It’s hard to fathom the depths of moral depravity showcased in the media’s coverage of the brutal murder of Laken Riley, but MSNBC’s tone-deaf op-ed by legal analyst Danny Cevallos takes the cake.
Cevallos’ attempt to frame the trial of Jose Ibarra—an illegal immigrant and Venezuelan gang member—as a mere technicality of an “open-and-shut” case glosses over the savage reality of the crime. Worse yet, the original headline, claiming Ibarra “never stood a chance,” practically begged for outrage, and rightfully so.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t just a tragic murder; it was a horrifying act of violence against a promising young woman whose only crime was going for a morning run. Ibarra, whose DNA was found under Riley’s fingernails as she fought for her life, is a monster who strangled and beat her to death near the University of Georgia. The evidence against him was overwhelming, yet Cevallos seemed more interested in lamenting the uphill battle faced by his defense team than acknowledging the unimaginable suffering endured by Riley and her family.
An actual headline from MSNBC: “Laken Riley’s killer never stood a chance”
Ask yourself: Why is MSNBC writing sympathetic headlines for an illegal alien monster and killer?
Why is MSNBC’s “legal analyst” Danny Cevallos ok with this headline? https://t.co/hSfaMIUxqW pic.twitter.com/8YLarS5ba5
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) November 22, 2024
MSNBC eventually backpedaled, changing the inflammatory headline to something more palatable. But by then, the damage was done. Critics across the political spectrum condemned the piece, with Donald Trump Jr. labeling it “depraved” and Joe Rogan summing up the disgust in six simple words: “What the f*** is this s***?”
The outrage wasn’t just about the headline—it was about the glaring lack of focus on Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student whose life was senselessly taken. Instead, Cevallos seemed preoccupied with sympathizing over Ibarra’s supposedly dire legal prospects, as though the brutal facts of the case somehow stacked the deck unfairly against him. Suggesting that Ibarra’s bench trial, rather than a jury trial, might have hurt his chances of avoiding life in prison is tone-deaf at best and outright grotesque at worst.
spits on laken riley’s grave and then backtracks like a coward
danny cevallos is scum pic.twitter.com/fLJRnNO8EW
— 𝕥𝕠𝕒𝕤𝕥 (@xcinnamontoast) November 22, 2024
This tragedy has also reignited a crucial debate about the Biden administration’s failed immigration policies. Ibarra, a known member of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, was allowed into the U.S. in 2022 despite his criminal ties. Conservatives have rightly pointed out that this horrifying crime might never have happened if the border had been properly secured. Yet, instead of grappling with that reality, MSNBC focused on legal “technicalities” and Ibarra’s supposed lack of options.
Laken Riley fought for her life for 18 minutes. 18 excruciating minutes.
Don’t you dare tell me I didn’t vote to protect women. pic.twitter.com/gby26DwceW
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) November 16, 2024
As the nation mourns Laken Riley, her family’s heartbreak has laid bare the humanity erased by such cold analysis. Riley’s stepfather shared one of her final diary entries, written to her future husband—a poignant glimpse into the life of a young woman stolen from the world far too soon. While Ibarra will spend the rest of his life behind bars, no punishment can bring justice to the family who lost her.
It’s time for the media to stop turning criminals into victims and start holding accountable the policies that enable such tragedies. Laken Riley’s story deserves better—and so do we.
