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University police arrested a suspect in the murder of student at Augusta University School of Nursing on the University of Georgia campus in Athens, according to local authorities.
University police said they are recommending charges against Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, of Atenas, including felony murder, false imprisonment, kidnapping and concealing the death of another person in the murder of Laken Riley. Ibarra will be taken to the Clarke County Jail, police said at a news conference Friday.
Riley, a junior on the dean’s list at Augusta University’s College of Nursing, was found dead near a lake on the University of Georgia campus Thursday after jogging in the area. UGA Police Chief Jeff Clark described her murder as a “crime of opportunity” committed by “an individual who woke up with bad intentions.” According to Clark, there was no evidence that the two knew each other. Riley died from blunt force trauma, he added.
Police say they used footage from campus security cameras, as well as physical evidence, to link the suspect to Riley’s murder, Clark said. They also executed a search warrant at the suspect’s apartment.
The suspect does not have an “extensive” criminal history, according to Clark. Ibarra is an Athens resident, but not a U.S. citizen or UGA student, he added.
“The evidence suggests this was a solo act,” Clark said, adding that authorities had detained 3 or 4 people, but only arrested Ibarra. He said there was “no indication of an ongoing threat to the community related to this case at this time.”
UGA previously announced that police had identified a person of interest who was being questioned amid an intense search for the student’s killer.
Investigators searched the wooded area of campus trying to find clues as to who may have killed Riley.
“We want to emphasize that this remains an active and ongoing investigation,” said spokesman Greg Trevor.
Before enrolling at Augusta University, Riley was a student at the University of Georgia until 2023, UGA spokesman Cole Sosebee said.
Classes were canceled Friday as authorities continued to search for clues and two university communities were in mourning.
Authorities received a call around noon Thursday from a person who was concerned after his friend went jogging on the university’s intramural fields and never returned, the University of Georgia police chief said Thursday night. , Jeffrey L. Clark.
Investigators found the jogger’s body around 12:38 p.m. in an area behind a nearby lake, Clark said.
All classes at the University of Georgia’s Athens campus were canceled Friday and will resume Monday, the school said.
Augusta University canceled Friday classes at the Athens College of Nursing campus, which is about 2.5 miles from the University of Georgia’s intramural campuses.
The president of Augusta University released a statement Thursday, mourning the loss of the student.
“It is with deep sadness that I share with you the news that one of our students on our Athens College of Nursing campus has passed away,” Augusta University President Brooks A. Keel said in a letter to the community. his school.
Riley’s body was discovered hours after the “Sudden death” of a UGA student the night before, campus officials said.
That student was found dead in Brumby Halland police found “no indications of criminal actions or foul play,” according to UGA Police Records. The incident was classified as a death/suicide investigation.
“The last 24 hours have been a traumatic time for our university,” the school said Thursday. “And as we continue to mourn that tragic loss of life, today’s devastating news will uniquely test the resolve of our university community, particularly our students.”
This story has been updated with additional information.
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