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Friends are grieving the passing of 22-year-old Laken Hope Riley, a nursing student discovered deceased in a wooded area of the University of Georgia campus on February 22.
“She was the sweetest, most pure-hearted young woman,” expressed Bianca Tiller, who shared a room with Riley during their freshman year at UGA, in an interview with NBC News. "She brought so many people together and developed so many friendships."
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Upon commencing her journey at UGA with only a handful of acquaintances, Riley warmly welcomed Tiller into her circle of friends.
“She made everyone smile and is such a kind soul,” Tiller remarked.
The inquiry into Riley's passing commenced on Thursday when an individual reported to police at 12:07 p.m. that a friend had not returned from a jog at the school’s Intramural Fields, according to a statement from university police. Officers discovered the woman’s body around 12:38 p.m. "in the forested area behind Lake Herrick."
During a press conference on Thursday, University of Georgia Chief of Police Jeff Clark revealed that Riley had succumbed to blunt force trauma. A 26-year-old man, Jose Antonio Ibarra, has been charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another, officials reported.
Jose Ibarra, apprehended earlier on Friday, appears to have had no prior acquaintance with Riley, Clark confirmed.
“At this time, the investigation suggests that they had no relationship,” Clark stated. “(Jose Ibarra) did not know her at all. I think this was a crime of opportunity where he saw an individual and bad things happened.”
What do we know about Laken Hope Riley?
Augusta University President Brooks A. Keel confirmed in a statement on Friday that Riley was a junior at the school's College of Nursing and a Dean's List student.
The nursing school of Augusta University is situated in Athens, the same city as the University of Georgia, with the two campuses approximately 4 miles apart.
“Police have indicated they suspect foul play,” Keel stated in a Thursday announcement. “The receipt of this news this afternoon was shocking to all of us.”
Riley was described as a “sweet and compassionate soul” in a GoFundMe campaign, verified by NBC News, established to cover funeral costs and create a scholarship in her honor.
“No words can adequately express the pain and heartache that Laken’s family and friends are experiencing. She was a wonderful friend, sister, daughter, etc., who touched the lives of everyone around her. Her infectious smile and contagious laugh lit up every room she entered,” the fundraising page reads.
Lilly Steiner, a friend of Riley’s from UGA, expressed gratitude to her in an Instagram tribute posted on February 24 for “helping me find the joy in life.”
One of Riley's roommates, Sofia Magana, shared on Instagram that Riley was "the best friend, roommate, dog aunt (Titi Laken), dancer, banner chair, sister, hair curler, student, advice giver, and so much more."
“You were supposed to be by my side on my wedding day, you were supposed to be with us on graduation ... but most importantly, you were supposed to be here with us,” Magana expressed.
Riley's funeral is scheduled for March 1, beginning with a visitation at Woodstock City Church from noon until 2 p.m., followed immediately by a service, as reported by NBC affiliate WXIA in Atlanta.
What do we know about the suspect?
During the Friday evening press conference, Clark indicated that it appeared the suspect in Riley’s death had acted alone. He clarified that while police had detained “three or four” individuals, Jose Ibarra was the sole person facing charges in connection with her death.
Clark stated that the university's police department and other law enforcement agencies apprehended Jose Ibarra based on extensive evidence, including physical evidence and footage from the campus security camera network.
As police conducted a search of Jose Ibarra's Athens, Georgia, residence on Friday evening, Clark expressed confidence that they did not require evidence from inside the home to build their case.
“We didn’t need the evidence inside the apartment to convict Mr. Ibarra,” he emphasized.
Clark mentioned that Jose Ibarra did not appear to have much of a criminal history. He also clarified that Jose Ibarra was not a citizen of the United States and was not enrolled as a student at the University of Georgia.
Regarding the suspect’s immigration status or country of origin, Clark admitted uncertainty.
The suspect’s brother, Diego Ibarra, 29, was also apprehended on Friday and federally charged with possessing a fraudulent green card, as stated in a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia. Diego Ibarra was detained in the Clarke County Jail, and it remained unclear if he had secured legal representation.
Diego Ibarra was approached by police due to matching the description of the suspect in Riley’s death, and he allegedly presented a counterfeit green card for identification, according to the U.S. attorney's office.
Diego Ibarra, an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela, has been arrested three times for nonviolent offenses, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
A spokesperson for UGA confirmed that Diego Ibarra was terminated from a university position after the alleged fraudulent green card came to light.
“Diego Ibarra presented a counterfeit green card to the hiring unit to commence a temporary position as a dishwasher in Bolton Dining Hall at the University of Georgia on Feb. 6, 2024,” the spokesperson disclosed. “He subsequently failed to provide further documentation required to maintain the job and was never compensated by the University.”
What happened at UGA's Brumby Hall?
The discovery of Riley's body occurred one day after another student's sudden death in the school's Brumby Hall dormitory, UGA disclosed, although authorities clarified that the two incidents were not connected.
“The past 24 hours have been a traumatic time for our University,” the institution stated. “Our student body is mourning the unexpected loss of one student in Brumby Hall last night.
“And as we continue to grieve that tragic loss of life, today’s heartbreaking news will put our campus community, especially our students, to a unique test of resilience.”
Classes at UGA's Athens campus were canceled on Friday, along with classes at the College of Nursing at Augusta University in Athens.
What's next for the case?
At a hearing on Saturday, Jose Ibarra was denied bond and remained in custody at the Clarke County Jail.
Authorities reiterated on Friday that the suspect acted alone and stressed that there is currently "no threat" to the community.
“This was a highly isolated incident. We have not experienced a homicide at the University of Georgia in 30 years," Clark emphasized.
Clark also noted that the investigation is ongoing and encouraged community members to step forward with any additional evidence.