In the nine months since Laken Riley was killed while jogging at the University of Georgia, her death turned into a lightning rod over crime and illegal immigration and cast an ominous shadow over the college town of Athens.

The 22-year-old nursing student's death fueled an emotional and politically charged debate over immigration and crime after authorities said the suspect was a man who entered the U.S. illegally.

Prosecutors claim Jose Ibarra, 26, attacked the Augusta University nursing student, hitting her head and asphyxiating her with the plan to sexually assault her.

On Friday, Nov. 15, prosecutors alleged in an Athens County, Ga., court that Ibarra was out “hunting for females” on University of Georgia’s campus on the day of Riley’s killing, per the Los Angeles Times, AP and NBC News.

A man on trial for the murder of Laken Riley was out “hunting for females” on the University of Georgia campus when he came across the 22-year-old on her morning jog and killed her, a court heard on Friday.

The undocumented migrant accused of killing Laken Riley was “hunting for females” when he came across the jogging Georgia nursing student, who “fought for her life” and fired off a 911

Jose Ibarra, the suspect charged in Augusta University student Laken Riley's February murder on the University of Georgia campus, appeared in court Friday for the start of his trial.

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People gather to mourn the loss of Laken Riley during a vigil for the Augusta University College of Nursing student at the Tate Plaza on the University of Georgia campus in Athens