For Laken Riley’s mother, the anguish of losing a child in a gruesome attack is amplified by the horror of hearing details about the final minutes of her daughter’s life. But a relentless pursuit of justice has brought Allyson Phillips to the front row of a Georgia courtroom’s cold, barren benches each day of suspect Jose Ibarra’s murder trial. This undated image shows Laken Riley posing for a picture. Related card Prosecutors: Heart rate and speed charts show Laken Riley’s final moments The prosecution rested Tuesday, and the defense will resume calling witnesses Wednesday. The case could go to the judge for a decision later in the day. Phillips, her husband John, and Riley’s father, Jason Riley, have sat through hours of agonizing testimony and evidence. The suspect, an undocumented migrant from Venezuela, has shown little emotion throughout the trial. A few yards away, Riley’s mother has openly wept numerous times – including when an officer testified about missed calls between Riley and her mother the morning Riley died. These are some of the most intense revelations from the trial so far: Surveillance video captures Riley’s final jog Riley, a former cross-country runner, was last seen alive jogging near the University of Georgia’s Oconee Forest Park the morning of February 22. She was a student at UGA until spring 2023, before switching to Augusta University’s College of Nursing in the same city of Athens. UGA surveillance video shows Riley jogging with her phone in her left hand – a device that would play a key role in the trial. Video shows moments before Laken Riley was killed 00:43 – Source: CNN Phillips sobbed as she watched footage of her daughter the day she died. Hours after Riley left for her run, the surveiilance footage shows two of her roommates and their dog searching for their missing friend near a trailhead. They leave about 20 minutes later, with Riley nowhere to be found. Riley fought her attacker, prosecution says Forensic evidence shows Riley “fought for her life” and “fought for her dignity,” before she died, the prosecution said. Genetic testing of fingernail clippings from Riley revealed a link to the genetic profile of Ibarra, Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab scientist Ashley Hinkle testified Tuesday. For someone to get another person’s DNA under their fingernails, it generally “either has to have some sort of scratching or contact with the inside of the nail,” Hinkle said. 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) Related article Officer describes injuries that “looked like fingernail scratches” on Jose Ibarra In separate testimony Monday, UGA police Sgt. Joshua Epps said he encountered Ibarra the day after Riley’s killing and noticed what “looked like fingernail scratches.” “While speaking to him, I noticed on his right arm, his bicep, there was a scratch,” Epps said. “On his left arm, he had a forearm scratch that was very similar – which in my mind, looked like fingernail scratches to me.” “I also noticed on his left wrist, just below the palm, he had a puncture – maybe half an inch wide – that, through my experiences playing sports in high school, and receiving the same injury from fingernails in football, I could see, like, wet flesh, like almost like it was fresh,” Epps said. “It wasn’t very old.” As Epps described the injuries he saw on Ibarra’s arms, Riley’s mother cried and wiped away tears. Bodycam shows multiple injuries on migrant day after Laken Riley’s murder 01:59 – Source: CNN Missed texts and frantic calls Perhaps the most poignant testimony came Tuesday when UGA police Sgt. Sophie Raboud recounted Riley’s last communications on her cell phone. Minutes before her death, Riley called and texted her mother to see if she wanted to catch up. The missed call would be the last time Riley reached out to a loved one. Phillips sobbed in court as she listened to the police sergeant, who also sounded emotional when describing the following timeline: 8:55 a.m.: Riley sent her final text to her mother: “Good morning,” she wrote. “About to go for a run if you’re free to talk.” 9:03 a.m.: Riley called her mother, but she did not answer. 9:11 a.m.: Riley called 911. 9:12 a.m.: The 911 operator called Riley back twice within one minute. 9:24 a.m.: Riley’s mother called her daughter back, but Riley didn’t answer. 9:37 a.m.: Riley’s mother texted her daughter: “Call me when you can.” 9:51 a.m.: Riley’s mother called her daughter again. still_21131262_1578855.1600000001_still.jpg video Related video ‘He went hunting for females,’ prosecutor claims during trial 9:53 a.m.: Riley’s mother called her daughter again. 9:58 a.m.: Riley’s mother texted her daughter: “You’re making me nervous not answering while you’re out running. Are you OK?” 11:04 a.m.: Riley’s mother called her daughter again. 11:12 a.m.: Riley’s mother called her daughter again. 11:15 a.m.: Riley’s mother called her daughter again. 11:19 a.m.: Riley’s sister tried to call. 11:47 a.m.: Riley’s mother texted her daughter: “Please call me, I’m worried sick about you.” 12:07 p.m.: Riley’s mother called her daughter again. 12:20 p.m.: Riley’s stepfather tried to call. At 12:38 p.m., police found Riley’s body in a wooded area near Lake Herrick. Medical examiner says Riley was asphyxiated and had blunt-force head trauma Riley’s father, mother and stepfather left the courtroom before a medical examiner testified about their daughter’s injuries and cause of death. The 22-year-old died from the combined effects of blunt-force head trauma and asphyxia, said Dr. Michelle DiMarco, an associate medical examiner with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Asphyxia relates to a lack of oxygen and can be caused by hanging, manual strangulation or physical compression. DiMarco said she was not able to pinpoint the type of asphyxia Riley suffered. Riley also had injuries to her face and a skull fracture – injuries that “could be consistent with a rock,” DiMarco said.

 

While many communities around the world have been wondering what to make of Donald Trump’s presidential re-election, a village on the Italian island of Sardinia has sniffed a potential opportunity.

Like many other places in rural Italy, Ollolai has long been trying to persuade outsiders to move in to revive its fortunes after decades of depopulation. It’s been selling dilapidated houses for as little as one euro — just over a dollar — to sweeten the deal.

Now, following the November 5 vote outcome, it’s launched a website aimed at would-be American expats, offering up more cheap homes in the hope that those upset by the result will rush to snap up one of its empty properties.

“Are you worned (sic) out by global politics? Looking to embrace a more balanced lifestyle while securing new opportunities?” the website asks. “It’s time to start building your European escape in the stunning paradise of Sardinia.”

Mayor Francesco Columbu tells CNN that the website was specifically created to attract American voters in the wake of the presidential elections. He says he loves the United States and is convinced Americans are the best people to help revive his community.

“We just really want, and will focus on, Americans above all,” he says. “We can’t of course ban people from other countries to apply, but Americans will have a fast-track procedure. We are betting on them to help us revive the village, they are our winning card.”

‘Preferential treatment’

Properties on offer include dilapidated homes at giveaway prices to ready-to-occupy buildings for up to $105,000.

Columbu says the village is now offering three tiers of accommodation: Free temporary homes to certain digital nomads, one-euro homes in need of renovations, and ready-to-occupy houses for prices up to 100,000 euros ($105,000).

The mayor says he’s set up a special team to guide interested buyers through every step of the purchase, from organizing tailored private tours of the available dwellings to finding contractors, builders and navigating required paperwork.

He says photos and plans of available empty properties will be soon be uploaded to the website.

In the past century, Ollolai’s population has shrunk from 2,250 to 1,300 with only a handful of babies born each year. Many families left the village during tough economic times, in search of work and better lives.

Over the last few years, the population has further dropped to barely 1,150 residents.

While the village may be desperate to lure newcomers in an attempt to stop depopulation, the offer of “preferential treatment” to Americans, as Columbus describes it, may seem a bit controversial.

The website does not mentioned having a US passport as a prerequisite, but the mayor says US citizens will be favored above potential applicants of other nationalities.

“Of course, we can’t specifically mention the name of one US president who just got elected, but we all know that he’s the one from whom many Americans want to get away from now and leave the country,” Columbo adds.

“We have specifically created this website now to meet US post-elections relocation needs. The first edition of our digital nomad scheme which launched last year was already solely for Americans.”

The mayor says the town hall’s website has been flooded recently with 38,000 requests of information on houses, mostly coming from the United States.

“So we were really looking to create a platform that caters to US citizens, and to group together our various projects,” says Columbu.

A remote paradise

The town is also trying attract digital nomads.

Ollolai has previously tried to lure new residents with appealing housing schemes.

In 2018, as first reported by CNN, the town hall started selling dilapidated empty homes for one euro. Then it went on to rent empty working spaces for a symbolic one euro.

Lastly, starting last year, it launched a “work from Ollolai” program for digital nomads. So far four Americans have been hosted in fully equipped dwellings for a symbolic one euro. In return, they had to create something for the community, like an artwork or book.

The town hall pays to rent the homes from local families for the remote workers, paying roughly 350 euros per month for multi-floor, two-bedroom dwellings. Utilities, bills and council taxes are also covered.

But revival plans have not been going as well as local authorities had hoped. Since 2018, only 10 homes have been sold for one euro and renovated, says Columbu.

“The village remains half empty, we still have about 100 unoccupied cheap homes potentially on sale, ready to move in. We have mapped and listed them all, and soon photos will be online for buyers to take a look at.”

Most buildings are located in the historical center and come in varying sizes.

They’re picturesque old farmers’ and shepherds’ dwellings made from local granite rocks. Some turnkey properties are even furbished and equipped with modern comforts.

There are zero demographic requirements for US applicants; these can be people of all ages, pensioners, remote workers or entrepreneurs who wish to open a small business in the village.

Ollolai is off the beaten track, ideal for those who want to unplug and live a simpler life.

Located in a wild mountain region, it rises on a pristine patch of land where ancient farming traditions live on. It boasts fresh, pollution-free air, few crowds and great views.

In fall during an event known as cortes apertas (open courtyards) sees stables and ancient turf taverns open to the public, offering wine, ham, cheese and other delicacies. The area is famous for its locally produced Casu Fiore Sardo cheese.

Another highlight of Ollolai’s calendar is a masked carnival with goat-like costumes and archaic rituals held in February each year.

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