Killing of Laken Riley

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Murder of Laken Riley
Undated photo of Laken Riley
LocationDisappearance: University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, U.S.
Body found: Lake Herrick, Athens, Georgia, U.S.
DateFebruary 22, 2024
Attack type
Murder by blunt trauma, Kidnapping
VictimLaken Hope Riley
MotiveUnknown
AccusedJose Antonio Ibarra
Charges

The murder of Laken Riley occurred on February 22, 2024, in Athens, Georgia. Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University, was murdered when she was jogging at the University of Georgia (UGA). Her body was found near a lake of a wooded area at UGA; her death was caused by blunt force trauma.[1][2] The police described Riley's killing as a "crime of opportunity", and that no murder had been committed at UGA in almost 30 years.[3][2]

Jose Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan citizen who entered the US illegally, was arrested by UGA police and has been charged with felony murder, false imprisonment, and kidnapping.[4] Ibarra lived about 1 mile (1.6 km) from the area where Riley's body was found.[4] There is no date set for the trial.

The murder made international news, generating extensive media attention, but especially from conservative media.[5] The murder sparked a debate over immigration in United States, after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Ibarra is a Venezuelan illegal immigrant who is not a U.S. citizen and was caught crossing the border but released back into the United States.[2]

Victim

Laken Hope Riley was born on January 10, 2002, to Jason Riley and Allyson Phillips. She was raised in Woodstock, Georgia, with her three siblings.[6] Riley graduated in 2020 from River Ridge High School, where she was a member of the track team.[7] Riley was an undergraduate student at University of Georgia and member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority,[8] until the spring of 2023 when she transferred to a nursing program at Augusta University.[4] At the time of her death, Riley was a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University.[2]

Riley's friends described her as a "great friend, student and roommate, who loved running, dancing and singing."[4]

Murder

On the morning of February 22, 2024, Riley went for a morning run at UGA. Around 12:07 pm, a friend of Riley's reported her missing after she did not return.[9] Shortly before 1:00 pm, Riley's body was discovered by UGA police in a wooded area behind Lake Herrick.[10] Her death was caused by blunt force trauma, according to Athens-Clarke County Coroner.[1][2]

The police described Riley's killing as a "crime of opportunity".[3]

Suspect

Jose Antonio Ibarra (born 1997–98) is a 26-year-old Venezuelan citizen from Aragua, who had entered the United States in 2022 illegally.[3][2] According to Jeffrey Clark, the chief of UGA police, Ibarra lived in an apartment complex about 1 mile (1.6 km) from the wooded area where Riley's body was found.[4]

Authorities detained several people, but only Ibarra was arrested. Riley's murder is believed to have been a "solo act" by Ibarra. The charges against Ibarra are felony murder, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another.[11]

Aftermath

Riley's family says they plan to establish a foundation in her honor. Her father said: "She will be missed every day, but we promise to honor her life moving forward in a very big way".[6]

The murder was highly publicized by the national media and the press.[5] Her murder become a "national political case" by some American citizens and former U.S. president Donald Trump, after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed that Ibarra is a Venezuelan illegal immigrant and was caught crossing the border but released back into the United States.[2][12]

Trump blamed U.S. president Joe Biden for Riley's murder. On Truth Social, he posted: "Border INVASION is destroying our country and killing our citizens! The horrible murder of 22-year-old Laken Riley at the University of Georgia should have NEVER happened!"[13].

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Suspect in Georgia nursing student's murder is accused of "disfiguring her skull," court documents say". CBS News. February 27, 2024. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Wolfe, Elizabeth; Razek, Raja; Yan, Holly (February 26, 2024). "Augusta University student killed while jogging at UGA honored at vigil as the suspect's immigration status fuels debate". CNN. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Rissman, Kelly (February 29, 2024). "What we know about Jose Antonio Ibarra, the man charged with murdering a Georgia nursing student". The Independent. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e Fortin, Jacey (February 28, 2024). "The Killing at U. of Georgia: What We Know". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Bennett, Brian (February 28, 2024). "Biden Touts Crime Record as Laken Riley Case Dominates Conservative Media". Time. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Laken Riley: Funeral services for murdered nursing student". Fox 5 Atlanta. March 1, 2024. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  7. ^ Cavallier, Andrea (February 23, 2024). "A nursing student went for a morning jog on campus and never returned. Her body was found later that day". The Independent. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  8. ^ Kersh, Lilly; Mawn, Allison (February 23, 2024). "Student found dead on UGA campus identified as 22-year-old Laken Riley". The Red & Black. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  9. ^ Acosta, Nicole (February 23, 2024). "Suspect Arrested After Ga. College Student Who Went on Jog Was Found Dead". People. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  10. ^ Manins, Rosie (February 29, 2024). "Laken Riley case: Man charged in UGA campus killing won't seek bond". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  11. ^ Lynch, Jamiel; Faheid, Dalia (February 29, 2024). "Suspect in University of Georgia killing didn't know victim and is not a student on the campus, police say". CNN. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  12. ^ Dorn, Sara (February 27, 2024). "What To Know About Laken Riley Murder: GOP Demands Details On Accused Killer's Immigration Status". Forbes. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  13. ^ Amy, Jeff; Spagat, Elliot; Weissert, Will (February 27, 2024). "The killing of a Georgia nursing student is now at the center of the US immigration debate". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 5, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
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