CNN
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The suspect in the killing of an Augusta University School of Nursing student on the University of Georgia campus in Athens did not attend school on campus and did not know the victim, authorities said Friday.
The murder of Laken Hope Riley, a dean's list junior at Augusta University, appears to have been a “crime of opportunity” by “someone with malicious intent,” said University of Georgia Police Chief Jeff Clark. The meeting mentioned in Friday's News.
Campus police announced that they are recommending charges against Jose Antonio Ybarra, 26, of Athens, on charges of felony murder, false imprisonment, kidnapping and concealment of another death in Riley's murder.
Riley was found dead Thursday near a lake on the University of Georgia campus after jogging there. The Athens-Clarke County Coroner identified the 22-year-old nursing student Friday morning.
Clark said at a news conference Friday that an examination Friday determined she died of blunt force trauma.
Clark County Sheriff's Office
The suspect, Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, was arrested on Friday.
The police chief announced Friday that Ibarra was taken into custody. Mr Clark said there was no indication of an ongoing threat to the community in connection with the incident.
Clark said evidence suggests the killing was an “isolated act,” adding that authorities have taken several people into custody, but Ybarra is the only one under arrest.
“This was a very isolated incident,” Clark said at a news conference Friday. “There hasn't been a murder at the University of Georgia in nearly 30 years.”
Police executed a search warrant at Ibarra's apartment and are continuing to collect evidence.
Police used campus security camera footage, as well as key tips and physical evidence from the community, to link the suspect to Riley's murder, Clark said.
“But our work is not done yet,” Clark added, saying police were still collecting evidence and urging residents to call police with any relevant information.
UGA earlier announced that police have identified a person of interest who is being questioned in the intense investigation into the student's murderer.
Clark said the suspect does not have a “significant” criminal history. Ybarra lives in Athens, but added that he is neither a U.S. citizen nor a student at UGA. There was no evidence the two knew each other, Clark said.
Ybarra's brother was indicted Friday night on federal charges of fraudulently possessing a green card and is in state custody, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia.
Diego Ibarra, 29, who like his brother is from Venezuela and is in the country illegally, was charged with possession of fraudulent documents and faces up to 10 years in prison, the statement said.
Athens-Clarke County police officers contacted Diego Ybarra on Friday because he matched the description of the suspect they were searching for, according to a federal affidavit. He presented the officer with his green card, which turned out to be a forgery.
“We would like to emphasize that this remains an active ongoing investigation,” said university spokesperson Greg Trevor.
On Thursday evening, authorities said the investigation began after a friend called Riley around noon Thursday, concerned that she had gone jogging at the university's intramural athletic field and had not returned. .
Investigators found her body behind a nearby lake around 12:38 p.m., Clark said. Police said Riley was “unconscious, not breathing, and had visible injuries to her.” Officers immediately began rendering medical aid, but arriving paramedics determined she was dead, UGA said.
All classes at the University of Georgia's Athens campus were canceled on Friday and will resume on Monday, the school announced.
Augusta University also canceled Friday classes at its College of Nursing campus in Athens, about four miles from the University of Georgia's intramural field.
Joshua L. Jones/USA Today
Law enforcement executed a search warrant and took Jose Antonio Ibarra into custody before searching an apartment complex in Athens.
Augusta University's School of Nursing paid tribute to Riley in a statement on its Facebook page, calling her a “promising nurse” whose “compassion and concern for others is evident.” She said Riley planned to graduate with her bachelor's degree in nursing in 2025.
“She received her honorary white coat in August 2023, symbolizing humanism, compassion and the beginning of her journey as a nurse,” the university said. “Not only was she a bright and dedicated student, but she also received the distinction of being named to the Fall 2023 Dean’s List.”
“The College of Nursing will miss Laken's spirit on campus. Our hearts go out to her family and friends. We know she would have made a great nurse. Her death is a loss to the profession and the community she so graciously served.”
Riley's sister, Lauren Phillips, shared a sweet message about Riley on Instagram on Friday.
“The best sister and best friend built in from day one,” she wrote. “I don't know what to do, but everything from now on will be for you. I can't wait to give you the biggest hug one day. I will miss you forever and love you Laken.”
Riley was a student at the University of Georgia until 2023 before enrolling at Augusta University, UGA spokesman Cole Sosebee said.
The University of Georgia is currently grieving two tragic deaths in less than a day. Riley's body was discovered just hours after a University of Georgia student was killed the night before.
“The past 24 hours have been a traumatic time for the university,” the school said in a statement Thursday. “And as we continue to mourn that tragic loss of life, today's shocking news will uniquely test the resolve of our campus community, especially our students.”
