Authorities have arrested Jose Antonio Ibarra in connection to the University of Georgia death of a 22-year-old woman, Laken Riley, whose body was discovered on the school’s campus on Thursday.
The victim was initially reported missing after going for a morning jog at the Intramural Fields but didn’t return home, UGA Police Chief Jeffrey Clark said at a news conference. When police arrived at the campus just after 12:30 p.m., officers found her “unconscious” and “not breathing” with “visible injuries” in an area behind Lake Herrick. She was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders.
“A suspect in the murder of Laken Riley has been taken into custody by the University of Georgia Police Department,” UGA said in a social media post. “At this time, there are no indications of a continuing threat to the UGA campus related to this matter.”
According to reports, Riley was in the nursing program at Augusta University’s Athens campus, and she previously attended UGA, which is about 15 minutes away. Athens-Clarke County Coroner Sonny Wilson told CNN that the autopsy will determine the manner and cause of death.
Police are still trying to determine the motive behind the murder, and current reports show Riley had no previous connection to the suspect. Ibarra was booked for malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another.
A local judge denied bond for Ibarra, who lives in Athens, on Saturday morning.
Ibarra’s older brother was also arrested for having a fake U.S. permanent residency card, better known as a green card, while the murder suspect’s immigration status is unknown. The news sparked discussion about the country’s enforcement against illegal immigration online.
Jose Antonio Ibarra should not have been in this country. Laken Riley should be alive today. And now we mourn the loss of a vibrant young woman who was training for a life of service to others.
— Kelly Loeffler (@KLoeffler) February 24, 2024
My heart breaks for the loved ones of Laken, and for every parent who has lost a…
On Saturday morning, Gov. Brian Kemp wrote a letter to President Joe Biden questioning why his administration was not informed about the situation regarding the murder suspect’s brother. He also requested information on Jose Ibarra’s current immigration status.
Laken Riley's tragic death struck the hearts of Georgians everywhere and has sparked national outrage.
— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) February 24, 2024
Joe Biden's failed policies have turned every state into a border state, and I'm demanding information from him so we can protect our people when the federal government won’t! pic.twitter.com/wsD4H6BSr6
Classes at UGA and Augusta’s College of Nursing were canceled. They are set to resume next week.
Parents have been challenging the administration to improve their safety measures on campus to protect their children. Veronica Bennett told WSB-TV that more than the safety app is needed.
“That hits a little too close to home,” Bennett said. “As a parent, I get tired of that being UGA’s go-to. Oh, we have the safety app. Well, the safety app is not much of a deterrent.”
Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz acknowledged the tragedy in a statement on social media Thursday evening.
“I join everyone here at the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government in deep sadness over today’s murder in our city,” Girtz said. “We promise to do everything possible to collaborate with UGA PD to bring this investigation to a rapid conclusion, and will continue to work overtime to prevent further tragedies.”
