Laken Hope Riley, a junior at Augusta University School of Nursing who attended classes at the Athens satellite campus, was tragically murdered on the University of Georgia campus. The 22-year-old had gone out for a jog on Thursday at the UGA’s intramural fields.
A suspect has been arrested and charged with the murder of the young nursing student who was killed after her jog at the University of Georgia’s intramural fields.
After her roommate reported her missing, police found her body in a wooded area with visible injuries. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma.
The suspect, Jose Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan national, has been charged with multiple offenses including malice and felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another. It was confirmed that Ibarra is not a U.S. citizen, although his immigration status was not disclosed by the police.
“They had no relationship,” Police Chief Jeff Clark told the Athens Banner-Herald. “He did not know her at all. It was a crime of opportunity.”
“This is a heartbreaking time for the University of Georgia,” the chief said.
Classes at both universities were called off following Riley’s demise. Chief Clark strongly advised students to travel together and remain vigilant. It is truly disheartening to acknowledge that had President Biden effectively secured the border, Laken Riley would have been alive today. How many innocent Americans must lose their lives before the Democrats take action to halt this invasion of our nation?