgia campus around 10 p.m. 9:11 a.m. on Feb. 22, prosecutor Sheila Ross told the Athens-Clark County courtroom.

Only a man’s voice was heard on the short, muffled audio played in court.

Those in the courtroom listened to the operator repeating himself, saying, “Clark County 911. Hello, Clark County 911. Can anyone hear me?”

The call ended at 9:12 a.m., 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 played in court.

Earlier in opening statements, prosecutors explained how Riley fought for his life for a staggering 18 minutes.

Ibarra, the state claimed, was hunting women on the picturesque Athens campus when he encountered Riley.

“When Laken Riley refused to be his rape victim, he repeatedly smashed her skull with a rock,” Sheila Ross alleged.

“The evidence will show that Laken fought. She fought for her life, she fought for her dignity, and in that fight she got this defendant to leave forensic evidence. She also marked her killer for the whole world to see.”

One of Riley’s friends alerted authorities that she did not return home from her run later that morning.

The nursing student’s body was found in a wooded area outside the running path shortly after

When The Post first contacted the Athens-Clarke County coroner the day after Riley was killed, the office said there was “evidence of foul play” at the scene and that it was clear she had been killed violently.